Hwan-hee Tapped as New Gmarket Model, Rekindles 'SEA OF LOVE' with Hilarious Parody

Singer Hwan-hee, currently enjoying a second prime with his trot music, continues his popular streak by being selected as the new advertising model for Gmarket.

Gmarket released the main advertisement featuring Hwan-hee on the 27th, in anticipation of the 'Big Smile Day' promotion running from November 1st to 11th.

The new commercial is a parody video reinterpreting the 2000s hit song ‘SEA OF LOVE’ by the R&B group Fly to the Sky, to which Hwan-hee belonged. It was produced with a ‘SEA OF LOVE Music Festival’ concept, blending retro sensibility with comedic direction.

Hwan-hee stimulated viewers' nostalgia with his sweet voice and a cheerful performance that evoked a sense of fun, reminiscent of the music show stages of the past, complete with dazzling stage sets and outfits. Adding to the laughter, Park Wan-kyu and Kim Kyung-ho made surprise appearances as audience members, cheering enthusiastically and delivering witty remarks.

The advertisement was planned to promote the special offers of 'Big Smile Day,' focusing on large appliances and electronics. The humorous mood and witty concept performance by the three artists further maximized the advertising effect.

Meanwhile, Hwan-hee, who recently challenged trot music on MBN's 'Hyunyeok Ga-wang 2,' is paving the way for his unique 'soul trot' genre, earning him the title 'Trot Crown Prince' and marking his second peak in his career. He is also scheduled to appear on JTBC's 'Knowing Bros' on November 1st.

Netizens reacted positively to the advertisement, commenting, 'Hwan-hee, time has stood still for him! Still looks great,' 'Brings back memories of Fly to the Sky days,' and 'Park Wan-kyu and Kim Kyung-ho too! This is a legendary collaboration ad.' The comments praised Hwan-hee's performance and the creative concept of the commercial.