&TEAM's Yuma Makes Impressive Korean Variety Debut on 'King of Masked Singer'

Yuma, a member of HYBE's global group &TEAM, left a strong impression on viewers with his emotional vocals and heartfelt stage presence on MBC's 'King of Masked Singer'.

Appearing under the moniker 'Red Bean Porridge Next Door' on the broadcast last Sunday, Yuma first performed a duet of Park Ji-yoon's 'Illusion' with another contestant. He then captivated audiences with his solo performance of FTISLAND's 'Wind', showcasing a delicate yet refreshing vocal tone.

The panel engaged in much speculation about the masked singer's identity, and when Yuma finally revealed himself, both the studio audience and panelists erupted in surprise and cheers.

"It was my first time appearing on a Korean variety show alone, so I was nervous. I'm glad I could show you a bit of my charm," Yuma shared his thoughts. When praised for his fluent Korean, he humbly replied, "I practiced with our Korean member, Eju."

He also revealed his inspiration for becoming a singer: "Watching the perfect performances of BTS seniors when I was young greatly influenced me and made me dream of becoming an idol."

Following the broadcast, '&TEAM Yuma' trended in real-time on X (formerly Twitter), indicating a heated response. Fans flooded social media with comments like, "The song choice really suited his voice," and "It was touching to feel how hard he practiced."

Meanwhile, &TEAM recently announced their comeback in the K-pop scene with their first Korean mini-album 'Back to Life' released on the 28th of last month. The title track of the same name achieved three music show wins, including first place on SBS M's 'The Show', MBC M's 'Show! Champion', and KBS2's 'Music Bank', demonstrating their expanding global presence through diverse activities in music and entertainment.

Netizens reacted positively online, with comments such as, "Thank you for appearing on Korean variety shows, &TEAM Yuma!", "His voice is so clear... I hope to see him on more shows," and "He was inspired by BTS to dream of being an idol... I hope he becomes a great senior artist too!"