Assembled with legendary dance singers, will 'Dancing Queens on the Road' be able to elicit empathy?

These days, much attention is directed towards the professional return of Lee Hyo-ri. Named among the legends and the model for female dance singers in South Korea, Lee Hyo-ri's comeback is of considerable interest. With a lineup that includes stars such as Kim Wan-sun, Uhm Jung-hwa, BoA, and Hwasa, who have been iconic dance singers across generations, expectations are high. There's a growing curiosity about whether these dance music legends, gathered around Lee Hyo-ri, will successfully garner viewer empathy and bring the project to a successful conclusion.

Lee Hyo-ri announced her professional return with a new reality show on the cable channel tvN, 'Dancing Queens on the Road'. Though it's not a new album release, there was great anticipation for the stage return of Lee Hyo-ri, a member of the girl group Fin.K.L and a solo singer with a glorious prime. The fact that this show is a follow-up to the 'Seoul Check-In' series and pairs Lee with producer Kim Tae-ho, is also generating significant buzz.

Premiered on the 25th, 'Dancing Queens on the Road' originated from 'Seoul Check-In'. The show brings together a legendary lineup of dance singers, who plan to travel around the country, enter the daily lives of the public, face fans and hold interactive performances. With the appearance of legendary dance singers from various eras, this project offers viewers a chance to share in nostalgic memories.

'Dancing Queens on the Road' generated anticipation not only for providing a stage for stars like Lee Hyo-ri, Uhm Jung-hwa, and Kim Wan-sun, who might be less known to the younger generation, but particularly for marking the return of Lee Hyo-ri to her singing career.

Lee Hyo-ri, who debuted with Fin.K.L in 1998, embarked on a solo career in 2003. She made a legendary mark by instantly winning the Song of the Year award with her solo debut song 'Ten Minutes'. With her solo debut, Lee Hyo-ri led a wave of popularity, producing a number of hit songs like 'U-Go-Girl', 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', and 'Bad Girls' and stunning performances and styles. She completed her own genre while actively participating in variety shows like 'Happy Together' and 'Family Outing'.

After getting married, Lee Hyo-ri had a brief hiatus. She is currently living in Jeju Island with her husband Lee Sang-soon, occasionally appearing on the reality show 'Hyori's Bed and Breakfast'. After a stage absence, she broke her hiatus by joining 'Hangout with Yoo's' SSAK3 and Refund Expedition. Now, she's officially back to her profession through 'The Dance Music Nomads'.

Lee Hyo-ri's return was not only her first solo stage in a long time but also more significant as it involved her seniors and juniors. The emotional moment during the first broadcast when she shed tears, signifies the immense significance of this comeback. Her return to the stage excited many fans and above all, she remained the unchanged 'legend' even after 20 years.

As much as 'Dancing Queens on the Road' means a lot to Lee Hyo-ri, who even shed tears on the show, there's a growing interest in whether the show can garner public empathy. 'Dancing Queens on the Road' recorded a viewership of approximately 3.2% (according to Nielsen Korea) in its first broadcast. The program, which airs at the same time as the comprehensive JTBC drama 'Bad Mother', which records nearly 10% in viewership, needs to catch up. The reunion of producer Kim Tae-ho and Lee Hyo-ri brings great expectations, and it's anticipated that satisfying content will ensure the continuation of the ratings rise.

Lee Hyo-ri, who showed special affection for 'Dancing Queens on the Road' to the point of shedding tears, is being watched to see if she can lead the success of this project as an 'all-time legend' dance singer.