Why did the producer of the Song Festival choose to replace Annie and Yoon…a new man whom the times have paid attention to

Oct 24, 2025

All-Day Project Annie. Photo courtesy = The Black Label

Marking his 20th year, the MBC Song Festival' will mark the end of the year with a new face and open the door of the new year.

'Song Festival' is the best music festival at the end of the year, starting with a live broadcast on December 31st every year and celebrating January 1st of the new year together. Above all, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the MBC Music Festival. Starting with MBC's teenage Cheongbaekjeon in 1966, we're going to the top 10 singers', 'Korean songMBC's end-of-year music festival, which has been followed by festivals', has maintained its reputation under the name of the MBC Music Festival from 2005 to the present.

This year 'Song Festival' is the 20th time, so expectations are higher. As a result, the production team made a fresh and new choice as much as the weight of the 20th anniversary.

Yoona (Im Yoon-ah) of Girls' Generation, who has been at the center of the stage for 10 years, stepped down and filled the vacancy was the most unfamiliar name and the hottest newcomer. It's Annie, a member of the mixed idol All Day Project.

All-Day Project Annie. Photo courtesy = The Black Label

Annie took the microphone for the `Song Festival' six months after her debut, becoming the face of a new era to take charge of the last night of the year. Producer Jang Woo-sung, who directed this year's 'Song Festival', confided to Sports Chosun that `Yoona, who has been following the 'Song Festival for 10 years, is leaving, and I really thought a lot about who to serve.'

Then "This is a time when K-pop is attracting attention around the world. So much so that the new face of the K-pop festival had to be a newcomer that the times were paying attention to. "In that sense, Annie was the most natural choice", he confessed why he chose Annie as the MC.

Producer Jang's position is that he wanted to continue the tradition this year, which marks his 20th stage, but show 'K-pop now' with a new face and a new perspective. In fact, Annie quickly emerged as a `monster rookie' when she swept music charts with 'FameS','Wicked' upon her debut.

Producer Jang said, "Annie has shown smart and charismatic leadership through various activities since her debut. It caught the public's attention in a short time, and I thought it was an icon worthy of a new era."

On the other hand, Annie's selection was a hot topic and there were some concerns. There were various interpretations due to the colorful background of the "Shinsegae Group III". In response, producer Jang said, "Annie is an artist who proves it as a 'haengbo'" and added, "It was impressive that she was creating her own color in half a year after her debut.", he explained.

From left, SHINee Minho (Choi Minho), All Day Project Annie, and Hwang Minhyun. Photo =Sports Chosun DB, The Black Label

Another face to lead the stage with Annie was also revealed. This year's 'Music Festival' MC was completed with a combination of SHINee Minho (Choi Minho), Hwang Min-hyun, and Annie. Min-ho's skill and center, Hwang Min-hyun's warm weight that signals his return after being discharged from the military, and Annie's spirit to inspire a new wind meet.

Producer Jang said, "As it is a stage to end the year, I think Annie's boldness will be a good synergy for the three MCs," he said confidently.

In the meantime, \'Song Festival' is a program like a symbol of the end of the year with the whole family. This year will also end the year in a friendly and warm way."He added that 2026 will be opened with a new look than any other year.'

The "2025 MBC Music Festival" will be broadcast live on December 31.