Competition for second place in the Male Singer category at the 2026 Netizen Awards First Half Finals is heating up. While Hwang Young-woong runs alone in the lead, Choon-gil, Son Tae-jin, and Jang Min-ho are engaged in a fierce battle within the 10,000-vote range.

According to the tally as of 3:59 p.m. on the 22nd, Hwang Young-woong holds an overwhelming first place with 44,896 votes. Meanwhile, the vote gap between 2nd and 4th place is extremely narrow, making rank changes entirely possible.

◆ Choon-gil vs. Son Tae-jin, a Super Close Race with a 711-Vote Gap

Second-place Choon-gil has garnered 10,828 votes (9.8%), while third-place Son Tae-jin has secured 10,117 votes (9.1%). The gap between the two candidates is a mere 711 votes. Both candidates have surpassed the 10,000-vote mark and are keeping the gap within 1,000 votes, meaning the rankings could flip at any time during the remaining voting period.

Both candidates have been demonstrating steady vote-getting power backed by solid fandoms. Given the nature of the first-half finals, last-minute fandom mobilization often determines the rankings, making fan participation in voting more crucial than ever for both sides.

◆ Jang Min-ho Joins the Fray... A Three-Way Battle in the 10,000-Vote Range

Another variable is fourth-place Jang Min-ho. Jang Min-ho has recorded 10,105 votes, just 12 votes behind third-place Son Tae-jin. In effect, Choon-gil, Son Tae-jin, and Jang Min-ho have formed a tightly contested race, all hovering around the 10,000-vote mark.

As the first-half finals enter their latter half, Hwang Young-woong's lead and the upper-rank competition among Choon-gil, Son Tae-jin, and Jang Min-ho are expected to remain key points of interest in the Male Singer category until the very end.