Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace (Korean: 로드 투 킹덤: Ace of Ace) is a South Korean reality competition survival show created by Mnet. The show was rebranded as an independent program from its predecessor. It premiered on Mnet on September 19, 2024, and aired every Thursday at 21:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING in South Korea, Abema in Japan, and Mnet K-pop YouTube channel in other countries.
The winner of the show will receive a prize money worth ₩100million and an opportunity to attend KCON.[2]
On April 24, 2024, Mnet's Road to Kingdom 2 was scheduled to be broadcast in the second half of 2024.[5] The next day, The Fact reported that Xikers, The New Six, and 8Turn were named as the possible participants to appear on the show.[6]
On May 1, 2024, Sports Chosun reported that Cravity, ATBO, and Younite were named as the other possible participants to appear on the show.[7] While Joy News 24 reported that Tempest would also join as participants.[8]
On June 26, 2024, Mnet announced that Road to Kingdom 2 will be rebrand as a standalone program unlike its predecessor which was more like a prequel to gain a spot in the sequel, Kingdom and PD Jo Woo-ri will direct the show.[9] The next two days, Oneus who competed in the first season of the show reportedly joined the lineup.[10]
On July 3, 2024, Ten Asia reported that Taemin will be the host of the show and it will premiere in September 2024.[11] On July 10, Mnet confirmed the seven groups—The New Six, The CrewOne,[note 1] 8Turn, Oneus, Younite, Cravity, and Tempest—as the final lineup of the show.[12] On July 17, Mnet officially confirmed that Taemin will be the solo host of the show and it will premiere in September 2024.[13]
On August 1, 2024, Mnet released a teaser video revealing Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace as the official title of the show.[14] On August 27, Mnet announced the broadcast date and time of the show to be on September 19, 2024, and would air every Thursday at 21:30 (KST).[15]
On September 17, 2024, according to an article published by Kstyle, the show would be simultaneously broadcast on Abema SP2 and K World channels in Japan.[16] On September 19, Mnet announced that each episode of the show would be live stream in TVING, Abema, and Mnet K-Pop YouTube channel.[17]
Rules
The overall results would be of a two-track ranking basis: Team Ranking and Ace Ranking. In each performance round, all boy groups would pick their Aces, which is the center of each of their performances.[18]
After the three (3) preliminary performances, the boy group with the overall 1st place in Team Ranking and the boy group with the overall 1st place in Ace Ranking are guaranteed to advance to the final round.[18]
Only five (5) boy groups would have a chance to perform in the final.[18]
Each boy group sends out their Ace to perform a solo performance. After the seven boy groups' Aces have performed, each boy group would send five of their members to each vote for three aces except their team's ace. The team that got 1st place for the public pre-vote in the predicted ranking, Cravity, gets the right to arrange the cue sheet for the Ace battle.
The team of the first placed Ace gets the right to arrange the cue sheet for the Team Battle, while the boy group with the last placed Ace would not be able to take part in the Team Battle.[19][20]
To break the tie for first place, a re-vote is conducted with the five remaining teams voting. After the voting, Hwanwoong got 4 votes (1st place) while Lim Ji-min got 1 vote (2nd place).[21]
Each boy group performs a 100-second performance. After the six boy groups have performed, all the teams would each send five of their members to each vote for three boy groups excluding their own respective boy groups.[22]
Out of the total score of 1,000, 30% would be based on the self-evaluation aforementioned, while 70% would be based on evaluation from a 280-strong streaming audience, with each boy group gathering 40, and each of the streaming audience also voting for three boy groups excluding their own representative boy groups.[1] As Hwanwoong won the Ace Battle, Oneus gets the right to arrange the cue sheet for the Team Battle.
The seven boy groups each perform one song from the five representative boy groups that sold over one million albums in 2023, and is rearranged into a different style. The seven groups were divided into three matchups: two one-on-one matches (Stray Kids, and Enhypen songs), and one triple match (NCT, The Boyz and Tomorrow X Together songs).[23][24]
The Team Ranking and Ace Ranking each has a total score of 10,000. The score system will be based on:
Self-Evaluation – 3,000 points
On-Site Audience Vote – 7,000 points
For the Self-Evaluation, each boy group would send five members to each vote for three aces and three teams, excluding their team's Ace and their own teams, respectively.
For the On-Site Audience Vote, 300 on-site audience must vote for their more preferred team in each VS battle, and also vote for three aces (for the Ace Ranking) and three boy groups out of all seven teams (for the Team Ranking). A benefit of 1,000 points will be given to each of the teams who won in their respective VS battles.[24]
For each score category, the team with the most votes shall receive the maximum number of points (i.e., 3,000 for Self-Evaluation and 7,000 for Video Evaluation), while the remaining teams obtains the score in proportion from their vote count to the first-placed team's vote count.
If a team places first on both the Ace Ranking and Team Ranking, then that team automatically gets the right to arrange the cue sheet for the next round. However, if the first placed group in the Team Ranking and the group with the first-place Ace are not the same, a one-on-one Ace Battle would be done between the two teams to own the right to cue sheet arrangement. The voting shall be done via self-evaluation — with each team sending the number of members equivalent to the least number of members among the five remaining teams. Since The New Six and Tempest have the least number of members among the remaining five, having 6 members, six members will vote from each team, making a total of 30 voters for the Ace Battle.[25]
Therefore, Oneus gets the right to arrange the cue sheet for the next round.
Round 2: Identity (Episode 4–5)
Each team must show their color and identity by performing their representative hit songs that is rearranged and different from their usual stages of the song. For this round, there would be two Aces per team. The score system for the Team Ranking and Ace Ranking will be similar as that of Round 1:
Self-Evaluation – 3,000 points
On-Site Audience Vote – 7,000 points
After the second round, one team would be eliminated. The candidates for elimination will be the seventh-place team in the Team Ranking and the seventh-place ace in the Ace Ranking on the cumulative scores and ranking from Rounds 1 to 2. The team to be eliminated will be determined by an Ace Battle between the two teams. If a team places seventh both in the cumulative Ace Ranking and Team Ranking, then they would be eliminated immediately without holding an Ace Battle.[26]
For the first Elimination Ace Battle, two teams that are the candidates for elimination can send up to 2 people to be the Ace(s). The voting shall be done via self-evaluation — with each team sending the number of members equivalent to the least number of members among the five remaining teams. Since Oneus have the least number of members among the remaining five, having 5 members, five members will vote from each team, making a total of 25 voters for the Ace Battle.[27]
Only five teams will advance to the Finals. One out of the six teams will be eliminated after Round 3. The overall first place in the Cumulative Team Ranking and the first place in the Cumulative Ace Ranking for Rounds 1–3 will directly advance to the Finals. Meanwhile, the team with lowest score (6th place) in the overall ranking (combined Team Score and Ace Score) will be eliminated[27][28]
For the third round, No Limit will be set for the performances.[clarification needed] However, Round 3 will be composed of 2 parts: Ace Battle and Team Battle.
Ace Battle
The Ace Battle will be composed of two performances of different concepts: Water and Fire. The teams pick an Ace from their team who suits each concept well. Then, for each performance, the Aces will join to prepare two Ace unit stages. The total score obtained by each Ace from the two stages shall be added on their team's respective Ace Score.[27]
The score system will be similar as that of the Team Battle for Rounds 1 and 2:
Self-Evaluation – 3,000 points
Video Evaluation – 7,000 points
For the self-evaluation, each boy group would send five members to each vote for three aces and three teams, excluding their team's Ace and their own teams, respectively. The video evaluation shall be based on audience vote wherein the audience shall watch each team's performance on screen and pick their top three Aces and top three teams.
For each score category, the team with the most votes shall receive the maximum number of points (i.e., 3,000 for Self-Evaluation and 7,000 for Video Evaluation), while the remaining teams obtains the score in proportion from their vote count to the first-placed team's vote count.
This results to Tempest being the second team to be eliminated from the show. The five teams that advanced to the Finals were Cravity, Oneus, 8Turn, Younite, and The CrewOne.
Round 4: Live Finale
The Score for the Finals with a total of 200,000 points shall be based on the following:[28]
Preliminary Score (Rounds 1-3) – 100,000 points
Team Ranking – 30,000 points
Ace Ranking – 40,000 points
Accumulated Video View Count – 30,000 points
Live Broadcast Score – 100,000 points
Digital Points of New Release Songs[ag] – 30,000 points
Live Broadcast Votes – 70,000 points
The 5 remaining boy groups will each perform a newly produced song live.
The total score for the Preliminary Performances shall be adjusted such that the 1st place team gets 70,000 points and the remaining teams gets the number of points in proportion from their score to the 1st-placed team's score. The first-placed team for each of the remaining score categories shall receive the maximum score (e.g., 30,000 points for Full Ver. Performance Videos) while the rest of the teams shall receive the score in proportion to the first-placed team's score.[29]
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^Yoo, Ji-woo (October 3, 2024). '로드 투 킹덤' 더보이즈 주연, "충격적으로 좋은 포인트? 없어" 더크루원에 일침 ['Road to Kingdom' The Boyz's Juyeon, "Shockingly good points? None" A rebuke to The CrewOne] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jang, Jin-ri (April 24, 2024). [단독]'로드 투 킹덤2', 4년 만에 돌아온다..하반기 방송 [[Exclusive] 'Road to Kingdom 2' returns after 4 years..Broadcast in the second half of the year] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Gong, Mi-na (April 25, 2024). [단독] 싸이커스·더뉴식스·에잇턴, '로드 투 킹덤2' 출격 [[Exclusive] Xikers, The New Six, and 8Turn to appear on 'Road to Kingdom 2'] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jung, Ji-won (May 1, 2024). [단독] 템페스트, '로드 투 킹덤' 출격...Mnet 서바이벌 한 번 더 [[Exclusive] Tempest, to appear on 'Road to Kingdom'...Mnet survival one more time] (in Korean). Joy News 24. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Nate.
^Choi, Yi-jung (June 26, 2024). '로드 투 킹덤' 올 하반기 론칭..킹덤 프리퀄 아닌 '단독 브랜드화' [공식] ['Road to Kingdom' launched in the second half of this year...'sole branding' rather than a Kingdom prequel [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Archived from the original on June 26, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim, Min-ji (June 28, 2024). [단독] 원조 '로투킹' 출신 원어스, 리뉴얼되는 '로드 투 킹덤' 재도전 [[Exclusive] Oneus, the original 'Road to King' contestant, takes on the renewed challenge of 'Road to Kingdom'] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee, So-jung (July 3, 2024). 샤이니 태민, 데뷔 16년 만에 단독 MC 나선다...'로드 투 킹덤 2' 진행 [SHINee's Taemin becomes solo MC 16 years after debut...'Road to Kingdom 2' in progress] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee, Myung-joo (July 10, 2024). '로드 투 킹덤', 새 시즌 온다...최종 라인업 7팀 공개 ['Road to Kingdom', new season coming...Final lineup of 7 teams revealed] (in Korean). Dispatch. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kang, Ga-hee (July 17, 2024). '탬또롤' 태민, '로드 투 킹덤' 단독 MC 발탁.."다른 후보는 없었다" ['Taemttorol' Taemin, selected as sole MC for 'Road to Kingdom'.."There were no other candidates"] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on July 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2024 – via Naver.
^Park, Soo-in (August 1, 2024). 리뉴얼 론칭 '로드 투 킹덤' 첫 티저 공개, MC 태민 내레이션 [Renewal Launching 'Road to Kingdom' First Teaser Revealed, MC Taemin Narration] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ryu, Ye-ji (August 27, 2024). 태민 첫 단독 MC '로드 투 킹덤', 9월 19일 첫 방송 [Taemin's first solo MC 'Road to Kingdom', first broadcast on September 19th] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved August 27, 2024 – via Naver.
^CRAVITY、ONEUSら出演「ROAD TO KINGDOM : ACE OF ACE」9月19日より日韓同時放送が決定! [「ROAD TO KINGDOM : ACE OF ACE」 starring CRAVITY, ONEUS and others will be broadcast simultaneously in Japan and Korea starting September 19th!]. Kstyle (in Japanese). September 17, 2024. Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
^ abcYoon, Eun-yong (September 9, 2024). 첫 방 앞둔 '로드 투 킹덤', 새 규칙 도입···긴장감↑ '두근두근' ['Road to Kingdom' ahead of its first episode, new rules introduced...Tension↑ 'thrill'] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024 – via Naver.
^Yoo, Ji-woo (September 20, 2024). '로드투킹덤' 기대주 크래비티, 최하위로 추락..팀 배틀 권한 박탈 ['Road to Kingdom' Rising Star Cravity Falls to the Bottom..Team Battle Privileges Revoked] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Byung-gil (September 20, 2024). '로드 투 킹덤' 원어스, 평가전 에이스 배틀 1위 ['Road to Kingdom' Oneus, 1st place in evaluation match Ace Battle] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^Park, Seo-hyun (September 20, 2024). 더크루원, 사전 자체 평가 1위-에이스 공동 1위..'기선제압' 성공('로투킹') [The CrewOne, Pre-Self-Evaluation 1st Place-Ace Joint 1st Place..Successful 'Preemptive Takeover' ('Rotuking')] (in Korean). Herald Pop. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^"계급장 뗐다" 에잇턴, 막내의 대반란...'로드 투 킹덤' 팀 배틀 1위 ["I took off the rank" 8Turn, the youngest's rebellion...'Road to Kingdom' team battle 1st place] (in Korean). Retrieved September 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jin, Joo-hee (September 25, 2024). '로드 투 킹덤' 스트레이 키즈→NCT, 예측불가 충격 대진 ['Road to Kingdom' Stray Kids→NCT, unpredictable shock matchup] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abRoad to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. Episode 2 (in Korean). September 26, 2024. Mnet.
^Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. Episode 3 (in Korean). October 3, 2024. Mnet.
^Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. Episode 3 (in Korean). October 3, 2024. Mnet.
^ abcRoad to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. Episode 5 (in Korean). October 14, 2024. Mnet.
^ abRoad to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. Episode 7 (in Korean). October 31, 2024. Mnet.
^Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. Episode 8 (in Korean). November 7, 2024. Mnet.
