The 2025 MBC Gayo Daejejeon marked a major transition this year not only celebrating its 20th anniversary, but also opening a new chapter following the departure of Girls’ Generation’s Yoona, who had served as the show’s iconic MC for nearly a decade.
Held on December 31 at the MBC Dream Center in Goyang, the year-end music festival featured a fresh hosting lineup. Veteran broadcaster Jun Hyun-moo returned for his third consecutive year, joined by SHINee’s Minho appearing as an MC for the first time since completing his military service and Annie of ALLDAY Project, who made her official MC debut at the event.
With Yoona stepping down after last year, Annie took on the role as the only female MC of the night, a position that naturally drew heightened attention and comparisons. However, early reviews suggest that filling Yoona’s shoes was no easy task.
Unlike the energetic and polished style often seen from experienced music show hosts, Annie approached the stage with a noticeably calmer tone. Throughout the broadcast, she was frequently seen checking her script and appeared visibly nervous at moments, occasionally stumbling over her lines. While understandable for a first-time MC, some viewers felt the hosting lacked the confidence and spontaneity expected from a large-scale year-end broadcast.
Still, Annie openly acknowledged the significance of the opportunity. During the show, she shared, “This is my first MC role in my life, and I can’t believe it’s at Gayo Daejejeon. It feels like a dream just to be standing here.” Her sincerity resonated with some viewers, who emphasized that no newcomer could instantly replace a host with Yoona’s decade-long legacy.
Despite the mixed reactions to her performance, Annie undeniably succeeded in drawing attention. As a rookie MC with a high-profile background, her debut generated substantial online buzz and contributed to renewed interest in the show’s evolving identity. Some industry observers noted that while the execution may have lacked polish, her presence symbolized a generational shift rather than a direct replacement.
Meanwhile, the 20th anniversary edition of MBC Gayo Daejejeon featured a massive, genre-spanning lineup including ALLDAY Project, ATEEZ, BOYNEXTDOOR, LE SSERAFIM, IVE, ITZY, NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, RIIZE, Stray Kids, THE BOYZ, TREASURE, TXT, ZEROBASEONE, and many more, reaffirming the event’s status as one of Korea’s most prominent year-end music celebrations.
As Gayo Daejejeon moves forward without Yoona at its center, this year’s broadcast made one thing clear: while her absence is deeply felt, the show is beginning to explore what its next era may look like with new faces, new dynamics, and growing pains along the way.
Sources: Naver
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