[May 2026 Netizen Awards] Koo Chang-mo and Cho Yong-pil's 'Match of the Century' is heading toward the final stretch in the Grand Star Award category, producing a dramatic, neck-and-neck race. Sparked by a clash of fandoms for the two masters representing the history of Korean popular music, the vote has shaped up to be a situation where it is difficult to predict the winner, with a margin of just 58 votes.

According to the tally as of 5:17 p.m. on the 29th, Koo Chang-mo has secured 4,917 votes (32.9% of the vote), maintaining first place by a narrow margin. Close behind in second place, Cho Yong-pil recorded 4,859 votes (32.5%), staging a breathtaking chase. Both candidates have secured an overwhelming vote share of over 30%, proving the strong solidarity of their powerful fandoms.

Due to the fierce competition at the top, a distinct gap has formed with the third-place group. Currently, Kim Wan-sun is in third place with 1,540 votes (10.3%), followed by Lee Sun-hee in fourth with 1,037 votes (6.9%), and Na Hoon-a in fifth with 725 votes (4.8%), each defending their respective rankings.

In a tight situation where every single vote could reverse the rankings, fans' enthusiasm is expected to heat up even more during the remaining voting period. Attention is focused on whether Koo Chang-mo will defend his first place or if Cho Yong-pil will make a dramatic comeback in the May Netizen Awards Grand Star Award as it heads toward its final conclusion.