Photos & | “Best Magic I’ve Ever Seen”: Hundred Fingers Finishes Third on America’s Got Talent, Heads to Las Vegas

The unprecedented birth of a 10-member magic Avengers

The Korean magic team 'Hundred Fingers' has set its sights on the global stage after finishing third in Season 21 of the hit U.S. audition program 'America's Got Talent.' The team drew high praise from judge Howie Mandel, who called it “the best magic I’ve ever seen,” and made history as the first Korean act to receive the 'Golden Buzzer' twice. Magician Yu Hojin said he formed the group because he “wanted to bring together the best magicians in South Korea and create a magic team unlike anything the world had seen.” He emphasized that the group is the first in the world to move beyond the limitations of traditional magic, which typically centers on a single lead performer, by giving all 10 members starring roles. 'Hundred Fingers' consists of 10 members: Yu Hojin, winner of the 2012 FISM World Championship of Magic Grand Prix and the 2024 SBS show 'The Magic Star,' along with Kim Dohyun, Kim Ji-ho, Kim Cheol-gyu, Kim Han-soo, Kim Ho-san, Yeon Mun-hyeong, Yun Je-seop, Lee Hyeon-yong and Choi Jun-hyeong.

A singular performance that captivated the U.S. with a blend of tradition and modernity

In the auditions, the group captured the judges’ attention with 'manipulation,' an extreme display of card-handling skill. In the quarterfinals, the members wore costumes that reinterpreted the traditional Korean hanbok robe and delivered 'synchronized sword-dance magic,' combining an elegant fan dance with sharply choreographed sword movements. In the finals, their dazzling staging and perfectly synchronized movements earned a standing ovation from every judge. The group also set a rare record by earning the 'Golden Buzzer' in both the auditions and quarterfinals, allowing it to bypass the intermediate judging rounds and advance directly to the finals. Member Kim Ji-ho took particular pride in the group’s originality, saying, “The 10 of us moved through the choreography as a unit and created a visually distinctive image.”

100 fingers forged through blood and sweat become a single art form

Behind the group’s seemingly effortless precision lies an intense training regimen that pushed the limits of endurance. 'Hundred Fingers' began full-scale group rehearsals last October, sometimes staying up for three straight days and nights to perfect its coordination. Lee Hyeon-yong recalled that when the team unexpectedly won the 'Golden Buzzer,' “the grueling hours of practice flashed before my eyes, and it felt like we had received a tremendous reward.” Leader Yu Hojin said the team was united by “a clear sense of purpose: to share the traditional beauty of Korea with the world through the medium of magic.”

A leap toward the world’s best as Hundred Fingers heads to Las Vegas

Howie Mandel, the Canadian comedian and longest-serving judge on the program, praised the group after watching the finals, calling it “the kind of show that deserves its own venue in Las Vegas.” He added, “If the opportunity isn’t there, I’d invest my own money.” That praise quickly became reality. With Mandel’s full support, 'Hundred Fingers' has begun a concrete project aimed at opening a dedicated venue in Las Vegas next March. Before that, the group will tour 10 U.S. cities in February. Yu Hojin said he was deeply moved by the prospect, calling Las Vegas — where legendary magicians such as David Copperfield have performed — “the dream destination for any magician.”

Building K-magic into a global brand and expanding its intellectual property

Despite the team’s successive breakthroughs overseas, some also voiced frustration with the difficult conditions facing South Korea’s magic industry. Kim Dohyun called for greater public recognition, saying, “The public’s interest remains limited compared with the exceptional abilities of Korean magicians.” Yu Hojin likewise underscored magic’s value as a 'multidisciplinary art,' saying, “We spend months researching props and devoting ourselves to practice to deliver just one second of wonder.” 'Hundred Fingers' has now adopted a long-term vision of turning the team itself into a powerful intellectual property asset and developing it into a global live-entertainment brand. The group has also begun recruiting members for its second generation. Yu Hojin said he is determined to be remembered as “a true 'magic Avengers' that delivers emotions audiences have never experienced before.”