As K-pop continues its significant expansion in the global market, another genre has been surging rapidly in the domestic music industry: Trot. Following the remarkable success of some trot singers, major K-pop powerhouses are diving into the unexpected combination of trot and K-pop. Trot -- part of the Korean popular music scene since the 1930s -- is a genre characterized by lively rhythms and abundant use of vibrato, the lyrics often catering to the sentiments of the older generations, However, in recent years, the success of audition programs featuring trot singers has led to the emergence of young trot artists enjoying popularity on par with that of K-pop stars, drawing the attention of a wider audience.
Lim Young-woong, one of the most popular trot singers today, rose to stardom after competing in TV Chosun's “Mr. Trot” in 2020. He became the first solo artist to surpass 10 billion cumulative streams on the domestic music streaming site Melon, and the first trot singer to win two grand prizes at the Melon Music Awards in 2022.
Recently, Lim held a solo concert at Seoul World Cup Stadium, one of Korea's largest venues, attended by some 100,000 people over the two days. Some K-pop powerhouses seem to be interested in this trot revival, and are beginning to blur the boundary between trot and K-pop. Among those enthusiastically embracing the new approach is Emily, 19, a longtime K-pop fan from the US, who wished to be identified by her first name only.
“There’s a new.
