Song Dae-gwan "After 8 Years of Obscurity, Became King of Singers, Cried Holding Trophy Alone at Home"

On the 14th, trot singer Song Dae-gwan appeared on MBC Every1's entertainment program 'Video Star' and shared the story of overcoming eight years of obscurity. Photo by MBC Every1 'Video Star' broadcast capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] Trot singer Song Dae-kwan revealed an episode of crying alone on the day he escaped eight years of obscurity.

On the 14th, the MBC Every1 entertainment program 'Video Star' aired a special episode titled 'Trot Master-Disciple Special! Don't Tackle on Sunny Days,' featuring Song Dae-kwan, Jin Sung, Kim Soo-chan, Shin In-sung, and Shin Sung.

During the broadcast, host Park So-yeon asked Song Dae-kwan, "You became a national singer with 'Haedeulnal.' I heard that because of you, a scale once appeared at a music awards ceremony."

Song Dae-kwan said, "Back then, it was the era when fans sent postcards to the broadcasting station to vote for their favorite singers, like texting today," adding, "On the last day of the year, when the Singer of the Year was announced, the postcards coming to me arrived by truck, so they were countless."

He recalled, "When the Singer of the Year was announced, the host said 'Singer King Song!' and Song Chang-sik, who was sitting next to me, and I looked at each other," and continued, "When they called out 'Dae-kwan!' I stood up but lost strength and sat back down."

He added, "At that time, I had no manager and no car. Suddenly, after eight years of being unknown, I became the Singer of the Year. After the awards ceremony was over and I was going home, I felt very empty."

He continued, "The stage was glamorous, but when I entered the small room where I lived alone, I felt lonely," and said, "There was no one to comfort me or congratulate me. I stroked the trophy alone and cried."

When Kim Sook asked, "You were the top singer at the time, but I heard there was an order from the radio station not to book you," Song Dae-kwan explained, "Because I spoke in a strong Jeolla dialect, less than half of the listeners could understand me. Although it has improved a lot now, the station manager monitored and said, 'What is this person saying? Why book this person? Don't book him again,' so I had fewer radio appearances for a while."

He added, "Now, for the past ten years, when I appear on talk shows, people say, 'Please speak in your hometown dialect.' It has become an era where hometown dialects are favored. Not only Jeolla dialect but also Gyeongsang and Chungcheong dialects are being appreciated."

In response, Park Na-rae said, "Thanks to you, seniors like you, juniors like me also use the Jeolla dialect, and a good world has come."

Then Song Dae-kwan said to Park Na-rae, "Maybe that's why you look especially pretty on TV," and Park Na-rae replied, "He's my hometown oppa."

Hearing this, Jin Sung said, "I have an older brother and a younger brother. I am also from Jeolla," to which Park Na-rae responded, "Our oppa must feel a bit left out," causing laughter.