"Song Has a Savory Flavor" Captivates 1020 Generation... The Golden Age of Trot

From 'Miss Trot' to 'Mr. Trot'... Trot Fever
Younger Generation Also Interested in Trot
Experts Say "Trot Has Been Renewed to Fit the Current Generation"

Lim Young-woong, Young Tak, Lee Chan-won, Jang Min-ho. Photo by Lee Chan-won Instagram

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "I never thought I would come to like trot music." , "I sing trot songs at karaoke instead of popular songs."

The trot craze, which followed last year's 'Miss Trot' with 'Mr. Trot,' is gaining momentum. Once considered the exclusive domain of the older generation, trot has now become popular across all age groups, including millennials in their teens and twenties. The broadcasting industry has also produced a series of programs centered on trot, marking a true 'golden age of trot.'

The origin of the trot craze can be traced back to TV Chosun's 'Tomorrow is Miss Trot (Miss Trot),' which aired from late February to early May last year. The winner of the program, Song Ga-in, sparked the so-called 'Song Ga-in syndrome' by actively engaging in nationwide concerts, events, and variety shows after the program ended.

Before 'Miss Trot,' there were trot-themed programs such as KBS1's 'Gayo Stage.' Although the ratings averaged between 8-10%, trot was regarded as a culture for the older generation at the time, so it did not generate much buzz.

However, as 'Miss Trot' and its sequel 'Tomorrow is Mr. Trot (Mr. Trot)' gained popularity, interest in trot music also grew.

Kang Mo (55), who openly admits to being a regular viewer of 'Mr. Trot,' said, "'Mr. Trot' ended and I was so disappointed that I watched the follow-up show 'Love Call Center' as well. Especially when I listened to Kim Ho-joong's 'Heavenly Reunion,' the lyrics resonated with me and brought tears to my eyes. It became a special song for me."

He added, "'Mr. Trot' offered not only singing but also dance and performances, making it visually rich. Watching the stage was enjoyable. Although the broadcast ended, I still look up the cast members' songs and performances every day."

Thanks to this interest, 'Mr. Trot' recorded the highest ratings ever for a comprehensive programming channel's variety show. The program started with a 12.5% rating but reached 35.7% in the final episode.

TV Chosun 'Mr. Trot' Final Episode. Photo by TV Chosun 'Mr. Trot' Broadcast Screen Capture

The trot craze also influenced the millennial generation (born from the early 1980s to early 2000s). The personal stories of the contestants moved the hearts of young viewers.

Kim Mo (25), who revealed she is a fan of 'Mr. Trot' winner Lim Young-woong, said, "I originally had no interest in trot. But my parents liked 'Mr. Trot,' so I watched it with them and gradually got hooked. Lim Young-woong sang the song 'Baraem' for his mother on the show, and I fell for that. His passionate singing for his mother was impressive."

During the preliminary round of 'Mr. Trot,' Lim Young-woong sang Noh Sa-yeon's 'Baraem,' saying, "I will sing for my mother who raised me alone." He also said, "I thought of my mother while singing. I am grateful to be able to sing on such a stage, and it brought tears to my eyes."

However, some express resistance to the ongoing trot craze. They argue that the freshness and fun have diminished because everyone is making variety shows based on trot.

Office worker Lee Mo (29) said, "I am not particularly interested in trot, but whenever I change channels, there are only trot-related programs. Since the cast members are the same, it feels like watching the same show repeatedly."

In January, Song Ga-in is posing ahead of the Lunar New Year special 2020 Song Ga-in Concert 'Thank You' at the MBC Open Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Experts suggest that trot needs to be reinvented to prevent the craze from being just a fleeting trend.

Cultural critic Jung Deok-hyun said, "All cultures need to be reinterpreted to fit the current generation. If you keep insisting only on genres that were popular in the past, it will be difficult for such popularity to continue."

He added, "Trot has recently shown tendencies to be renewed to suit the current generation. That does not mean traditional trot has disappeared. Separate from traditional trot, trot has been transformed to fit the present era. Kim Yeon-ja's 'Amor Fati' is a representative example of reinterpreting trot. This song incorporates EDM (Electronic Dance Music) into trot," he analyzed.

He also pointed out that the reason trot became popular among young people is the 'storytelling' aspect of audition programs. He said, "Young people tend to enjoy audition programs, and the storytelling format itself has a fundamental influence."

Jung further emphasized, "Because audition programs feature young contestants, trot sung by the new generation gives a youthful vibe. Also, trot auditions are not limited to singing only trot. They mix trot with various genres like pop and ballads, which makes it feel fresh in many ways."