[Report] "Na Hoon-a and Lim Young-woong Are All Here" USB Trot That Enchanted the 60s and 70s

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"Even Na Hoon-a listens to it, Lim Young-woong listens to it, it's all here... Mr. Reporter, you should try listening too."

On the 12th, a man in his 70s met at Tapgol Park in Jongno, Seoul, said, "All the singers are included here," and added as he hurried away after showing his 'Hyo-do Radio' (Filial Piety Radio). He added, "I bought this radio somewhere around here. I listen to songs and take walks, it's enjoyable."

An elderly man is showing his 'Filial Radio' at Tapgol Park in Jongno, Seoul. Photo by Han Seung-gon

The 'Hyo-do Radio,' commonly seen among elderly people, operates on one or two batteries and is usually about the size of an adult's palm. It is easy to carry, allowing users to put it in their pockets or wear it on their waist to listen to music. By plugging a portable storage device (USB) into the radio, users can immediately listen to their desired trot songs. This can be seen as an evolution from the cassette, a portable music playback device from the 1980s, to a playback device where songs can be played instantly by plugging in a USB.

Because trot songs are listened to via USB, it is also called 'USB Trot' among some elderly people. It is widely used by the 60s and 70s generations who find it difficult to use smartphones or install music apps. Prices vary from around 10,000 KRW to 30,000 KRW depending on the radio functions and USB capacity. The main customers are, of course, elderly people.

'Hyo-do Radio' sold around Jongno Photo by Han Seung-gon

Perhaps for this reason, on the 10th, the 'Emperor of Trot,' Na Hoon-a, announced that his new song album 'Dawn' would be released not only on CD but also on USB this time. By plugging the so-called 'Na Hoon-a USB' into the Hyo-do Radio, users can immediately listen to the new song.

The reaction from elderly people is positive. Park Chang-gyu (76), whom we met near Nakwon Arcade, said, "Sometimes my children or grandchildren buy it for me, and sometimes I save my allowance to buy it myself." He added, "I think everyone probably has one of these. I just leave it on all day, listening to the radio and songs." He raised his voice in approval of Na Hoon-a's new song being released on USB, saying, "It's very good."

Kim Young-hae, an elderly man in his 80s who was nearby, also said, "When you play it, it's not just for yourself; everyone can listen, so the atmosphere is good," adding, "I listen to Na Hoon-a, Nam Jin a lot, Jang Yoon-jeong too, and all the exciting songs."

Elderly people say that using the 'Filial Piety Radio' is simple and easy. The photo shows elderly people spending time near Tapgol Park. Photo by Han Seung-gon.

Although popular among elderly people who find it difficult to use music apps, the Hyo-do Radio has a darker side involving copyright infringement controversies. The trot songs stored on the USB may be illegally copied music, and cases where trot songs are directly loaded into the Hyo-do Radio for sale may also constitute copyright infringement.

In 2013, the trot industry complained that illegal music copying through Hyo-do Radios severely damaged the record industry. Since then, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has cracked down on sellers of Hyo-do Radios. At that time, more than 20,000 memory chips containing illegally copied music were confiscated.

A seller near Jongno emphasized, "That might have been the case in the past, but not anymore." Currently, the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) collects usage fees according to regulations. Production companies that sell music stored on USBs calculate the number of songs and USB units and pay fees to the association.

A KOMCA official explained, "In the early days when albums were released via USB, there were concerns about illegal distribution and negative views that it could disrupt market order. Currently, album releases and approvals proceed according to relevant regulations, and we believe the market order is well established. As the use of USB media increases, we plan to explore various collection methods and ways to protect creators."

Experts explain that the heavy use of Hyo-do Radios among the 60s and 70s generations is because it aligns with their consumption values. Professor Park Heung-jin of the Senior Industry Department at Sejong University's Graduate School of Public Policy said, "Products have value based on the purposes of the consumers who use them. It's not that complexity is always better, nor do seniors only look for simplicity. It varies depending on the purpose and usage value."