'Original Apartment' Yoon Soo-il "Happy about Rose APT reconstruction thanks to Sbuljae... I'll buy a meal"

"Younger generations will elevate national prestige with better songs"

BLACKPINK member Ros? (Park Chae-young) and American pop star Bruno Mars' song "APT." has gained worldwide popularity, bringing renewed attention to singer Yoon Soo-il's song "Apartment," released 42 years ago. Yoon Soo-il expressed his feelings about the renewed interest in his song, saying, "Just like ordinary apartments, when they reach 30 or 40 years old, they undergo redevelopment or reconstruction," and added, "I am truly happy and it is something to celebrate that my song is receiving attention again."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 31st, Yoon Soo-il appeared on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" and said, "Ros? created the song 'Apartment' with Bruno Mars, adapting it to current trends very well," and evaluated, "Even as someone who has spent a lifetime in music, I find the sound, beat, and melody line very attractive enough to be loved worldwide." He continued, "Although there is a significant age gap, like that of a daughter or granddaughter, making it a bit difficult to meet, I think we will meet someday when I start activities with a new album next year," and added, "I want to buy a meal or offer warm encouragement and congratulations."

He also said, "Thanks to Ros?, the status of K-pop has risen globally and gained influence," and "I am grateful that the love from those who loved my music 40 years ago and those who like our current Korean songs has become the driving force for musicians to create and take on challenges." He added, "If you all continue to show this much interest and love, I believe the juniors will create even better songs and play a role in raising our country's national prestige."

Singer Yoon Soo-il. [Image source=Nuri Maru Entertainment]

Some netizens have even created remixed and rearranged versions combining Ros?'s and Yoon Soo-il's songs. Regarding this, Yoon Soo-il said, "At first, I wondered if the remixed version would really suit the song, but it matched quite well," and expressed his gratitude, "I think that's why everyone is showing more interest."

Yoon Soo-il also shared the backstory of composing the song "Apartment." He explained that a friend of his, who was a soldier at the time, visited the apartment where his girlfriend lived, only to find out that she had silently emigrated. Inspired by this story, he wrote the song. He recalled, "I offered my friend a glass of soju and wrote on a memo, 'You, who are alone (with no one), cannot stay and have left your lonely apartment,' then put it in my back pocket," and added, "After sending him off and coming home, I composed the song in five minutes."

He said, "At that time, apartments were beginning to appear one by one in the reeds fields of Jamsil, and it was an era when people had a romantic dream of living in an apartment at least once," and added, "Now, apartments have become very common, but the popularity of my song 'Apartment' started from that dream."