"This Is Hip"... Rap by Grandmothers with Average Age of 85 Nears One Million Views

The Oldest Grandma Rapper Group in Chilgok, "Suni and Chil Princesses"
Produced to Promote Domestic Sea Travel

The rap performed by a group of grandmothers in their eighties, neither idol stars nor famous rappers, is on the verge of reaching one million views.

According to Chilgok County in North Gyeongsang Province on May 21, the "Suni and Chil Princesses," the oldest grandma rapper group in Chilgok, released a campaign video titled "Moon Going to the Sea," featuring a rap performance against the backdrop of the sea in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. As of the morning of this day, the video, which was released on April 22, had surpassed 870,000 views. The number of comments exceeded 1,000, and YouTube's algorithm also favored the video. The video reached 10,000 views within half a day of its release and has since continued its viral success, surpassing 870,000 views in just over a month.

Chilgok Grandma Rapper's Sea Travelogue Video. Chilgok County Office

Suni and Chil Princesses is a rapper group with an average age of 85, formed by elderly residents of Chilgok in August 2023. They learned both Hangul and hip-hop after turning eighty. Recently, they have attracted attention from major foreign media and have appeared in large corporate advertisements and policy promotion videos, continuing their active presence.

This video was produced as part of a public campaign jointly planned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Korea Tourism Organization. The campaign aims to promote the appeal of coastal and fishing villages and to encourage domestic sea travel. In the video, the Chil Princesses rap cheerfully on the piers, beaches, and yachts of Tongyeong.

Park Jeomsun, the team leader who participated in the video, said, "I never imagined I would come all the way here and rap," adding, "It feels wonderful to learn something new at this age and to be able to bring joy to someone."

Chilgok Grandma Rapper's Sea Travelogue Video. Chilgok County Office

Comments included, "I found myself smiling along with the grandmothers," "I was moved to tears thinking of my own grandmother," and "Our sea is more beautiful than those overseas."

Kim Jaeuk, the mayor of Chilgok, said, "The sea in the video was blue and deep, but what was even deeper was the laughter of the Chilgok grandmothers," adding, "I hope their challenge becomes an opportunity not only for domestic tourism, but also for intergenerational understanding."