The Korea Times
“It is undeniable that trot singers are more skilled and have better attitudes than some K-pop idols caught up in scandals. Many trot singers have gone through hardships in life, and they have the determination to overcome them. It is no wonder they are becoming more popular.” The comment was posted under a members-only Hankook Ilbo article about why Koreans in their 20s and 30s are increasingly turning to trot music. The apparent resentment toward repeated controversies involving K-pop idols — whether another military service dispute surrounding a male idol or a government probe into tax evasion allegations — offers a glimpse into why some young Koreans are shifting their attention to young trot singers. Trot refers to a Korean popular music genre that predates K-pop. Influenced by Japanese enka and Western musical styles, it dominated Korea’s music scene for decades and remained a favorite among older generations even after K-pop took over the charts. For many younger Koreans, however, the genre long carried an image of being old-fashioned and tacky. Recently, however, trot
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