SHINHWA I Pray 4 U 2002 K-pop Ballad Fan Song SHINHWA (신화) released ‘I Pray 4 U’ as the follow-up single to their 5th studio album, Perfect Man, in 2002. In stark contrast to the powerful choreography of their title track ‘Perfect Man,’ this was a warm, emotional ballad. It…
Im Chang-jung Again 1997 K-pop Ballad Legend The song that solidified Im Chang-jung’s (임창정) status not merely as a multi-entertainer, but as a leading South Korean ballad singer, is “Again (그때 또 다시),” the title track of his 1997 third studio album, Again. Written by Park Ju-yeon and composed by…
Young Turks Club Jeong 1996 K-pop Yoon Il-sang Dance Young Turks Club (영턱스클럽) was a five-member co-ed group that took the Korean dance music scene by storm upon their 1996 debut. Their biggest hit, “Jeong (情) – Dangerous Farewell,” the follow-up track from their first album, became an instant phenomenon.…
Song Dae-kwan Haet Deul Nal 1975 National Hope Trot Released in 1975, Song Dae-kwan’s (송대관) “Haet Deul Nal (해뜰날),” literally meaning ‘A Sunny Day Will Rise,’ is one of the most brightly optimistic songs in Korean trot music history. The lyrics were written by Song Dae-kwan himself during his long,…
Lee Jung-hyun Change 1999 K-pop Techno Warrior The year 1999 marked a turning point in Korean popular culture with the emergence of singer Lee Jung-hyun (이정현). Her track “Change (바꿔)”, a follow-up single from her debut album ‘Let’s Go To My Star,’ delivered a powerful shock with its combination of…
Lee Ji-yeon Please Stop the Wind 1989 K-pop In the late 1980s, Lee Ji-yeon (이지연), known as the ‘Tear Sheet Goddess’ for her innocent beauty and touching voice, released her mega-hit “Please Stop the Wind (바람아 멈추어다오)” as the title track of her 1989 second album. Composed and written by…
Clon First Love 2000 K-pop Techno Dance From the late 1990s into the early 2000s, Clon (클론) dominated the Korean dance music scene. Their mega-hit “First Love (초련)” was released in 2000. Already dance powerhouses with hits like ‘Kungtari Shabara’ and ‘Escape from the City,’ Clon embraced the Techno sound…
Turbo A Jazz Bar 1996 K-pop Ballad In the mid-1990s, when they dominated the music scene with explosive dance tracks, Turbo (터보) released a hidden masterpiece, “A Jazz Bar… (어느 째즈바…)” as the third promotional single from their 1996 2nd album, New Sensation. Following the mega-hits “Twist King” and “Love…
Songolmae The Love I Ran Into 1982 Retro Rock In the history of Korean popular music, Songolmae (송골매) is more than just a band; it’s a legendary name that symbolized the youth culture of the 1980s, producing stars like Bae Chul Soo and Koo Chang Mo. Released in 1982, their…
Baby V.O.X Ya Ya Ya 1998 K-pop Girl Group In the late 1990s, when the golden age of First Generation K-pop Idols began, Baby V.O.X (Baby V.O.X) released “Ya Ya Ya,” a defining hit in 1998. This refreshing dance-pop track marked Baby V.O.X’s successful transition from a powerful warrior image…