No one can deny that K-pop has successfully emerged as one of the biggest music industries globally. And with the popularity of K-pop and its genres influenced by pop, hip-hop, R&B, and more, a new Korean type of music is experiencing a rebirth — trot music. Popular among older Koreans, trot songs have infectious beats and vocal inflections, embracing a unique singing technique to showcase lower notes with vibrato or voice cracks.

At the forefront of trot resurgence is Young Tak, a veteran singer-songwriter who’s now on the mainstream lens, ready to showcase his vocal prowess and undeniable charisma. Recently, he was in the Philippines for a series of appearances. If you’re curious to know more about the trot superstar, here’s our short guide to get you started.

He worked as a part-time professor at Sehan University

Pursuing your passion isn’t easy, and Young Tak knows that better than anybody else. The 39-year-old trot star shared that his success was born out of “difficult unknown days.” He had to resort to other means to earn money, such as being a part-time professor at Sehan University and singing guide vocals for other artists. It’s nice to see that all his hard work is now paying off!

He used to be a ballad singer

Prior to trot stardom, Young Tak began as a ballad singer and debuted with his first album entitled ‘Young Tak Disid.’ He also sang an OST for the hit K-drama City Hunter under a ballad duo called J-Symphony. 

He was a finalist in Mr. Trot 2019

Mr. Trot is a popular reality TV competition for amateur trot singers in South Korea. In 2019, Young Tak placed second overall, besting 17,000 other contestants. His stint on Mr. Trot opened more opportunities for him, such as the musical documentary film Mr. Trot: The Movie and the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Trot Awards. 

He was listed in Forbes Korea’s Power Celebrity ranking in 2021

ICYDK, the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity, is an annual list that ranks the most powerful public personalities in South Korea across sports and entertainment. Young Tak was ranked 8th in the 2021 edition, alongside other big names like BTS, Blackpink, and Yoo Jae-suk. What an incredible feat!

He’s set to star in his first-ever K-drama this year!

The South Korean trot singer will be part of the K-drama Strong Woman Gang Nam-soon under JTBC. Although we still don’t know much about Young Tak’s character, it seems he’ll be part of the supporting cast. What can we say? Young Tak is one versatile artist!

He’s open to collaborations

In an exclusive press con with Young Tak, he told 8List.ph that he’s looking forward to collaborations with other artists. Although he hasn’t done one yet, the singer-songwriter isn’t closing his doors to opportunities of doing one. 

He wants to make relatable music that sparks joy

Young Tak says the barrier between K-pop and trot music is slowly vanishing. “I can say that the trot music I’m currently doing is trot music that represents the generations.”

He adds that his songs like “Jjiniya,” “Why Did You Come From Here,” and “What is Happening?” are widely used expressions in the Korean language. “Using the same principle, I think if I were to travel to different countries and also learn their catchphrases, I’ll be able to create songs and compile a single album that tackles the expressions of different countries with a single spoon of comedy.”

Can you imagine if he makes a song based on Filipino catchphrases like “Ay sus, ginoo” or “Susmaryosep?” Now, that’s something to look forward to!

Wanna know more about Young Tak?

You can follow him on Instagram and TikTok. You can also stream his latest single “MMM,” a high-energy song that talks about a man who’s ready to swoon over a lovely lady, just like a true gentleman. 

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