Writer: Haarini Angappan Balasubramaniam (Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India) and Ankita Panda (Kolkata, West Bengal, India)

Editor: Ankita Panda (Kolkata, West Bengal, India)

Trot (트롯 ) is a genre of Korean popular music well known for its repetitive, addictive rhythms, special voice inflection techniques known as “kkeokk-ki (꺾기)”, and emotional lyrics. The kkeokk-ki technique is like a garnish that makes trot stand out from other music genres.

The origin of trot music is historically significant, as various Korean, American, European, and Japanese musical genres influenced it. The modern alternative name for trot is “Jeontong-gayo (전통가요)”, which literally translates to “traditional popular song”, and gave a sense of pride and confidence to the Korean people. 

The History Behind Korea’s Trot Music

Trot originated in the late 1920s during the Japanese colonial period, and it was influenced by the Japanese music genre Enka. These songs were translated into Korean, and other Korean songs were sung by Japanese artists, causing the two melodies to merge. Since it differed from traditional Korean folk songs, this mixed style was referred to as “popular” music. 

_{Video Credits: 은발촌}

After Korea gained independence, the government removed the remnants of Japanese influence from Korean popular music. Finally, in the 1960s, the Korean Trot music genre was established through newly created songs. The term Trot originated from the Western dance music “foxtrot,” but they share no connection other than their two-beat rhythm.  

_{Video Credits: Sonamu Music}

The influence of Enka on Trot led to a major debate about its true origin. This dispute occurred when Korea and Japan normalized their diplomatic relationship in 1965. The debate over trot’s origin still exists today. However,  there is no conclusive answer to this question; it is generally considered a part of Korean culture even today.

The Journey of Trot

In the 1920s, Trot was called the “Yuheang-changga (유행창가),” later abbreviated to “yuhaengga (유행가),” meaning popular and trendy music in Western and Japanese style, emphasizing its fame. This broader musical environment contributed to the development of Korean popular music, which includes trot. It was also called “Daejung-gayo (대중가요)”, meaning ‘music for the public’. This term is widely used for all sorts of popular music including K-pop. 

_{Video Credits: ㅊㅊ Studio – 츠츠 스튜디오}

Trot music flourished from the 1950s to the 1980s. As a result of the Korean War, many trot songs from this period reflected themes of colonial tragedy, uncertainty, longing, love, parting, and hometown. Songs like “The Taedong River is Full of Sorrow (한 많은 대동강)” and “Heartbreaking Miari Hill (단장의 미아리고개)” comforted the Korean people’s heartbreak caused by separation.

This was when trot singers such as Lee Mi-ja, Na Hoon-a, Nam Jin, and Joo Hyun-mi became legends, defining the golden age of Korean trot music. 

_{Video Credits: 1theK (원더케이)}

The 1990s were a turbulent period for trot music. It was when K-pop became popular and dominated the Korean music industry. During this period, trot was considered old and lost some popularity, but it was soon revived in the 2000s with Jang Yoon-jeong’s “Eomeona! (어머나!)”. Singers like Park Hyun-bin, Hong Jin-young, and K-pop singers such as Daesung, Super Junior-T, and Lizzy followed, and brought Trot back in fashion. 

Trot is Hot Again

Trot was in the background of the Korean music industry for years, but in 2019 its popularity skyrocketed. Shows like “Hangout with Yoo (놀면 뭐하니?)” and “Miss Trot (내일은 미스트롯)” brought people’s attention back to trot. “Mr. Trot (내일은 미스터트롯)”, an audition show, further fueled the genre’s popularity, with its viewer ratings reaching an impressive 35.7%. This show took the whole country by storm.  

“Mr. Trot” was followed by various new shows such as “K-Trot in Town (트롯신이 떴다)”, “Voice Trot (보이스트롯)”, and “Mr. Trot: Love Call Center (사랑의 콜센타)”. The top seven finalists of Mr. Trot are among the main reasons trot is a trend again. New trot singers like Lim Young-woong, Youngtak, Lee Chan-won, Song Ga-in, Park Goon, Kim Ho-joong, and more have pushed trot back into the mainstream top 10 music charts. 

Why Should You Listen to Trot?

Trot has an exciting rhythm and a lively feel. It energizes you and makes adrenaline rush through your veins. Trot is a vibe that creates a festive mood. The kkeokk-ki technique amplifies the emotions of the songs. Trot can be the happiest and saddest genre. Dance trot has peppy music that makes you move your body, while sad trot songs can make you cry rivers.

_{Video Credits:여수MBC Music+(Kpop&Trot)}

The lyrics are what bring life to trot songs. The lyrics of many trot songs are about true stories and real-life situations. They have fun and interesting lyrics that can make you laugh. Some songs like “At Andong Station (안동역에서)’‘ by Jin Sung and “Love is the Seed of Tears (사랑은 눈물의 씨앗)” by Na Hoon-a capture heartache through lyrics beautifully. The reason that people love trot is that they can relate to the lyrics; they carry a myriad of emotions.

_{Video Credits: Na Hun A – Topic}

Trot has a variety of sub-genres. There is old trot, traditional trot, elegy trot, gugak trot, ballad trot, rock trot, and semi trot. It never gets boring as it is always evolving. Modern trot songs even include Rap and Electronic Dance Music (EDM). It is a genre that everyone should try exploring. If you don’t know where to start, here are some trot songs that you can give a try:

Did you know about the interesting history behind Trot? Do you have a favourite Trot song or artist? Tell us in the comments!!