DAY 4 IN SEOUL: Most popular Korean Songs from the 1950's to the Present

Korean music was almost totally missing, growing up in Hawaii.  The exception was Arirang.  Today, BTS and BLACKPINK resonate around the world. 

In addition to the 600 year-old Arirang, what is the all-time #1?  My favorites are:

• Baby Shark, released by Pinkfong in 2016.
• For one, it is the most-viewed You Tube video ever, hitting 7 billion views and surpassing Despacito in 2022.  

• Is now up to 16.47 billion views, with Despacito at 9 billion.
• Top 10 music videos, based on data from Kworb and Wikipedia: Note that most are nursery songs.

1. 
   "Baby Shark Dance" – Pinkfong Kids' Songs & Stories (16.47 billion)
2. "Despacito" – Luis Fonsi ft. Daddy Yankee (8.91 billion)
3. "Wheels on the Bus" – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (8.29 billion)
4. "Bath Song" – Cocomelon Nursery Rhymes (7.31 billion)
5. "Johny Johny Yes Papa" – LooLoo Kids (7.13 billion)
6. "See You Again" – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth (6.86 billion)
7. "Phonics Song with Two Words" – ChuChu TV (6.81 billion)
8. "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran (6.62 billion)
9. "Gangnam Style" – Psy (5.78 billion)
10. "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars (5.71 billion) 

• Baby Shark only peaked at #32 on Billboard in 2019.
• Here is a video that goes on and on about Baby Shark, if you need to distract a young child for awhile.
• 
  Psy's Gangnam Style made a huge global splash in 2012.
• Was the first You Tube video to reach 1 billion views, now up to 5.8 billion.
• Peaked at #2 on Billboard that year.
• Psy's Gentleman in 2013 was at least a minor hit, reaching 1.7 billion views on You Tube and peaking at #5 on Billboard.
• 
  BTS (Bangtan Sonyeodan) debuted in 2013.  Their photo that year to the right.  
• Struggled for two years.
• I Need U was their breakthrough hit in 2015.
• In 2017 became the first K-pop group to win a Billboard Music Award.
• During the Pandemic their Dynamite, Butter and Permission to Dance earned multiple Grammy nominations, and they became the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year at the 2021 American Music Awards.
• 
  Then had to complete mandatory military service from 2022-2025, and are now from 28 to 33 years old.
• All seven re-formed and will release their fifth studio album, Arirang, in March of 2026.

• 
  They will begin their Arirang World Tour on 9April2026 in Goyang, South Korea.  Then, NorthAmerica, Europe, South American and Asia.  79 shows on five continents in 11 months.
• They actually released their their version of that historic song, Arirang, seven years ago.
  
• BTS' fanbase, ARMY, is one of the largest in the world, with nearly 90 million members.

• I  wrote about Blackpink 6 years ago.  They made their debut a decade ago and are now all in their early 30s.  Here are their top 10 songs.

• So K-pop music now is all that is left.  Perhaps the first group might have been the Kim Sisters in the '50s.
• They were born in Seoul, formed in 1953, and became popular with American troops.

• 
  Later in the 50s, starred in Las Vegas.
• They appeared on the Ed Sullivan show more than 20 times.  
• Here they are with Charlie Brown.

Interesting that the following Google AI summary of music about South Korea does not even mention Baby Shark.  Why?  I guess because it is a children's song.

Creating a definitive "top ten" is subjective, but historically crucial South Korean songs from the 1950s onwards include timeless folk like "Morning Dew" (Yang Hee Eun), wartime classics such as "Night of Yongdeongpo," trot anthems like "Busan Station of Farewell" (Nam In Su), ballads like "You're My Only Love" (Hye Eun), rock-infused hits, and the legendary folk song "Arirang," representing diverse eras and enduring cultural significance. 

Here's a blend of foundational hits and iconic tracks, spanning from the 50s to modern classics:

Iconic Songs from South Korea (1950s - Present)

1. Arirang (Various Artists): The quintessential Korean folk song, embodying national spirit and recognized by UNESCO.
2. Busan Station of Farewell (Nam In Su): A foundational trot song from the post-war era, reflecting longing for home.
3. Dreaming Baekma River (Lee In Kwon): A popular classic evoking nostalgia and traditional imagery.
4. Night of Yongdeongpo (Oh Ki Taek): A poignant song capturing the atmosphere of a city during challenging times.
5. Morning Dew (Yang Hee Eun): A powerful folk song from the 70s that became an anthem for youth and change.
6. You're My Only Love (Hye Eun): A beloved pop standard from the 70s, showcasing vocal talent.
7. Shine (Shinhwa): An optimistic, classic K-pop track proving that brighter themes can endure.
8. Cherry Blossom Ending (Busker Busker): A massive modern hit (2012) known for its seasonal appeal and sales.
9. A Buddhist Nun of Suducksa (Son Chun Hee): A deeply emotional song from the trot/folk tradition.
10. Spring in My Hometown (Kim Jung Mi): A beautiful, nostalgic piece representing a classic sound. 

Or, another way of looking at music popular in South Korea:

South Korea’s musical history from 1950 to 2026 is defined by a transition from mourning the war to global pop dominance. Below are ten historic songs that have shaped the nation's identity, spanning trot, folk, rock, and the modern K-pop era. 

• "Hold On, Geumsun" (굳세어라 금순아) – Hyun In (1953)
  A defining song of the 1950s that resonated with millions of refugees during the Korean War. It tells the heart-wrenching story of a man separated from his sister at the Hungnam evacuation.

• "The Boy in the Yellow Shirt" (노란 샤쓰의 사나이) – Han Myung-sook (1961)
  This upbeat track signaled a shift away from melancholic traditional styles toward Western-influenced swing and country. It is considered the first "Hallyu" (Korean Wave) hit, gaining massive popularity in Japan and Southeast Asia.
• "Camellia Lady" (동백 아가씨) – Lee Mi-ja (1964)
  The quintessential "Trot" ballad, this song topped Korean charts for a record 35 weeks. Despite being banned for years by the government for sounding "too Japanese," it remained the nation's unofficial favorite, cementing Lee Mi-ja as the "Queen of Trot".
• "Morning Dew" (아침 이슬) – Yang Hee-eun (1971)
  Originally a poetic folk song, it became the anthem of South Korea’s 1970s and 80s pro-democracy movements. Though banned for nearly two decades, it is still sung today at major national protests and gatherings.
• "Short Hair" (단발머리) – Cho Yong-pil (1980)
  Cho Yong-pil is widely regarded as the "King of K-Pop." This synth-pop track helped modernize the Korean music scene in the early 80s, blending electronic sounds with catchy melodies that appealed across generations.
• "I Know" (난 알아요) – Seo Taiji and Boys (1992)
  This song is the "Big Bang" of modern K-pop. By introducing American rap, hip-hop, and new jack swing to the domestic market, it revolutionized the industry and created the blueprint for the current idol system.

• "Into the New World" (다시 만난 세계) – Girls' Generation (2007)
  While "Gee" was a bigger commercial hit, "Into the New World" has evolved into a national protest anthem for the younger generation, famously sung during the 2016-2017 candlelight vigils and various social rights movements.
• "Gangnam Style" (강남스타일) – PSY (2012)
  The most globally recognized Korean song in history. It was the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube and broke international barriers, proving that Korean-language music could dominate global charts.
• "Spring Day" (봄날) – BTS (2017)
  Widely considered one of the greatest songs in K-pop history, this track resonated deeply for its themes of loss and longing, often associated by the public with the Sewol Ferry tragedy. It is one of the longest-charting songs in Korean history.
• "Arirang" (아리랑) – Traditional (Various versions)
  Though much older than 1950, it remains the most significant song in South Korean history. Every generation has its own version, from 1920s film scores to BTS's modern renditions, serving as the "eternal anthem" of the Korean people.

Day 4 in Seoul began with a glance outside my room, and it had snowed last night.

On to perhaps my best breakfast ever.  I love Shanghai Soup Dumplings (Xialongbao), but I have enhanced the experience with scotch (cognac works fine, too) and assorted vegetables.

Into a bowl of scotch,

I only had four Shanghai Soup Dumplings, so went on to get two more.

My final bite and drink.

In the afternoon, as it was so cold, around freezing temperatures, we first were greeted by my Blue-bar Pigeon, but left him to enter the Sogong Underground Shopping Center, which connected to the larger Myeongdong underground shops.

These underground markets link to the Lotte Hotel, and we again saw the same horse just standing there.  Better than freezing outside, but seems awfully cruel, actually.

Walked by the grocery area and again saw that otoro sashimi package, so bought it, plus a Kelly Beer (cheapest one, for about a dollar/can, and that omnipresent green bottle of soju seen in Korean films/series, Chamisul Fresh.  Went to the eating area, and had this sashimi with a beef bone soup and rice.

Absolute best sashimi I've ever had in my life.  Stopped by Uniqlo to purchase two long sleeve t-shirts, tax-free.  Except you need to get refunded at the airport on your way out.  Back in our hotel, a flower arrangement.

Had a Cabernet Shirah and Tanqueray Gin on rocks with appetizers in the Executive Lounge.

Walked 3584 steps today.

One more day left, then we leave Seoul for Tokyo on Wednesday, January 21.  Will be cold, but sunny, for the next two days,.

-

SUNDAY BON BONS FROM SOUTH KOREA

Day 123 of the Lower Puna Eruption, and I can't find anything worthy of report.

***********

South Korea is one of those modern miracles, especially when compared to North Korea.  I first traveled to Seoul about a third of a century ago, and would guess that I've landed in the country close to 50 times.  I have lectured at the major universities, worked out cooperative agreements with government officials and gotten to know a range of industry leaders.  

Somewhat similar to Singapore and Japan, all sectors of the country worked together to advance the country.  I observed how the Korean Institute of Science and Technology was upgraded and a united decision was made to focus on targets of opportunities, such as home appliances, electronics, biotechnology and entertainment.  When was the last time you bought a TV set made in the USA?  Vizio has a U.S. headquarter, but was created by a Taiwanese and manufactures products in China and Mexico.  Samsung and LG Electronics lead the world.

With success comes problems.  South Korea has the highest suicide rate among developed countries. What was once cooperation is now called corruption, and there is turmoil aplenty.  President Geun-hye Park is in jail and company heads are in varying stages of conviction.

Six years ago I tossed out Sunday Bon Bons, and the readership jumped.  Maybe those somewhat racy photos were why.  None today.  Let me start with South Korean entertainment.

Korea has never had much of a film industry until the chaebols (conglomerates like Hyundai) with government assistance became interested.  Their movies were creative and quickly overcame Japan.  

Same for soap operas and KPop.  Japan had Sukiyaki  sung by Kyu Sakamoto, but that was way back in 1963. Were you aware that earlier this summer a South Korean boy band, BTS, hit #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart with Love Yourself:Tear?  Remember Gangnam Style by PSY, also from South Korea?  That was four years ago, and his You Tube clip has now drawn 3.2 billion viewers.  

As an aside, bet you didn't know that Despacito by Luis Fonsi (featuring Daddy Yankee), now up to 5.5 billion, is currently the most-watched?  This will ruin your whole day, but click on Despacito Style, which features both Fonsi and PSY.

Changing subjects, and this gets more and more bon bon-ish, long ago when I did not even own one, street cleaners on Seoul streets were using cell phones.  Then, one day on a metro train, I noticed that, save for the very old and very, very young, everyone else was using a smart phone for one thing or another.  It was summer and I was amused to see that women mostly had colorful toenails, even though many did not apply them to their fingers.  The BTS band is typical, for the youth, and many adults, color their hair, even more so than in Japan.

Public restrooms sometimes have toilets for children.  Restaurants have buzzers for a waiter, there is no tipping, soju (an alcoholic drink) can be bought for $1, kimchi can be eaten at every meal....and so on.  

Today, there are no lines for movie theaters.  They pick their seats online and just tap their phone on a device as they enter.  Way before any movie house in the U.S., they were serving beer, wine, Jagermeister and a wide variety of popcorn tastes.  And they don't bother to separate drinkers from the general public.

NextOn is a South Korean company that vertically grows sixty types of fruits in a Pinkhouse.  The boss, Choi Jae Bin, is pictured to the left, where neon-pink lights are used to illuminate 60 type of fruits and vegetables. 

They use no pesticides nor herbicides, and feature non-GMO products.  They play classical music to stimulate healthy growth.  All this occurs in an indoor farm located in an abandoned tunnel in Okcheon, South Korea.  Depending on the plant, they can vary the temperature from 50-72 F.  They expect to compete with organic vegetables.

Why PINK?  Turns out that only red and blue wavelengths are absorbed by plants, and by using only these LEDs, energy use can be minimized.  Blue and red lights give you pink. 

For a couple of years now, several cities in South Korea have had a Pink Light campaign.  Pregnant women can use a small pink beacon to encourage people to give up their seats in the metro and bus systems, where this sign is used to alert riders:

Thought I'd do Part 2 to my posting of yesterday, where I featured BBQ'd Japanese Wagyu Beef (scroll down to next article).  This second meal had everything to do with University of Hawaii sports, which this weekend was again spectacular, as our women's volleyball and soccer teams all won.

But eating is a tradition before football games at Aloha Stadium.  Something called tailgating, and Hawaii beat Navy yesterday 59-41.

That victory in itself was incredible, but my personal "tailgate," enjoyed in front of my TV set, consisting of leftovers I was able to take home from our Friday night feast--wagyu, teriyaki mushrooms, salmon eggs, Haywood Cab, Kirin beer and sake--was enhanced with $73/pound blue-fin tuna o-toro sashimi.  The victory over Navy was indeed memorable, but I'll also long remember this wagyu / o-toro combination, which no doubt somehow spurred the win:

-

Super Typhoon Jebi is now a "mere" typhoon, and still on track to make landfall over Japan later today, most probably as a Category 3.  This article called Jebi life-threatening.  Remember, Sunday Hawaii time is already Monday in Japan.  

While that above graphic showed Jebi mostly east of Osaka, other models indicate the eye passing west of Osaka and heading straight into the Sea of Japan.

Miriam is now a tropical depression and moving north.  However, Hurricane Norman is now a Category 4, with a predicted path just north of Hawaii:

Looks like another Friday-Saturday adventure, this time with Hawaii playing Rice at Aloha Stadium. Yet, I can't help but be impressed, and, therefore, confident of those scientific prognostications showing hurricanes missing our islands.

Further east of Norman is Tropical Storm Olivia, who will keep gaining strength.  The current projection, though, also shows her also easing by north of Hawaii.

-