Lim Young Woong: The King of Trot Music 'dethrones BTS', currently the most popular singer in South Korea.

The South Korean digital music market has just witnessed an "earthquake" as Lim Young Woong officially surpassed global group BTS to become the artist with the highest total number of streams in the history of the MelOn platform.

This milestone not only affirms the singer's unique position in his homeland but also demonstrates the enduring vitality of traditional music in the face of the modern K-pop wave.

A historic change of leadership on the streaming leaderboard.

According to the latest statistics, Lim Young Woong has reached 13.5 billion streams, officially surpassing BTS's 13.48 billion. Although the difference in numbers may seem small, this is a symbolic milestone. BTS is already a global "empire" with an incredibly powerful fandom, and the fact that a solo artist in the Trot genre can rise to the top on the "sacred ground" MelOn is the clearest evidence of the inherent strength of the South Korean domestic music market.

In South Korea, while K-pop is geared towards the global market, ballads and trots remain the "breath" of popular music. This achievement demonstrates an interesting intersection: on one hand, there are groups with profound international influence, and on the other, artists who possess an absolutely loyal audience in their home country.

MelOn's journey from zero to becoming the new "king".

Born in 1991, Lim Young Woong had a rather difficult start to his career. He officially debuted in 2016 with the single "Hate You" under Mulgogi Music. For the first four years of his career, Lim Young Woong's name remained relatively unknown among the many young artists.

The turning point in his life came in 2020 when he entered TV Chosun's Mr. Trot competition. Overcoming 17,000 strong competitors, Lim Young Woong was crowned champion in the March 2020 final. This victory not only changed his personal destiny but also directly revived the trot genre, making it extremely popular among young people, a musical style previously considered for older generations.

Career-shaping milestones

Immediately after the show, the male singer continuously "swept" the charts: Trust in Me: A song paying tribute to fans, it entered the top 20 of the Gaon Digital Chart upon its release and won the Best Trot Song award at the Melon Music Awards. My Starry Love (2021): The hit song achieved its first number one position on Gaon, confirming his ability to consistently stay on the charts. Love Always Runs Away: A national hit soundtrack (OST) that helped him maintain stable popularity over the years. YouTube Channel: He is also the first Trot artist to receive the YouTube Gold Button after surpassing 1 million subscribers, demonstrating his keen ability to reach audiences on the digital platform.

The power of fandom and the future of the "throne"

Lim Young Woong's success is based on an extremely disciplined and passionate fandom. They not only listen to his music but also actively maintain his rankings on digital platforms over extended periods. This is a characteristic usually only seen in idol groups, but it has become very prominent in the Trot genre.

However, this race promises to be even more dramatic. BTS is expected to make a comeback with their new album "ARIRANG" on March 21st. Given the immense popularity of this "global group," it's entirely possible that Bangtan Boys will reclaim the top spot on MelOn.

Regardless of future changes in the race's outcome, Lim Young Woong's lead with 13.5 billion streams remains a brilliant milestone in Korean music history. It proves that authentic music, regardless of genre, can achieve unimaginable feats when it resonates with a large domestic audience.

Lim Young Woong: All middle-aged fans, more famous than BTS - BlackPink in Korea Đình Như15:27:43 23/10/2024Although not as globally famous as BTS, Blackpink or many other Kpop groups, Lim Young Woong (33 years old) is a top singer in the land of kimchi with a large domestic fan community.