Lee Chanwon

Trot (teuroteu) is one of the oldest forms of Korean popular music, built around a steady two-beat groove, simple diatonic harmonies, and highly ornamented, vibrato-rich vocals. Its melodies often use pentatonic contours and a characteristic catch in the voice (kkeokk-gi), conveying both festive spirit and deep pathos. Emerging during the early 20th century, trot absorbed influences from Japanese popular song (enka/ryūkōka), Western ballroom dance rhythms (such as waltz and tango), and Korean folk vocal aesthetics. The genre centers lyrical themes of love, longing, nostalgia for hometown, and everyday resilience, and it continues to evolve through modern “semi-trot” and television-driven revivals.