hankyoreh

Korean trot singer Park Hyun-bin’s pictures are hung from major buildings in about 20 areas of central Tokyo, Japan, including Shibuya.

According to Park’s agency, Inwoo Business Productions, the crown prince of Korean trot Park’s Japanese debut single, “Shaban Shaban,”reached No.1 on Japan’s USEN weekly enka chart on April 20, the day it was released. “Shaban Shaban” is the Japanese version of Park’s hit song “Shabang Shabang” and USEN is a popular music chart among Japanese cable channels in Japan.

It marks the first time that a Korean trot singer released a regular single in Japan. It’s also very unusual that Koean trot singer’s posters are put in the Japan capital’s downtown. The Korean Wave, hallyu, appears to spread from drama and Kpop to include the trot genre, similar to the Japanese traditional music enka.

A leading female trot singer Jang Yoon-jung is expected to have concerts in five cities in China from June 12, the first time ever for a Korean trot singer in China.

(Photo courtesy of the Inwoo, Story by Nam Ji-en)