Trot is a Korean popular music genre known for its repetitive rhythm and vocal inflections. The lyrics deliver stories of our lives with the events of the time as a background. Once spread widely, it became less popular due to the new kids on the block equipped with new styles of music and fashion. Recently however, the fever is rising again through a number of competitions on TV shows and regardless age, men or women are challenging for a fame. 

Hana Yu is a trot singer from Tongyeong. She recently released a song that represents the city and is creating a gentle ripple. Written by Taewook, the lyrics include a number of landmarks of the city including Mireuksan and Okneobong and it delivers a story of love and missing. 

Serving as the head of the Korea Local Musicians Association in Tonyeong, Yu started singing with the local singers for elderlies in sanatoriums. 

“I didn’t think that I was good at singing but my teacher Youngju Choi trained me for a year to be good. At first I sang my teacher’s song ‘Geumnanghwa’ but soon I had my first song ‘Your Are the Star’ from the composer Taewook. People know me more with the song ‘At Tongyeong Harbor’ though.” says Yu.

In 2021, she challenged for the 4th Busan Yongdusan Singing Contest and won a runner-up prize. She released her first single last August and held her first concert at the Tongyeong Citizen’s Culture Center in December. 

“At Tongyeong Harbor is my favorite song and I will spread the beauty of the city through this song to more people. Alongside, I want to teach young singers who are not sure whether they are good at singing like I was before. I want to give them confidence and encourage them to challenge. I love trot and trot is a beautiful story that touches our heart.” <PowerKorea>