Korean Singer Kim Soo-hee Reflects on Her Hit Song 'Aemo' During Emotional 'Miss Trot 4' Performance

Korean singer Kim Soo-hee recently shared an emotional moment on stage as she reflected on her hit song 'Aemo' during the fourth round of the 'Miss Trot 4' competition on TV Chosun. The episode, which aired on the 12th, saw Kim shedding tears as she watched her juniors reinterpret her song, leading to the show's highest ratings to date.

The episode featured legendary judges including Kim Soo-hee, Choi Jin-hee, Kim Yeon-ja, and Kim Yong-im. Contestants Lee So-na and Kim Da-na chose to perform 'Aemo' in a head-to-head battle. After their performance, Kim Soo-hee expressed, "Suddenly, my heart felt heavy. 'Aemo' is a song I sang when I was standing on my own," as she became visibly emotional.

Born in 1953, Kim Soo-hee began her career as a composer in 1972. She was part of the female band 'Black Cats' for the US 8th Army before debuting as a solo artist in 1976 with the song 'Too Much'. Initially overlooked, the song gained popularity in 1978 after being played on the radio. Her 1982 release 'Mong-ae' topped KBS's 'Gayo Top 10' for five consecutive weeks, earning her a Golden Cup and solidifying her fame. During this time, she also garnered public interest by introducing her daughter on live television.

Released in 1990, 'Aemo' gained renewed attention in 1993 due to public demand. The song surpassed Seo Taiji and Boys' 'Hayeoga' to win the Golden Cup on 'Gayo Top 10'. That same year, Kim Soo-hee won the KBS Music Awards, beating out younger artists like Kim Gun-mo and Shin Seung-hun. This achievement is notable as it was a triumph for a trot-style song in a music scene dominated by ballads and dance music.

Kim Soo-hee expanded her popularity with the 1987 release of 'Namhaengyeolcha', which remains a popular song and is used as a cheer song for the KIA Tigers baseball team. Her unique style, combining a husky voice with traditional Korean singing techniques, earned her the nickname "Female Cho Yong-pil".

Beyond her singing career, Kim has also made her mark in creative fields. She composed songs like Kim Hoon's 'Leave Me Arirang' in 1972 and authored novels such as 'Too Much' and 'Seol (Snow)'. In 1994, she ventured into filmmaking by producing, directing, and writing the film 'Harmonica of Sorrow'.

Reported by Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr