'Bob Dylan brought me back to songwriting': legendary folk music couple returns
Singer-songwriters Joung Tae-choon, Park Eun-ohk release 12th album and literary project after 13 years
It was American music legend and Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Bob Dylan who inspired Korean singer-songwriter Joung Tae-choon to resume writing songs after a decade. Joung, 71, who marks the 45th anniversary of his singing career this year, discovered Dylan's "The Lyrics," a more than 1,500-page book containing the singer's works, at a public library he was visiting with his granddaughter.
'Reading the lyrics, listening to his music, reading his biography, I realized I never knew Bob Dylan,' Joung said at a press conference on Tuesday in Seoul.
Then he had an urge to create again, 11 years after he thought he was finished with writing songs. 'I just wanted to write songs again and -- truly good songs.'
Good songs are, in Joung's definition, 'capable of shaking a person's heart—from rationality to emotional resonance.'
Park Eun-ohk, his wife and musical partner of 45 years, said that her happiness performing on stage has only deepened with age.
'It's clear — I feel happy and grateful when I sing on stage. If I were born again, I'd want to be a musician, but this time I'd want to have creative talent like Joung,' said Park, 68.
Known for her warm and captivating voice, Park contributed two songs to the 10-track album.
'I usually never use the word 'never,' but I couldn't help thinking that perhaps this might be our last album,' Park said. 'It's probably natural that our music might not resonate easily with listeners in their 20s and 30s. However, even if they're a minority, I'd love to connect with them through music.'
Releasing their 12th album is more than simply introducing new music. Titled 'Literary Project," their comeback also includes a nationwide concert tour, a new publication and an exhibition.
'I want to repay my debt to literature.' Joung explained. 'I wanted to express gratitude for the artistically refined language and literature that deeply influenced me. My music is, in essence, indebted to Korean literature,' Joung said.
Joung began his singing career with the debut album Poet's Village in 1978 and soon won Best New Artist. In 1980, Joung married Park, who debuted in 1979, and together they released several collaborative albums as a couple. Their 'Leaving Bark' (1984) and 'At Bukhan River' (1985) were major hits. Joung played a major role in the abolition of Korea's policy of requiring government approval for artists to release music albums in the 1990s.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Former Riize member Seunghan to debut solo in July under new identity 'XngHan'
Some international fans still call for the K-pop singer's return, blaming SM Entertainment for his departure XngHan, formerly Seunghan of SM Entertainment's boy group Riize, is set to return to the spotlight with his solo debut in late July — nearly nine months after stepping away from the group amid personal controversies. According to SM Entertainment on Thursday, the singer will now promote under the stage name 'XngHan,' a stylized form of his Korean name pronounced the same but spelled with an 'X' to signify 'infinite potential and crossover.' The agency said the new name reflects his ambition to defy fixed stereotypes and limitations as an artist. 'This new journey begins in July, and XngHan aims to craft boundary-pushing performances and experiences with creatives who align with his evolving vision,' SM Entertainment said in a statement. XngHan debuted as a member of Riize in September 2023, but halted all activities just two months later amid growing backlash over his private life. Controversy first emerged in August that year, before the group's debut, when several private photos were leaked online, including one of him lying in bed with a woman and another showing him smoking in public in Japan. He also faced criticism after a leaked Instagram Live conversation with Big Hit Music's boy group TXT's Soobin included comments referencing a female idol. Riize has since continued as a six-member act, releasing hits such as 'Love 119' and 'Boom Boom Bass.' SM Entertainment initially announced his return to Riize in October but reversed the decision just two days later following a surge of negative reactions from Korean fans. His departure from the group was confirmed later that month, leaving his status uncertain for nearly a year. In a handwritten letter shared at the time, Seunghan apologized to fans and his former bandmates, writing, 'I don't want to cause them any more harm. I truly love Riize and sincerely hope they continue to be loved.' Despite the controversy, some international Riize fans have continued to support him. In an email sent to The Korea Herald last month, they wrote, 'Though he committed no wrongdoing, SM failed to defend him publicly or ensure his safety.'
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Frieze House Seoul to open in September inviting galleries
Korean artist Im Young-joo wins 2025 Frieze Seoul Artist Award Coinciding with the fourth edition of Frieze Seoul in September, the international art fair will launch Frieze House Seoul, inviting leading galleries to hold exhibitions and events there during the four-day event. The exhibition space will be located in Yaksu-dong, a neighborhood in Jung-gu, central Seoul, at a building renovated by Seoul-based architectural studio Samuso Hyoja. Frieze House Seoul follows the success of No. 9 Cork Street in London, according to Frieze on Wednesday. 'Frieze House Seoul marks a natural and exciting evolution of our presence in Korea. Seoul has become a focal point for the global art world, and this new space will allow us to foster deeper engagement with the city's vibrant art communities throughout the year,' said Kristell Chade, executive director of fairs at Frieze. The space will consist of two main exhibition spaces across four floors, offering over 210 square meters of display space, and a landscaped garden. Galleries can apply for the inaugural season of Frieze House Seoul on the Frieze website. Frieze Seoul 2025 will be held from Sept. 3 to 6, bringing together some 120 galleries from 30 countries at COEX in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. Meanwhile, Frieze announced Korean artist Im Young-joo as the recipient of the Frieze Seoul Artist Award of the year. This year, works for the Frieze Artist Award in both Seoul and London respond to the theme of "Future Commons," with new multimedia works that explore ideas of community and shared experience. 'Her work, 'Calming Signal,' offers a profound exploration of collective behavior and societal rhythms, resonating deeply with our 2025 theme, 'Future Commons.' Im's innovative approach and compelling narrative exemplify the dynamic talent emerging from Korea's contemporary art scene,' said Patrick Lee, director of Frieze Seoul. Im's winning commission, "Calming Signal," is a research-based, three-channel video installation set within a grid-like structure, which juxtaposes Earth's tilted axis with rotational cultural dances, linking gestures of imbalance to visual manifestations of an uncertain future.
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Korea Herald
SBS sets sights on Asia's version of Eurovision
Titled 'Veiled Musician,' the pan-Asian vocal contest to highlight regional talent and cross-cultural artistry Asia is getting its own take on the Eurovision Song Contest. Apparently, 'Veiled Musician,' an upcoming global audition show from leading South Korean broadcaster Seoul Broadcasting System, was made with the world's longest-running television music competition in mind. Featuring participants from 13 countries — Korea, Japan, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos — the show, slated to premiere later this year, will kick off with local competitions in each participating nation. The top three finalists from each territory will then advance to the grand finale, which will be staged in Korea. The show will be broadcast across major local networks in the participating countries and on SBS. Adding a layer of meritocracy, 'Veiled Musician' will strip away personal identifiers, such as contestants' faces and nationalities, focusing solely on vocal talent. The show stands out not only for its scale but also for its production setup. Unlike previous cross-border projects where broadcasting formats were simply licensed, 'Veiled Musician' is a co-produced venture spearheaded by the participating nations, alongside South Korea. 'In fact, there aren't really any broadcasters in other countries that actually do co-productions," claimed Kim Yong-jae, chief revenue officer at SBS' Prism Studios, the entertainment production division of the broadcaster, during an interview with The Korea Herald. "They've only ever bought the format. ... Co-producing like this is probably something that has never happened before,' Kim said. Kim, a veteran of the Korean entertainment industry, whose career includes stints as a producer and deputy head of SBS' entertainment division and who is widely credited with exporting the popular Korean variety show "Running Man" to China, where it became a megahit, is helming the production of "Veiled Musician." According to Kim, 'Veiled Musician' will serve as a powerful platform for cultural diplomacy and create music industry connections across Asia. 'If we do well together with this kind of content, it's an amazing opportunity to really elevate our national image. Also, the show's judges and contestants may even collaborate on producing an album. Our music market could expand as a result as well. For example, a song like 'The Way Back' (translated) could be produced in 12 different versions and exported, creating a powerful ripple effect,' said Kim. Kim emphasized that for him, a win-win structure was key from the outset. For Season 1, he said SBS is waiving format fees and offering financial aid to select nations. 'For the first season, we're essentially offering support. In fact, we're planning to provide 100 million won ($73,000) each to countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, since they (the broadcasting companies) are struggling financially.' Going forward, as SBS' head of globalizing K-content, Kim said he has identified Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand as key growth markets. 'Among them, Indonesia is the best — it all comes down to population size. For example, the Korean film 'Miracle in Cell No. 7' made 20 billion won in Indonesia." Kim is also strategically focusing on Myanmar, where Korean content previously held strong cultural sway. 'Before the coup, Hallyu was really strong in Myanmar. Why? Because they aired Korean dramas from Monday to Thursday right before the 9 o'clock news. As a result, a lot of young people there can speak Korean. And the country is quite large geographically, too." He added: 'Anyway, we need to move quickly and localize ourselves in these Asian countries — be on the ground with them. We need to support them, not just for 'Veiled Musician,' but also by helping develop their music industries while promoting ours. That's how they come to think positively of Korean content and Korea as a whole."
