‘Trot All-Star’ Rules Netizen Awards Four Months Straight
When it comes to Korea’s infotainment crown, there’s one genre that just won’t quit: trot. In the August 2025 Netizen Awards, TV Chosun’s ‘Trot All-Star: Wednesday Night’ secured a landslide victory with 46,721 votes—an impressive 54.7% of the total. This marks the show’s fourth consecutive month at the top, extending its reign as Korea’s favorite cultural show.
Trot Waves Take Over Radio and Cable Too
Runner-up status went to MBC Standard FM’s ‘Son Tae-jin’s Trot Radio’, clocking in 17,684 votes (20.7%). A radio show breaking into the infotainment charts? It’s rare, but trot fans clearly span every platform. This cross-medium enthusiasm shows how deeply rooted the genre is becoming with both traditional and digital audiences.
In third place, MBC ON’s ‘Trot Champion’ earned 10,601 votes (12.4%), cementing trot’s stronghold on both televised and audio programming.
Genre Diversity Attempts to Break Through
Despite trot’s supremacy, other formats tried to stake their claim. MBN’s ‘Earth Exploration Life’ landed fourth place with 4,380 votes (5.1%), thanks to its fresh mix of documentary flair and pop-science infotainment. KBS2’s ‘Two Chapters, One Verse’ took fifth (2,514 votes, 2.9%), showing that storytelling variety still has a seat at the table.
Interestingly, MBN’s ‘Burning Rose Squad’ slipped to sixth (1,936 votes, 2.3%) after placing second last month — but it’s still holding the line for team trot.
Classic Comebacks and Quirky Contenders
From seventh to tenth place, titles with a variety of flavors entered the chat:
- KBS2’s ‘Immortal Songs’ – 942 votes (1.1%): Veteran music show still swinging.
- TV Chosun’s ‘Legendary Song Lab’ – 616 votes (0.7%): New kids on the trot block.
- tvN’s ‘Earth Arcade 3’ – 45 votes (0.1%): Variety chaos meets global missions.
- TVING’s ‘Great Escape: The Story’ – 14 votes (0%): A cult fave, but not enough to crack higher ranks.
Trot: From Nostalgia to Now-Culture
For those unfamiliar, trot (트로트) is a century-old Korean music genre with rhythmic beats and emotive vocal flourishes—think of it as Korea’s soulful cousin to country or traditional pop. Once stereotyped as music for older generations, the genre has rebranded with younger stars and TV formats, becoming a mainstream cultural force.
The genre’s dominance in the August 2025 Netizen Awards – Cultural Category shows no signs of slipping. With programs branching into radio, cable, and even hybrid documentary formats, trot isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving.
Will September Bring a Genre Shakeup?
That’s the K-content cliffhanger. As ‘Trot All-Star: Wednesday Night’ enjoys its fourth champion title, fans are asking: Will the streak continue into the fall? Or is a genre plot twist on the horizon?
The Netizen Awards, now a monthly snapshot of cultural momentum, offers a peek into Korea’s shifting entertainment heartbeats. For now, that heart beats in 3/4 trot time.
FAQs
What is ‘Trot All-Star: Wednesday Night’?
It’s a weekly TV Chosun variety show featuring top trot singers competing in themed challenges. Think American Idol—but all trot, all the time.
Why is trot so popular in Korea right now?
Revamped by younger idols and high-energy shows, trot has transformed from retro to cool. It’s nostalgic but still catchy — a winning combo for multi-generational appeal.
How are the Netizen Awards decided?
The awards are based on public online voting, reflecting fan engagement across multimedia categories like cultural infotainment, music, and drama.
