[All] Lim Young-woong, breaking genre boundaries and becoming a genre in itself, setting a new standard for popular music

The 35th regular academic conference co-hosted by the Society for Korean Popular Music and the East Asian Studies Institute of Sungkonghoe University focused on a unique phenomenon centered around singer Lim Young-woong. This academic conference was a place to deeply explore Lim Young-woong’s musical achievements and cultural influence by analyzing from various perspectives how he has established himself as a genre beyond being a simple pop singer.

Lim Young-woong's musical success is not simply a product of popularity, but rather stems from his restrained singing style and ability to digest diverse genres. According to Yonhap News, Professor Kim Hee-sun of Kookmin University and Professor Kim Hee-sun of the same name at Kyonggi University commented, "Lim Young-woong has expanded his fandom with a singing style and repertoire that goes beyond the framework of trot." They explained that his singing style, in which he swallows his emotions, was particularly prominent in the competition song "Wish." They emphasized, "His interpretation of suppressing emotions through restraint even after the powerful vocalization of the chorus is different from existing trot singing styles." This singing style adds depth to the song and naturally seeps into the public's emotions.

Lim Young-woong's originality is also confirmed in his pronunciation. Elements such as sibilance can easily be irritating in popular songs, but Lim Young-woong sublimates them into musical individuality. Using the consonants 'ㅅ' and 'ㅆ', he delivers the lyrics clearly and sensuously, adding a special tone charm to his songs. This technique is an important element that makes his songs sound rich and delicate.

After debuting as a trot singer in 2016 and winning 'Mr. Trot', he achieved popular success, but his musical journey has become more diverse than trot. He has built his own musical world by crossing genres such as rock, dance, hip-hop, folk, and jazz. In particular, his new song 'Do or Die' was well-received by the public and critics for maintaining his unique seriousness and sophisticated expressiveness despite being an EDM-based song. Popular music critic Kim Young-dae evaluated, "Lim Young-woong has created a new form of music audience that includes even the middle-aged and older generations," and said that his music symbolizes an important change in the history of Korean popular music.

This musical success is not simply a matter of technical perfection. Lim Young-woong's musical essence lies in conveying lyrics and emotions with sincerity. His voice provides comfort and healing to the audience, and acts as a force that helps overcome the pain and disconnection of life. Composer Yoon Il-sang commented, "Lim Young-woong's songs are full of sincerity without embellishment, and his warm tone gives comfort to people." His songs transcend trends in the music industry and have a value that represents an era.

His quotes also show his sincerity and connection with the public. His message of gratitude and respect to his fans, saying, “Your small hearts have great power like the sun,” is not just a simple statement as a star, but a genuine communication that touched the hearts of his fans. He called himself a member of the fandom “Heroic Age” and emphasized that the existence of his fans is his greatest strength. This shows his humble attitude and is an important factor that makes his relationship with his fans special.

His humility and sincerity have earned deep trust from fans and the public. The delicate consideration and consistent sharing he has shown since his unknown days make his current success shine even brighter. Through this academic conference, the Society of Korean Popular Music focused on the "Lim Young-woong phenomenon" and confirmed that he has established himself as a cultural icon, not just a singer. He is still moving toward a wider stage and more diverse musical challenges, just as he says, "If you earnestly hope and dream vividly, it will come true."

Lim Young-woong's tone and singing ability go beyond mere technical perfection. Composer Yoon Il-sang praised his music, saying, "He perfectly conveys lyrics and emotions through sound," and emphasized that his voice "touches the hearts of the public with unadorned sincerity and warmth." In particular, he is distinguished from other singers by his ability to naturally convey emotions in each register, combining stability in the high notes with softness in the low notes.

The various analyses presented at this academic conference have shed new light on Lim Young-woong's musical depth and social value. He is not simply a music chartist and a sold-out concert record, but is connecting with the public across generations and genres. His songs convey emotions while restraining them, and they do not lose their own colors while digesting various genres. This shows that he has established himself as an 'artist' who connects music and people, beyond just being a singer who sings songs.

Lim Young-woong has established himself as a phenomenon and a genre in itself, beyond being a popular singer. He will continue to grow with the public and expand his musical possibilities. Fans dream of a better life through his music and messages, and they are walking that path with Lim Young-woong.