Why Trot Star Choi Su-ho Is Done With Audition Programs

Trot Star Choi Su-ho /4GO Entertainment

Trot singer Choi Su-ho is ready to leave the competition circuit behind. After back-to-back runs on two major audition shows, the rising vocalist wants to focus on solo work and build toward a bigger stage of his own.

"I've already done too many trot competition shows," Choi told KPOPIT. "I want to meet fans through the solo activities I haven't been able to do. My goal is to become a singer who can fill KSPO Dome."

Trot Star Choi Su-ho /4GO Entertainment

Choi sat down with KPOPIT at a cafe in Seoul's Yongsan district to mark the January 23 release of his second mini-album, "BIG IMPACT." The five-track EP includes the title song "Keungeo Onda" ("Something Big Is Coming"), along with "Spring Breeze," "SAD MOVIE," "Old Photo Album," and "Follow the Stars."

The turnaround between releases felt fast, Choi said. "For the trot scene, this is a short comeback cycle. It feels like I just put out my last album. I wanted to show more sides of myself, so I started preparing early. I'm really curious how people will react."

The title track is a remake reworked as EDM trot, built around an addictive electronic hook and Choi's bright, high vocal calling out the song's title. He admitted there was some hesitation about leading with a remake. "Honestly, I felt a little disappointed that the title track is a remake," he said. "But so many senior artists have released great songs, and as someone following behind them, I wanted to take one of those songs and express it in my own color."

Trot Star Choi Su-ho /4GO Entertainment

He landed on EDM because he wanted something memorable. "I wanted to show a different side of myself. As a listener, I was drawn to upbeat EDM. I wasn't sure if I could pull it off, so I asked a lot of seniors for advice before recording," he said. "They told me that for live events, you need something high-energy to get the crowd going."

What sets his version apart from other EDM trot tracks, he said, is the range. "A man's lower register makes it hard to bring out the excitement of EDM. So I pushed the key up by two or three steps. I'm not worried about performing it live. I can handle it."

Choi first broke through on TV Chosun's "Mr. Trot 2" and MBN's "Hyeonyeokgawang 2" (Real-Life Song King 2), two of the biggest trot audition franchises in South Korea. Asked whether he would join another, he was direct. "I think I've already done too many trot competition shows, so I don't plan to do more." He added, "I did two in a row right after debuting, so I haven't really had time for solo activities. I want to focus on those first. If something interesting comes up later, I might think about it."

His goal for the year is a full-length album. "This EP was put together in a bit of a rush, to be honest. For the next one, I want to take my time," he said. He is also studying songwriting at home. "I'd like to write at least one track on my next album myself. My major is pansori, so I love songs with a historical-drama feel. I want to make something like that. I've been working on it on my own, but it's harder than I thought."

Trot Star Choi Su-ho /4GO Entertainment

A recent first fan meeting left him wanting more direct contact with his audience. "If there's any chance to connect with fans, I want to take it," he said. "We only did one show that day, and it felt too short. Being surrounded by people who actually like me was so comfortable. It made me really look forward to a solo concert. I want to do one soon."

That ambition has a specific address. "My goal is to become a famous person," Choi said. "I want to fill a venue like KSPO Dome." The Seoul arena, formerly known as the Olympic Gymnastics Arena, is one of the country's top-tier concert venues and a benchmark of mainstream success. "The first big stage I ever stood on was the Gymnastics Arena, and I still remember the cheers vividly. I keep that memory with me and work hard because of it."

For a young trot singer who built his name on televised competitions, the next move is the harder one: proving he can draw a crowd on his own.

Minkyung Lee lmk@k-popit.com