Joo YoungHoon Reveals Why He Left the K-Pop Music Industry

A Shift in the K-Pop Music Industry

On the December 1, 2025 broadcast of Channel A’s “Best Friend Talkumentary: Four-Person Dining Table,” legendary composer Joo YoungHoon opened up about his prolonged absence from the Korean entertainment scene. A prolific hitmaker with over 450 songs to his name, Joo YoungHoon explained the complex reasons that led him to step away from songwriting, pointing to fundamental shifts in the K-pop music industry and challenging personal experiences.

During the episode, Joo YoungHoon hosted his close friends, actor Yoon DaHoon and comedian Yoon JungSoo. It was Yoon JungSoo who directly asked why the celebrated composer had stopped creating music. Joo YoungHoon’s candid response shed light on the current state of the industry. He explained that the consumer market for his style of music, particularly ballads, has significantly diminished. The modern landscape, he noted, is overwhelmingly dominated by two forces: idol groups performing songs often sourced from foreign composers and the resurgence of the trot genre. This leaves very little space for the kind of emotional ballads he is known for, making it difficult to find a viable audience.

The Generational Gap and Feeling Out of Place

Beyond market trends, Joo YoungHoon shared a personal and discouraging anecdote that highlighted a generational divide within the industry. Prompted by TV personality Park KyungLim’s encouragement to compose again, he recounted a meeting at an idol agency. During the meeting, he felt his creative input was dismissed by younger staff members who treated him like a “kkondae”—a derogatory term for an older, condescending person who is out of touch. This incident highlights a significant shift in how K-Pop music is produced, where generational differences in creative approaches can lead to friction.

“That experience was disheartening,” Joo YoungHoon confessed. “It made me hesitant to offer my opinions further, as I felt my experience was no longer valued in the same way.” This experience as a veteran composer facing new songwriting trends appeared to be a significant factor in his decision to take a step back.

Defended by Friends and Staying Current

Despite his hiatus, Joo YoungHoon’s friends were quick to defend his relevance. Actor Yoon DaHoon staunchly disagreed with the notion that Joo was outdated, asserting that the composer possesses a remarkably “modern sensibility.” Joo YoungHoon himself confirmed that he actively works to stay current. He shared that he listens to the latest K-pop tracks with his daughters and feels a “compulsion to try” new products and trends. His efforts to keep up with contemporary culture underscore that his withdrawal from the K-pop music industry was less about a lack of awareness and more about a perceived lack of space for his artistic identity in the current market.

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