Abstract

This paper aims to examine the details of trot controversies. Controversies related to Lee Mi-ja are the dispute over Japanese manners in the 1960s and the argument concerning Lee Mi-ja in the 1990s. First, this paper considered the details of the first controversy using materials from the 1960s that have heretofore been unexamined. Japanese manners in the 1960s had visible effects, such as the group behavior of the Korean entertainer's association and the organization of broadcasting deliberation. The cause of the dispute over Japanese manners in the 1960's can be found in the climate of the songs at the time. Next, the argument concerning Lee Mi-ja in the 1990s began with Park Jong-moon's paper that dealt with Lee Mi-ja's songs. This paper created a sensation in the 1990s. Lee Young-mee brought together the various threads of this controversy. However, there is room for refutation of the Japanese manners and the characteristic new school that Lee Young-Mee insists upon. There is no need to mention the characteristic Japanese manners except that trot was introduced through the Japanese. Trot is a genre of song that was introduced by Japan and took on a Korean character in Korea. The preference for trot could be seen as a product of the tastes at the time. Also, behind the scenes, the distinction between classes played a part. This paper was written to provide a foundation for examining the controversy over trot and reestablish it's position in the history of Korean popular songs.