When I first started singing trot, I promised myself I wouldn't talk about my family. But the more honestly I shared my life, the more people empathized, and I felt that they looked back on themselves through me and found comfort. I think that sincerity turned into support.
Lee So-na, the jin (winner) of TV CHOSUN's trot audition program "Miss Trot 4," shared her experience at the 2nd "Biz Morning Insight (BMI)" talk concert hosted by ChosunBiz at the Westin Josun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 27th, saying, "The power to move people's hearts ultimately lies in a sincere narrative."
Lee cited "family" and "earnestness" as the background of her success that day. She said the honest, personal story hidden behind the glamorous stage resonated with the public and led to today's result.
Throughout the broadcast, Lee revealed deep affection for her mother, who has battled Parkinson's disease for 20 years, moving viewers to tears. In particular, her performance of Patti Kim's "Love Is the Flower of Life" in the final drew major attention immediately after airing. Reviews said the raw, aching emotion for her family was fully embedded in her steady delivery.
Lee said, "The biggest reason I chose this song was the lyrics," adding, "The line 'I will always live for you' especially stayed with me." She continued, "Now I also want to be someone who can willingly sacrifice for my family, and I stood on stage with that in mind," and said, "I think that sincerity reached many people."
In fact, she ranked third in the experts' evaluation in the final, but received perfect scores in both the online support vote and the real-time text vote, completing a come-from-behind drama to take first place overall. Lee said, "Thanks to the people who cried with me and empathized, I was able to become the jin," adding, "I was reminded again that conveying heart is more important than simply singing well."
She cited "earnestness born of responsibility" as the force that drives her. Lee said, "I had a strong desire to repay my family's sacrifices," adding, "The greater the sense of responsibility grew, the stronger the earnestness became, and that urgency became the greatest weapon that helped me endure life."
A designated bearer of National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 57, Gyeonggi folk songs, Lee has walked the path of gugak for more than 20 years. After encountering the geomungo and samgomu (dance of three drums) in elementary school, she followed the path of a traditional gugak musician through the National High School of Traditional Korean Arts and the School of Korean Traditional Arts at the Korea National University of Arts. She said, "All those long years ultimately made who I am now."
Lee repeatedly emphasized the value of "consistency" that day. She said, "In the end, what matters most is the strength to endure time and build steadily," adding, "The 20 years I spent in gugak became my roots, and on that foundation I was able to take on the new genre of trot." She continued, "After becoming the jin, I felt there wasn't a single moment among those years that was wasted."