‘20th Century Hit Song’ Unveils the Hidden Geniuses Behind Iconic K-Pop Tracks

The latest episode of KBS Joy‘s ‘20th Century Hit Song’ took viewers on a nostalgic journey through Korea’s music history, spotlighting prodigious composers behind some of the most iconic tracks in K-pop.

In the 263rd episode aired on May 2, the show featured the theme “It’s Me, The Composer Prodigy! The Mozarts of K-pop,” reflecting on artists whose music shaped generations despite their young age or behind-the-scenes roles in the industry.

At No. 10 was Kim Sa-rang’s “Feeling (1999)”, known for its signature harmonica sound. Debuting as a one-man-band at age 19, he not only provided vocals but also composed, arranged, and produced the entire album. MC Lee Mi-joo noted, “He was often called the ‘next Seo Taiji’ by critics at the time.”

No. 9 went to the legendary band Jaurim and their 1997 hit “Wax Angel”, recognized for both impressive songwriting and social commentary. Member Kim Yoon-ah vented frustrations about stereotypes, sharing, “It was common to treat female vocalists as decorative cherries atop cream cakes.”

Composer Yoo Young-seok took 8th with “Square Dream (1996)” from the group White — a track he completed after composing nearly 1000 songs starting in middle school. Turtleman’s heartfelt love letter “Why Are You Like This (2003)” by the group Turtles landed at No. 7.

Rounding out the top rankings, Kangta’s self-written hit “Light (1998)” by epic boyband H.O.T reached No. 6. It was revealed that Kangta bought music equipment with his first royalty check to continue producing more songs, showcasing his passion for composing.

Yoon Sang’s timeless breakup ballad “In the Shade of Departure (1990)” claimed No. 5, followed by Kim Dong-ryul’s middle-school masterpiece “Graduation (1997)” at No. 4 — a track from his group Exhibition. The episode also revealed he composed additional hits like “Show” for Kim Won-jun, “For a Thousand Days” for Lee Seung-hwan, and “Longing” for Park Hyo-shin.

Taking No. 3 was “Take Responsibility (1996)” by the group Untitle, co-founded by Yoo Gun-hyung — better known for co-composing PSY’s “Gangnam Style”. At No. 2, the mega-hit “1024 (1996)” by UP, composed by Jang Yong-jin, earned special praise. Host Kim Hee-chul revealed that SM Entertainment once offered him a spot in H.O.T, which he declined, instead contributing the timeless banger “CANDY.”

At No. 1 was the first sibling duet in Korea, Hyun-i and Deok-i’s “Do You Like Me? I Like You (1980s)”. Dubbed a child prodigy, Jang Deok was the first female singer-songwriter to win the prestigious Golden Cup award on “Gayo Top 10.”

‘20th Century Hit Song’ is available to stream on LG U+tv (channel 1), Genie TV (channel 41), SK Btv (channel 53), and the KBS Mobile App ‘my K’. Local cable numbers can be found on the KBS N homepage, and additional clips are accessible via YouTube, Facebook, and major online portals.