One of Korea's representative singer groups, 'Koyote' is an indispensable presence. However, the younger generation may not know much about this, but you can occasionally hear the song of a coyote at a traditional market. I think knowing the sources of these songs will help you better understand the songs of the Korean Wave era and increase your understanding of the Korean Wave.
Koyote is a South Korean 3-member mixed group consisting of Kim Jong-min, Baek-ga, and Shin Ji-ro. The group name "Koyote" symbolizes the sun that shines high and wide. In December 1998, she debuted with "Pure Love" and gained popularity with her horse dance. Even today, they are loved by many fans for their cheerful dance and sweet ballad songs.
Source: Yes24 Ticket / 2022 Koyote Concert Tour - Daegu (yes24.com)
There are many reasons why Koyote is an important Korean singer group.
From the 1990s to the early 2000s, Koyote led the music industry trends and left numerous hit songs such as Horse Dance, Dream, and Paradise.
Koyote has been recognized for their musical capabilities and teamwork as a long-standing mixed group in Korea that has been active for 24 years without disbanding.
Koyote supports the growth and dreams of young people by participating in various social activities and campaigns. For example, “Koyote, the new face of the Korea Youth League in 2023… According to 'Recognition of Popularity and Recognition', it can be seen that in 2023, he was appointed as a public relations ambassador for the Korea Youth Federation.
Koyote's individual activities are also excellent, and they are doing a lot of collaborations with other singers. For example, according to the sentence “[Korean singer / song collection] Koyote, Shinji song collection / Koyote, Shinji listening to songs” posted on the Naver blog on November 29, 2015, Shinji is also active as a solo singer. You can also see that Kim Jong-min is also popular as a broadcaster.
Source: Koyote left for beach vacation... New song 'Go' teaser image - News 1 (news1.kr)
Koyote has influenced the Korean Wave in various ways.
Koyote was a representative Korean dance group from the 1990s to the early 2000s, gaining popularity throughout Asia. They held concerts and fan meetings in Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, attracting many foreign fans.
Source: Koyote Junjung Koyote 純情 日本語字幕 - YouTube
Koyote has increased the total export effect of the Korean wave and the ripple effect on the national economy. According to a study by the Samsung Economic Research Institute, the Korean Wave influence coefficient for consumer goods, which represents the impact of the Korean Wave index on consumer goods exports and foreign tourist spending, was estimated to be 0.12 in 2020. This means that if the Korean Wave index rises by 1%, exports of consumer goods and expenditures by foreign tourists increase by 0.12% each. As Koyote contributed to raising the Korean wave index, it also had a positive effect on Korea's consumer goods exports and tourism industry.
Source: K-POP Hallyu craze, huge impact on the Korean economy l KBS WORLD Korean
Koyote also influenced other cultural fields such as film, broadcasting, fashion, and food. According to a report posted on February 2, 2012 by KBS WORLD Korean, K-POP is a type of cultural service that interacts with other cultural industries to create a synergistic effect.
As a representative of K-POP, Koyote appeared in Korean movies, dramas, and entertainment programs or provided OSTs, and reflected their style in fashion and food. In this way, Koyote's influence on the Korean Wave can be seen. Koyote's music and activities play a major role in the development and spread of the Korean Wave.
Considering that Koyote's songs have such a great influence, I highly recommend listening to them at least once. Most of the lyrics are in Korean, which is easy for foreigners to learn, so you can study Korean while listening to the song. That's why I think it's best to listen to Koyote's songs from foreign friends.
