Cho Yong-pil chosen as best singer of 2013: annual poll

Veteran singer Cho Yong-pil has been selected as the best singer of 2013, according to a survey by polling company Gallup Korea.

Gallup conducted the survey from July to November, asking a total of 4,263 people from ages 13 to 59 to name up to three singers they thought were the most impressive this year.

Cho received the most votes; a total of 17.6 percent of those who participated named him as the best singer of 2013.

The 63-year-old, dubbed “the king of singers” in Korea, in April released “Hello,” his first full-length album in nearly 10 years. Two songs included in the album, “Hello” and “Bounce,” topped local music charts, while the album itself sold more than 200,000 copies.

K-pop legend Psy secured the second spot with 11.7 percent of the votes. The rapper, who last year created a YouTube sensation with his global-hit “Gangnam Style,” also enjoyed much popularity with his follow-up single “Gentleman.” Its music video had attracted more than 600 million hits on YouTube as of this month, becoming the most-viewed YouTube video of 2013.

Popular trot singer Jang Yun-jeong won the No. 3 spot with 8.8 percent, while boy band EXO came fourth with 8.4 percent of the votes. Girl group Girls’ Generation took fifth place with 8.3 percent.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)