G-Dragon’s “Home Sweet Home” was also ranked as the most-played song during commuting hours. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) – South Koreans are turning to the familiar voice of G-Dragon to soundtrack their commutes, according to a new analysis of music streaming habits on Melon, the country’s leading audio platform.
Melon revealed Monday that the Big Bang frontman’s tracks were the most streamed by users during weekday commuting hours—specifically at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.—between January 2 and May 15 of this year. His song “Home Sweet Home” was crowned the most-played track during these hours.
Following G-Dragon, rock band Day6 and K-pop girl group aespa ranked second and third in overall commuter-hour popularity. WOODZ’s “Drowning” came in as the second most-streamed individual track during commuting times.
In total, Melon users streamed more than 2.85 million unique songs over the designated periods, amassing over 1.25 billion total plays.
The data also offered insight into shifting musical moods throughout the day. Ballads, dance tracks, and rock/metal were the top three genres by volume. But patterns varied by time: ballads and rock were more frequently played during morning commutes, while dance tracks surged in the evenings.
Soft, contemplative songs by artists such as Jung Eun-ji, Tei, and Standing Egg saw a more than 10% uptick in morning listeners compared to evening figures. In contrast, songs by high-energy girl groups like BABYMONSTER, NewJeans, and Kiss of Life drew more plays after work hours.
Melon interpreted the findings as reflecting Koreans’ psychological rhythm across the workday. “Listeners appear to start their mornings with slower-tempo ballads and rock to ease into the day, and unwind with lively dance tracks on their way home,” the company said.
The findings reflect broader listening trends in South Korea’s fast-paced, digitally connected society, where music consumption continues to serve as both a mood regulator and a cultural touchstone for daily life.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
