Is ‘Cherry Blossom Ending’ Finally Dethroned? Do Kyung Soo’s ‘Popcorn’ Shakes Up the Spring Chart Landscape

Do Kyung Soo has emerged as a hot topic this spring, with his track “Popcorn” showing a remarkable surge on music charts.

The song has drawn even stronger response than Busker Busker’s “Cherry Blossom Ending,” long known as Korea’s "quintessential song for spring" for its annual chart resurgence. Its success signals a generational shift in seasonal spring hits.

“Popcorn” is a sentimental spring track that likens the fluttering feeling of love to popcorn popping. It blends soft, dreamy lyrics with a light, upbeat rhythm, elevated by Do Kyung Soo’s signature warm and gentle vocals. Originally included in his third mini album Growth, released in May 2024, the track has made a successful reverse climb up the charts nearly two years after its release.

As of April 17, “Popcorn” ranks No. 3 on the FLO all-age chart, following AKMU’s new songs “Joy, Sorrow, A Beautiful Heart” (No. 1) and “Paradise of Rumors” (No. 2). It also placed No. 17 on Melon’s latest daily chart (as of April 16) and No. 32 on YouTube Music’s weekly trending songs chart (April 3–9).

In contrast, “Cherry Blossom Ending”—a steady seller since its 2012 release that re-enters charts every spring—has fallen out of the top rankings on both FLO and Melon, and sits at No. 37 on YouTube Music. This makes “Popcorn’s” performance all the more striking.

On Circle Chart’s latest weekly digital chart (April 5–11), which aggregates data from major domestic music platforms, “Popcorn” climbed to No. 22—jumping an impressive 52 spots from the previous week. “Cherry Blossom Ending,” meanwhile, ranked No. 51.

The growing popularity of “Popcorn” has been fueled in part by word-of-mouth, as it became a popular choice for wedding congratulatory songs and groom entrance music. Late last year, it also gained attention after Do Kyung Soo performed the track at the request of actor Kim Woo Bin on tvN’s variety show 'Green Bean, Red Bean spin-off: Joy Pops Laugh Pops.'

As cherry blossom season arrived, the song’s momentum accelerated further. A representative from his agency Company Soosoo explained, “The song’s atmosphere, which perfectly matches the full onset of spring weather, combined with the spread of social media algorithms, has driven its reverse chart climb.”

Do Kyung Soo has responded to fans’ enthusiasm by releasing a 2026 live version of “Popcorn” through Dingo Music’s YouTube series Vertical Live. The video has been met with strong reactions from both domestic and international fans. Comments include, “His voice is spring itself,” “I work part-time at weddings, and this song always plays,” and “It’s a song that instantly lifts your mood.”

Attention is now turning to whether “Popcorn” can maintain its chart longevity. An industry insider noted, “Resurging spring songs typically lose momentum once cherry blossom season ends. However, given Do Kyung Soo’s strong fanbase, there is a solid chance it could enjoy a longer run.”