[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] New songs unrelated to the rainy season are appearing one after another in the top ranks of major music charts. As the rainy season sets in, songs produced as so-called “rainy season songs” are gaining popularity. It is notable that these new songs are performing even better than the established “evergreen” hits that used to reappear on the charts whenever the rainy season rains fell.

Lee Ye-jun has recently achieved the most notable success with a monsoon song. “A Night Without an Umbrella,” released by Lee Ye-jun on the 12th, climbed to No. 2 on YouTube’s Korean Trending Music Chart (YouTube Trending Chart) on the 16th. Additionally, the live clip for “A Night Without an Umbrella” ranked sixth on the daily popular music video chart.
“A Night Without an Umbrella” is a ballad that conveys a message of comfort to those who are getting through each day while facing countless unavoidable challenges—much like rain that wets your shoulders even when you’re holding an umbrella. Lee Ye-jun amplified the song’s emotional depth with his signature delicate yet soulful vocals.
Lee Ye-jun, who has previously showcased explosive vocal power and high notes in songs like “Was I at Peace That Day?,” “Crazy Talk,” and “In Case We Meet Again,” displayed a different kind of charm in this new song by emphasizing restrained emotional expression and a more relaxed vocal delivery.

Lee Ye-jun’s producer, Kim Gyo-sik, CEO of HNS HQ, said in a phone interview with Edaily that day, “It seems the release of this new song has created a synergy, as more people have been paying attention to Lee Ye-jun’s live performances and vocals since his appearance on the MBC music survival show ‘The Top Ones.’” He added, “Since the song matches the mood of the rainy season, we believe it’s receiving a positive response in tandem with the weather.”
He also emphasized that the project was planned with the rainy season in mind from the very beginning. CEO Kim explained, “To establish the image of a ‘song perfect for listening to on a rainy day,’ we intensively promoted content related to the new song and the weather on social media and short-form video platforms even before the rainy season began, and we timed the release to coincide with the rainy season.”
The new R&B ballad-style song “It’s a Rainy Day,” produced by Yuntoben and performed by Do Yuka, is also ranked No. 4 on YouTube’s Trending chart. This song, which captures the longing, regret, and feelings of guilt toward an ex-lover that suddenly surface on a rainy day, was released on the 12th—just like “A Night Without an Umbrella”—with its release date specifically timed for the rainy season.
On YouTube’s Weekly Popular Songs Chart (July 3–9), Wave Call’s new song “It’s Raining,” released on the 29th of last month, has made it onto the list. The song, which expresses feelings toward a loved one who comes to mind when it rains, made its presence known by entering the chart at No. 75.

It’s nothing new for songs about rain to gain attention during the monsoon season. Epik High’s “Umbrella,” Paul Kim’s “Rain,” and Heize’s “It’s Raining, So…” are considered classic “monsoon songs” that climb back up the music charts every time the monsoon rains fall. In 2021, songs like Epik High’s “A Song Good to Listen to on a Rainy Day,” Lee Mu-jin’s “Rain and You,” and Jang Beom-jun’s “Become the Drizzling Summer Rain” all gained popularity at the same time, sparking a “monsoon song showdown.”
This year, however, the fierce resurgence of classic monsoon season songs has yet to appear on major music charts. Instead, new releases are making their presence felt first, with artists continuing to release new tracks specifically targeting the monsoon season—such as Ja-jung’s “When It Rains Like Today” and Ramit’s “Where the Rain Fell.”
An official from a music agency described the current atmosphere, saying, “As algorithm-driven music consumption has become the norm, not only existing hits but also newly released seasonal songs can now gain significant traction.” The official added, “Since the rainy season repeats every year, well-crafted songs have the potential to be enjoyed anew each year. Rather than pursuing short-term success, the goal for producers is to create iconic songs that people will revisit whenever the rainy season arrives, even years later.”