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After 20 Years, Singer Park Ki-young's Eyes No Longer on Music Charts

Singer Park Ki-young says her priorities have changed as she celebrates the 20th anniversary of her singing debut this year.

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The singer-songwriter has had numerous hits since her first full-length album One came out in 1998, but she no longer aims for the top of the charts. 

"I was like a parrot back then. I'm no longer obsessed with writing hit songs", she said. "I sang what I was told to sing, without knowing what the lyrics really meant. I started telling 'my stories' from my fifth album, which I made without a management agency".

She recently released her eighth full-length album after a break of eight years. "Replay" reflects her new outlook, as she has gone through major changes in her life with the birth of her daughter in 2010.

"I was so hungry for music", said Park. "Childcare was the hardest thing I've done in my life. I felt like I changed jobs. To write songs requires some down time, but I didn't even have 10 minutes to sit on a sofa".

However, becoming a mom has brought her things she would never have otherwise. She said she wants to be seen as a musician who always does her best for her daughter, who is now 7 and recognizes her mother on stage, and feels proud of her.

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