Peggy Gou, Korean DJ and singer, on overcoming racism and sexism on her rise to the top, and her album of 90s house

Korean DJ Peggy Gou is as influential in the global pop music scene as K-pop stars like BTS and Blackpink. She is about to release her first album as a singer

She talks about how returning to Korea feels like a reset, her pride in being Korean, and what it was like to face racism, sexism and jealousy as a DJ

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Rising global music star Peggy Gou is set to release her debut album as a singer. She talks what it was like to face racism, sexism and jealousy as a DJ, and her pride in being Korean. Photo: courtesy of XL Recordings

The Korea Times

Published: 7:15pm, 23 May 2024

Peggy Gou, 33, boasts a number of accolades that underline her prominence in music.

She came third on a list of the most promising musicians of the year by BBC Radio, she was the first Korean artist to be nominated in the international song category at the 2024 Brit Awards and she ranked ninth in a list of the top 100 DJs of 2023 by British magazine DJ Mag.

Gou, who is as famous and influential in the global pop music scene as K-pop stars like BTS and Blackpink, is set to release her first full-length album, I Hear You, on June 7.

Ahead of the album’s release, Gou – whose real name is Kim Min-ji – returned to her homeland for a brief visit.

Gou ranked ninth in a list of the top 100 DJs of 2023 by British magazine DJ Mag. Photo: courtesy of XL Recordings

“I love coming to Korea because I have people who are like tranquillisers to me, including my family and friends,” she said in a recent phone interview.