Hanroro takes on the 30-year-old “Neon Genesis Evangelion” classic “Cruel Angel’s Thesis”… Can Taeyeon’s No. 7 surge carry over?

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” myth reinterpreted, with “Hanroro” breathing life into a 30-year classic

Singer-songwriter “Hanroro,” which has captured the indie scene with its unmistakable sensibility, is set to remake the J-pop legend “Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” a song that has been loved for 30 years, and will release it at 6 p.m. on the 30th. Earlier, Taeyeon’s “Manchan-ga,” released through the same project, sparked a major wave after it reached No. 7 on Melon’s “Top 100” chart. With Hanroro, widely regarded as a next-generation audio powerhouse, set to pick up that momentum, attention is focused on whether the box-office baton will continue in the Korean music industry.

“Cruel Angel’s Thesis” is a mega-hit single released in 1995 by singer Yoko Takahashi. Inserted as the opening theme for “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” an animation that triggered a worldwide sensation, it remains one of the greatest songs of its kind—still drawing overwhelming support across both Korea and Japan even 30 years later.

In remarks from SHgold, which oversaw production of the new track, the label said, “While inheriting the original song’s explosive energy and grand scale in full, we also carefully layered in ‘Hanroro’’s signature dreamlike vocal color and a deeply nuanced emotional line.” In particular, this release was completed as part of “J-pop remake,” a project planned with ambition by singer and broadcaster “Gangnam.” Building on Taeyeon’s successful signal, Hanroro’s expanded musical spectrum—crossing both indie and major-label scenes—has added to listeners’ expectations, which are now at their peak.