Singer Lee Mi-ja will conclude her 66-year singing career with a performance in April.
On the afternoon of the 5th, a press conference for Lee Mi-ja's traditional music tribute concert "Connecting the Pulse" was held at Stanford Hall in the Stanford Hotel Korea, Mapo District, Seoul. At the event, singer Lee Mi-ja along with Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo shared their thoughts.
Lee Mi-ja will hold the "Lee Mi-ja Traditional Music Tribute Concert 'Connecting the Pulse'" for two days on April 26 and 27 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno District, Seoul, where she will meet with music fans.
"Connecting the Pulse" is a stage prepared with Lee Mi-ja's respect and love for traditional music, where the audience can experience her greatest hits live.
Additionally, Lee Mi-ja will share the stage with junior artists like Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo, who will help carry on the legacy of traditional music.
On this day, Lee Mi-ja surprised attendees by suggesting her retirement after the "Connecting the Pulse" concert. He said, "In the entertainment industry, the word retirement is often used, but I do not like the two words retirement. I felt that it was too hasty to make that decision, so I have refrained from using the word retirement. However, I believe this is the time when I can certainly say that this is my last."
He added, "Every time I take the stage, I have been conducting research to ensure we do not forget the roots of our traditional music and can continue it, so it was almost given up, but this opportunity was provided to me to create this stage. I feel that this has come to fruition because a place has been provided for strong juniors to inherit the pulse of my traditional music."
He recalled, "Whenever I held a concert, I thought of those people who lived through difficult times, who worked hard going to Vietnam and Germany to provide for their children, who found comfort in our music during those times. I believe traditional music represents the flow of the times. It has been hard for me to see it fading away. I have memories of being marginalized for singing low-quality songs. That is why I have thought that we must never forget the songs of difficult times, and every time I took the stage, I asked to sing these songs for everyone to hear."
He continued, "I have thought that when I am done, traditional music would disappear, but I kept asking people not to forget it as long as I can go on stage. When I had nearly given up and thought I could no longer perform, this concert came up. I was happily preparing for this concert because it allows for our pulse to be continued through the juniors. Though I mentioned that I do not like the word retirement, this concert gives me the mindset that I can finish my journey by passing it on to these people because there are successors to inherit it."
After Lee Mi-ja's hints at retirement, reporters repeatedly asked about her final performance and retirement, and he explained, "I do not like the word retirement. As I grow older, I have come to think that deciding to stop is not desirable. I think it's better to step down quietly when I can no longer sing. However, I believe I can say this is the last. I can now do this because there are producers who have made it possible to hold that concert so that those beautiful songs do not disappear, and I can take comfort in knowing that the chance to pass it on has come. It made me feel that I could sufficiently complete it with this concert."
Lee Mi-ja elaborated on why she does not declare retirement by saying, "I will not be recording any more, and you can consider this my final performance. However, the reason I do not step down is that, in the spirit of passing on the legacy of traditional music, I might still have opportunities to provide guidance to my juniors, which is why I do not express stepping down. Nevertheless, I can firmly say that songs and performances are the last," adding a sense of regret.
Meanwhile, Lee Mi-ja made her debut in 1959 with "Nineteen Pure Love" and has produced numerous hits including "Camellia Lady," "Heuksando Lady," "Island Village Teacher," and "Lady." She has released over 500 albums and more than 2,000 songs, establishing herself as a true national singer.
[OSEN = Jimin Kyung, reporter]