Singer Lee Mi-ja mentioned that this performance would be her last.
On the afternoon of the 5th, a press conference for the tribute performance 'Connecting the Pulse' dedicated to traditional Korean music took place at Stanford Hall in Stanford Hotel Korea, Mapo District, Seoul. The event featured singers Lee Mi-ja, Joo Hyun-mi, and Cho Hang-jo sharing their thoughts.
Lee Mi-ja will hold the tribute performance 'Connecting the Pulse' at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno District, Seoul, on April 26 and 27, meeting with music fans. The concert is expected to present Lee Mi-ja's classic hits live, spanning her 66-year career as a singer.
In particular, this performance is prepared with respect and affection for traditional Korean music, and she plans to share the stage with junior singers who will carry on the legacy of traditional music.
Lee Mi-ja hinted at her retirement ahead of this performance. She noted, "In the entertainment industry, it is common to use the word retirement, but I do not like that term. I think it is too hasty to make a definitive statement, so I have refrained from using the word retirement. However, I believe that now is the time when I can confidently say this is my last."
She added, "Every time I step on stage, I must not forget the roots of our traditional Korean music and have conducted a lot of research to ensure it continues and does not disappear, but I had almost given up on that idea. It is thanks to the solid junior artists I have carefully selected that I have been able to create an opportunity to pass on my traditional music."
She reflected, "Every time I hold a concert, I think about those who lived through difficult times, striving to provide for their children, traveling to Germany, and enduring pain, comforting their mothers and fathers with our songs. I believe that traditional music represents the flow of time. It has been hard to watch that disappear. There have been memories of it being dismissed as low-quality songs. Therefore, I believe we must never forget the songs from those difficult times, and every time I perform, I ask to be sung as such."
She expressed, "I had thought that once I was gone, it would vanish, but I have often asked that as long as I can still perform, please do not forget. Just when I was about to give up and thought I could no longer stand on stage, this performance came up. I am grateful that this performance allows us to continue our legacy through the next generation. Although I said I do not like the word retirement, this performance now has someone to pass it on to, so I have set a mindset that I can work hard and finish it."
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