In his 57th year since debut, a 20-album singer and the king of songs. The originator of the Korean Wave. The originator of the oppa brigade syndrome. Singer Jo Yong-pil, who holds all these titles, remains a singular presence in Korea's popular music scene. News has come that he will appear on a terrestrial broadcast stage for the first time in 28 years since 1997. Having focused on the stage and been called a "performance-oriented singer," he held a special free concert at Gocheok Sky Dome with KBS to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation. The performance held on Sept. 6 drew some 18,000 spectators, and by passionately singing 28 songs he reaffirmed that he is still a living legend.
And the concert Jo Yong-pil, this moment forever will be broadcast on KBS2 on Oct. 6 (Mon), the day of Chuseok. Then on Oct. 8 (Wed) at 7:20 p.m., a behind-the-scenes documentary showing Jo Yong-pil behind the dazzling stage and the concert preparation process, never before seen, will be released. You can see Jo Yong-pil's fierce effort and passion offstage that were never seen anywhere else, the tension and excitement on the day of the performance, and Jo Yong-pil's own impressions of the concert in the special documentary Jo Yong-pil, this moment forever - the record of that day.
He decided on this performance with the wish of wanting to create a chance to meet the public "before it's too late." What was the preparation process, which he said was more intense than ever? At the end of August, following curiosity, we went to the final rehearsal. Although he has stood on stage for more than half a century, we found him still intensely focused in rehearsal as if it were the real performance. True to his reputation as a relentless rehearsal fiend, he sang 28 carefully planned songs in succession as if in performance. Because he sang with that passion, Jo Yong-pil still maintains a vocal range similar to his prime. We reveal the rehearsal site full of his determination and passion, because he can never be exhausted when it comes to standing on stage in front of his fans.
News of the free concert prepared by Jo Yong-pil and KBS drew intense interest, and both rounds of ticketing sold out in three minutes with 50,000 people on the waiting list each time. About 7,000 entries were submitted to the "story submission event" held for fans who failed to get tickets, sharing various stories of life's joys and sorrows accompanied by Jo Yong-pil's music. We met the people who sent the most special stories and heard how Jo Yong-pil's music is woven into their lives.
From Ms. Yoon Jeong-sook (55), who flew about 9,000 km from south London to Seoul because she couldn't forget "oppa Jo Yong-pil" even after immigrating to the U.K., to Mr. Kim Seul-cham (32), who grew up as a so-called "Jo Yong-pil kid" after falling deeply for Jo Yong-pil's music upon first hearing it in elementary school. The so-called "family devotees," including Ms. Park Soo-young (52) and her family made up of a mother with decades of fandom, a father, and a 20-year-old daughter who was a prenatal fan because even prenatal education used Jo Yong-pil's music. The couple Jeong Young-jun (68) and Jo Ok-sun (61), who worked in sewing for more than 40 years and drew strength from Jo Yong-pil's songs at every turning point in life. And Mr. Park Ji-hoon (40), who said that from age 34 he fought a malignant brain tumor for six years and used Jo Yong-pil's songs as his last lifeline. Jo Yong-pil has been part of many lives, remains in them now, and will be in them going forward. We listened to the life stories filled with his music.
With everyone's expectations building before the concert, from Sept. 1 for five days, full stage installation and performance preparations were carried out at Gocheok Sky Dome. From a stage design that expressed Jo Yong-pil's musical journey as a vast flow to lighting design that sought to maximize the mood of each song. Hundreds of staff worked to the last moment to create a performance worthy of Jo Yong-pil's reputation. And the day before the performance. We follow the five-day record including the pre-recording site conducted amid tension.
Finally the day of the performance, Sept. 6. Despite the heavy rain that fell from morning, crowds gathered in front of Gocheok Sky Dome. Fans who arrived at 6 a.m., fans proudly showing off hand-knitted Jo Yong-pil dolls, fans who made special T-shirts for the day. Each showed excitement in their own way, and at last the first song echoed on stage. The venue was full of cheers, laughter and tears to his voice. It recorded a moment that will be engraved forever in the nation's heart.
A concert by singer Jo Yong-pil, ambitiously prepared by KBS to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation. A behind-the-scenes documentary that captured every moment,
[Photo] provided
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