As expected, the "king of singers" was Cho Yong-pil. KBS2TV's Liberation Day 80th anniversary KBS special project "Cho Yong-pil, this moment forever" saw Cho Yong-pil display his unchanged vocal power and overwhelming presence, drawing Chuseok viewers into the fervor of mass singing.
At the same time, the viewership rating for "Cho Yong-pil, this moment forever" was 15.7% nationwide, taking an overwhelming first place in the same time slot. This is the highest rating among programs broadcast during the Chuseok holiday, reaffirming the invincible dignity of the king of singers. (Nielsen Korea nationwide households, based on part 2)
The Liberation Day 80th anniversary KBS special project "Cho Yong-pil, this moment forever," broadcast on the 6th, drew intense interest as a solo stage by the legend Cho Yong-pil, who spans all generations of Korea and was appearing on KBS alone for the first time in 28 years since the 1997 "Big Show." In particular, as the one stage where the entire nation could enjoy Cho Yong-pil's numerous masterpieces—he who has always been alongside the people through music—viewers' expectations were high even before it began. Moreover, with stage production intended to enhance the performance's completeness and the king's return, the broadcast was extended by 20 minutes from the original plan to a three-hour program.
The broadcast opened as if inviting viewers into Cho Yong-pil's musical world, flinging open the gates to the "unknown world." The presence of We Are the Great Birth, who took the stage with Cho Yong-pil to deliver the best performance, also made viewers' hearts pound. Thereafter, Cho Yong-pil announced the start of full-scale mass singing with "I Can't Find You, Nightingale". His still-resonant vocal power, steady sense of rhythm, and the same timbre as when he debuted engraved the two characters "king of singers" in viewers' hearts from the first note.
At actual concerts, Cho Yong-pil has built song-centered performances by excluding guest singers and selecting setlists composed of his own hits, and at 75 he belied his age by singing with tireless stamina throughout the show, thrilling the audience and viewers. Singing classics that span generations such as "Pride," "My Dear," "Reunion in Memory," "The Woman Outside the Window," "Candlelight," "Yesterday, Today and," "Bobbed Hair," and "Dragonfly," Cho Yong-pil stirred the audience and said, "I will try a full mass sing," then boosted the mood by performing "Emptiness," "The Tearoom of That Winter," and "Q." Along with this, scenes of audience members standing up and singing together, and mothers and daughters enjoying the performance together, vividly captured audience reactions across genders and generations, adding emotional resonance.
In the middle of the performance, a flood of masterpieces that allow a deeper feel for Cho Yong-pil's musical world poured forth. "Come Back to Busan Port," the beginning of the Cho Yong-pil legend, tugged at the heartstrings, and songs like "Forgotten Love," "It's Okay," "Dream," "Where Your Steps Linger," and "Song of the Wind" added overwhelming emotion. "The Sun's Eye" seized attention with powerful sound and dazzling stage production, and the special stage revealed afterward, "Sad Beatrice," combined the grand orchestral sound produced by the KBS Symphony Orchestra with Cho Yong-pil's explosive vocals to deliver a heart-stirring emotional impact.
Toward the end of the performance, hit songs with explosive rock sound that raised heart rates made the audience and viewers sway. The atmosphere, heightened by "Asia's Flame," "I Like You," "A Moment," and "Youth Era," reached its peak with the official ending song "Monalisa." Cho Yong-pil's repeated shout of "thank you" to the audience singing along was pure emotion. Amid the audience's cheers chanting "Cho Yong-pil," he returned to the stage and gifted encore songs that are indisputable hits—"The Leopard of Kilimanjaro," "Bounce," and "Let's Go on a Trip"—which were truly the crowning touch of the night's performance.
In his 57th year since debut, living legend Cho Yong-pil's presence was evident in every word he spoke. Cho Yong-pil repeatedly thanked the audience, saying, "Thank you for the warm welcome. I think the reason I have been able to sing for so long until now is precisely because you were there. Thank you," and added, "I will continue to sing, and if I can't do it, I'll rest for two to three years and come back, and if that doesn't work, I'll rest for four to five years and come back again. Today's concert title is 'this moment forever.' Like that phrase, I hope this moment with you will remain in our memories for a long time," stirring fans into a frenzy.
In an interview, Cho Yong-pil explained the reason he accepted the invitation, saying, "If not now, there won't be many opportunities to see you. Also, my voice might get worse in the future. I felt I had to do it quickly before that happens. Watching the audience listen to song after song, singing and dancing with their families—it's moving and a great reward for me." He added, "In my life, I only know music. How happy would it be to die singing? That's my dream. But that might not be possible," leaving a poignant aftertaste.
Meanwhile, KBS's devotion that elevated the dignity of the king's stage also stood out. The massive LED screens, dazzling lighting, fireworks and other stage equipment decorating the venue, and CG added in postproduction delivered a fantastic sense of immersion, and attention to subtitle size and font to help viewers sing along at home was also noteworthy. In addition, the cheering sticks that KBS lent free of charge to enhance the performance's completeness added beautiful lights throughout the venue and offered front-row home viewers scenes they will want to cherish forever.
Meanwhile, the documentary capturing behind-the-scenes of the concert that gave viewers unparalleled joy during the holiday, "Cho Yong-pil, this moment forever—A record of that day," will air on the 8th (Wed.) at 8 p.m. Also, a special edition of "Cho Yong-pil, this moment forever," which includes the unaired segment "Friend," will broadcast on the 8th (Wed.) at 9 p.m.
[Photo] Broadcast capture
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