Im Jae-beom announces retirement from the stage after 40th anniversary tour
Singer Im Jae-beom said he will step away from the stage after his 40th anniversary tour.
Im Jae-beom shared a lengthy post on his official YouTube channel on the 4th, personally announcing his decision to retire. He said, "I hesitated for a long time before posting this," and "When I try to speak it aloud it chokes me up, and I could not summon the courage to look at you and tell you, so I am conveying it in writing like this."
He went on to say, "When I stand on stage my heart is still hot, but I had to admit that the things I possess are one by one leaving my hands, and that the heat alone is not enough to handle it all," saying it was a decision reached after long deliberation.
Im Jae-beom said, "I reviewed it countless times and fought with myself countless times," and "For the first time at this moment I intend to honestly lay out my heart before you," then officially declared, "I intend to step away from the stage after this 40th anniversary tour."
He said, "I know well this is not an easy decision for me or for you. That makes me more sorry and more grateful," expressing both gratitude and apology to fans. He added, "You were the beginning of my songs and the reason I could endure."
Im Jae-beom explained his reason for choosing retirement, saying, "I thought that walking away on my own during the best time, amid the most beautiful days, would be my last remaining pride and a way to give thanks." He sincerely added, "I hope this choice does not cloud all the time I have walked nor become a farewell that leaves only regret for anyone."
He also expressed his resolve about the final performances. He said, "For the remaining final 40th anniversary stages, I will give you everything I have and all the remaining strength and heart I possess," and added, "I want to finish that journey quietly but sincerely, in my own way, to the end."
Finally, Im Jae-beom said, "To everyone who loved my songs and to all of you who walked through my life with me, I am truly grateful and really sorry," and asked, "Please keep this feeling warmly in your memories."
Im Jae-beom's official statement [full text]
To my beloved fans
I hesitated for a long time before posting this.
When I try to speak it aloud it chokes me up
and I could not summon the courage to look at you and tell you,
so at the final moment I am conveying it in writing like this.
When I stand on stage my heart is still hot
but to handle it all with that heat alone I had to admit that the things I possess are, one by one,
leaving my hands.
I thought about it for a long time.
I reviewed it countless times and fought with myself countless times.
And for the first time at this moment
I intend to honestly lay out my heart before you.
I intend to step away from the stage
after this 40th anniversary tour.
I know well this is not an easy decision for me or for you.
That makes me more sorry and more grateful.
You were the beginning of my songs
and the reason I could endure.
And even at this moment as I organize the ending
you still stand by my side like this.
I sincerely hope that this choice does not cloud all the time I have walked
or become a farewell that leaves only regret for anyone.
I thought that walking away on my own
during the best time, amid the most beautiful days,
would be my last remaining pride
and a way to give thanks.
For the remaining final 40th anniversary stages,
I will give you everything I have and
all the remaining strength and heart I possess.
I want to, in my own way,
somehow finish that journey quietly but sincerely to the end.
To everyone who loved my songs,
and to all of you who walked through my life with me
I am truly grateful. And I am really sorry.
Please keep this feeling warmly in your memories.
Thank you. Really… thank you.
– sincerely, Im Jae-beom<
[Photo] 'OSEN DB'
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