Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Singer Lim Young-woong set to conquer big screens with 'IM HERO' concert film
Singer Lim Young-woong speaks during a press conference for his concert film “IM HERO” at a theater in Yongsan District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
Singer Lim Young-woong has been making an unparalleled impact on the Korean music scene in recent years, alongside K-pop bands BTS and BLACKPINK.
With his powerful singing ability and positive influence, his fame has spread across the nation.
Since rising to stardom in 2020 after winning TV Chosun's "Mr. Trot" singing contest, the 33-year-old has become one of the most popular singers in Korea, showcasing a diverse range of songs from trot, a genre favored by the older generation, to ballads.
Beyond his outstanding vocal abilities and gentle stage presence, Lim has been making a positive impact off-stage through various charitable activities even before his rise to fame.
His trademark greeting, "geonhaeng," short for "be healthy and happy," has also become a common phrase among many Koreans.
His widespread influence has been dubbed the "Lim Young-woong phenomenon," drawing comparisons to the Taylor Swift phenomenon. His concerts consistently sell out, products he endorses experience a surge in sales, and TV shows featuring him see notable increases in viewership.
Fans of Lim Young-woong show their love for the vocalist by holding placards outside a theater in Seoul where the press premiere of his concert film “IM HERO” was held Thursday. Yonhap
Although many fans have been unable to attend his always sold-out concerts, they will soon have the chance to experience his performance on the big screen. The film "IM HERO," featuring footage from his concert, is set to debut in theaters next week.
"IM HERO" captures Lim's concert in May at Seoul World Cup Stadium, which drew some 100,000 spectators over two days. The film features concert footage as well as behind-the-scenes content, showcasing Lim and his staff's year-long preparation process.
At the film's preview on Thursday, numerous fans gathered at the theater, chanting his name and waving placards to celebrate the release of the concert movie.
A poster for "IM HERO," Lim Young-woong's concert film that will hit CJ CGV theaters nationwide Wednesday, shows a scene from his concert footage. Courtesy of CJ CGV
Lim thanked his fan club, Hero Generation, attributing the concert's success entirely to their support.
"I'm curious about how you viewed the film. I was worried about filling so many seats and about my ability to perform well at such a large venue, but thanks to Hero Generation, I was able to complete it successfully," Lim told reporters after the premiere in Seoul.
He mentioned that it was hard for him to imagine performing in a large stadium and expressed hope that those who couldn’t attend the concert would enjoy the film.
"A stadium performance is something hard to imagine doing. I wanted to express my gratitude once again through this film to Hero Generation for making this dream stage possible," he said. "I hope those who couldn't attend the concert can feel the same emotion we felt then."
Lim also recalled his emotions from the first and second days of the concert.
"On the first day, I was very eager to get started. It was my first time performing for such a large crowd, so I was nervous and anxious. But as time went on, I felt as comfortable as if I were with family, which helped me finish the concert successfully," he said.
"The second day was expected to have bad weather, but I actually like rainy days. The rain arrived at just the right time, adding a special visual effect to the performance."
"IM HERO" will hit CJ CGV theaters nationwide on Wednesday.