Cho Yong-pil amazed by BTS' global success

His “Thanks to You” concert across country continues

By Park Jin-hai

Legendary singer Cho Yong-pil says he was “amazed” by BTS' repeated feats on the Billboard music charts.

“I was really surprised when Psy first appeared on the Billboard charts, but BTS making the chart again was definitely a shock,” the 68 year-old singer, who marks the 50th anniversary of his musical career this year, told reporters in Seoul, Thursday.

“When Psy rose to the top, I thought, 'Will something like this happen again?' But BTS has done it twice. It was a bombshell not just for me but for all the people around me,” referring to BTS' first chart-topping album “Love Yourself: Tear” and the second “Love Yourself: Answer” three months later.

Cho, nicknamed the first “national singer” for his popularity among people of all ages, was one of the first Korean pop singers who triggered hallyu. He entered the Japanese market in 1986 and his songs enjoyed as much popularity there as here in Korea. His debut album “A Lost Child of Memory 1” sold more than 1 million copies and won a Golden Disc Award in Japan.

“BTS has it all _ their songs are great and they dance well and even have great looks,” said Cho.

BTS posted a video clip congratulating the iconic singer's 50th anniversary and showed respect for the veteran singer earlier. Cho in return sent a flower basket to BTS to celebrate their Seoul Concert last month.

He said K-pop has a bright future. “Music travels farther via Youtube now. Since young artists of today will be able to come up with better ideas, if their music is great, they can climb to the top of the Billboard music chart. If Spanish-language albums can garner great success, why not Korean-language songs?”

The king of Korean pop music who was noted for timeless musical challenges including his 2013 hit songs “Hello” and “Bounce, has been on his “Thanks To You” tour across the country since May.

He says he is seeing his strongest fandom this year. “My fans are mostly in their 40s and 50s, but they come with their grown children to my concerts. I think the fans' responses are the most fervent this year,” said Cho.

Asked about the great source of energy that let him keep moving, he says it is the good vibes his audiences give him. “When I sing on stage, I feel stronger energy than otherwise. Big audiences give me the power.”

He recalls the most memorable concert in his 50-year career was the 2003 concert at Seoul Olympic Stadium in Jamsil. “Under the pouring rain, the stage got soaked and the big screen went blank because it lost power. It was really difficult, but the audience didn't move and stayed there for my concert. It was a touching moment,” he said.

For him, the most challenging work is composing songs.

Although he was regarded as having successfully crossed over generations and genres with his songs “Hello” and “Bounce” to the new K-pop landscape heavily dominated by talent agency-engineered "idol" bands, he has failed to compose any new songs for the last five years.

Admitting that he feels a great amount of pressure to write great songs, he says his next goal, however, is to write songs that everyone regardless of age can sing along to. “I want to write some national songs that can be fresh and new but will enable anyone to sing along with ease. Although my song-writing might be slower than before, I just do it and take the challenge,” said the singer.

His tour that began with Seoul Olympic Stadium in May will continue in provincial cities between October and November, before he wraps it up with encore Seoul concerts Dec. 15 and 16 at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Olympic Park.