Cho Yong-pil returns to KBS stage after 28 years, says he will ‘keep singing’

Cho Yong-pil performs at the “80th Liberation Anniversary KBS Special: Cho Yong-pil – Forever This Moment” concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Sept. 6. Courtesy of KBS

Cho Yong-pil, long hailed as Korea’s “King of Pop,” delivered a powerhouse performance at KBS’ Liberation Day 80th anniversary concert on Sept. 6, marking his first KBS stage appearance in 28 years.

Taking the stage at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, Seoul, Cho told the crowd of some 18,000 people, “I will continue singing. If I cannot, I might take two or three years off, and if that doesn’t work, maybe four or five years. Then how old will I be?”

He added, “It’s been since the ‘Big Show’ in 1997 that I performed at KBS. Knowing this will be televised makes me a little nervous. I hope this moment will be remembered for a long time.”

The concert opened about 30 minutes behind schedule with “Unknown World,” and Cho quickly launched into his hits, including “Can't Find the Oriole,” “Darling” and “Reunion,” without much commentary.

While the overall concept echoed his concerts last year, about 30 percent of the setlist was changed.

Performing with his longtime band The Great Birth, Cho leaned into hard rock sounds, showcasing heavy arrangements of classics. “Eyes of the Sun” in particular carried the intensity of heavy metal, leading some fans to later say the event felt more like a rock festival than a tribute concert.

Cho Yong-pil performs at KBS special concert to mark 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. Courtesy of KBS

The audience, which spanned all ages, sang along, waved KBS-provided light sticks and responded with cheers as Cho alternated between playing guitar and inviting sing-alongs.

His voice, powerful and undiminished with age, drew awe throughout the dome. “Like the title of today’s concert, I want this moment to last forever,” he said.

Over the course of two and a half hours, Cho performed nearly 30 songs without guest performers, closing with “Leopard of Kilimanjaro,” “Bounce” and “Let’s Go on a Trip.” Dancing to the final rhythms, he thanked the audience before leaving the stage.

Living up to his status as a “living legend,” he delivered a career-spanning set — a fitting feat for the artist behind Korea’s first album to sell 1 million copies, the first to surpass 10 million cumulative sales, the first Korean to win Japan’s Golden Disc Award and the first to sell out Seoul Olympic Stadium.

All tickets for the free concert were snapped up within three minutes of release, underscoring the strong demand for his performance. The event will air on KBS on Oct. 6.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.