How Bae Chul-soo broadcasts iconic radio show from Lollapalooza Chicago
Radio host Bae Chul-soo records his show "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp," Thursday, at a studio in Grant Park, where this year's Lollapalooza Chicago takes place from Thursday through Sunday. Courtesy of MBC
CHICAGO — Inside a white container studio in Grant Park, tucked just steps from the thundering stages of Lollapalooza Chicago, Korea’s most iconic radio voice leans into the mic — not in Seoul, but in the middle of America’s wildest summer music festival.
What’s Bae Chul-soo, the legendary host of Korea's longest-running radio program, "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp," doing 10,000 kilometers away from his familiar Seoul studio, where he has helmed Korea’s most beloved pop music show for over three decades?
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of his program, Bae and his team flew across the globe for a first-of-its-kind recording project, bringing "Bae Camp" to life from the heart of the Windy City. Surrounded by festival frenzy, the crew set up a makeshift studio in Grant Park, determined to capture the global pulse of pop music in real time.
This milestone moment of Korea's most enduring radio show promised something historic for fans and industry insiders alike, but its journey was far from seamless.
After a grueling 12-hour flight, even catching an Uber into downtown proved challenging. The logistics of producing a live-style show from a massive foreign festival demanded precision and patience.
Still, once the team stepped into the white container studio prepped by their advance crew, early uncertainties began to lift.
Radio host Bae Chul-soo, left, and writer Bae Soon-tak record "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp," Thursday, at an on-site studio in Grant Park, where this year's Lollapalooza Chicago is taking place. Courtesy of MBC
Inside the compact but brightly lit space, familiar visuals — the "Bae Camp" logo and vibrant graphics — lined the walls, signaling that the team was ready to bring their signature style to the American stage.
The setup was stripped down but efficient: a small arsenal of microphones, mixers, headphones and laptops, all carefully arranged with clear intent.
Behind the main studio, the rear room of the container became a buzzing production hub, with nearly 20 team members huddled in tight quarters to carry out the recording. Alongside the core MBC production unit was a documentary team, as well as a sole outside journalist from The Korea Times.
The team kicked off preliminary recording on Wednesday and continued into Thursday, the day before and day of Lollapalooza's official opening. Despite the cramped space and uncertain variables, the atmosphere remained surprisingly upbeat. At 71, Bae may have decades of broadcasting behind him, but his team operated with camaraderie, not hierarchy.
Radio host Bae Chul-soo, left, works on on-site recordings of "Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp," Thursday, at a studio in Grant Park, where this year's Lollapalooza Chicago is taking place. Courtesy of MBC
Writers shared inside jokes and nudged for their best behind-the-scenes stories to make it into the coverage. They passed around snacks and cold drinks in the summer heat, working seamlessly even halfway around the world.
But when Bae called for silence, the room responded instantly. A simple shoutout, and the container turned pin-drop quiet. For the team, this shift was routine, but to outsiders, it was mesmerizing.
Because of the 14-hour time difference with Korea, the broadcast was pre-recorded, with the team meticulously laying down four 30-minute segments. Each featured listener stories and Bae's trademark dry wit, but the real standout moments came from the guest appearances, many of which were recorded exclusively on site.
Joining the broadcast were key internal contributors, including writer Bae Soon-tak; An Heung-chan, the frontman of Korea's pioneering rock band Crash and now a veteran stage director; and Han Yeo-ok, director of the Korea Tourism Organization's Tourism Content team. The guest lineup also featured rising U.S. pop act Alex Warren, whose recent hit "Ordinary" propelled him into the spotlight, and Huston Powell of C3 Presents, widely credited for shaping the global expansion of the Lollapalooza brand.
Bae Chul-soo, left, interviews pop singer Alex Warren, Thursday, at a private studio near Grant Park, where this year's Lollapalooza Chicago takes place from Thursday to Sunday. Captured from Instagram
Nam Tae-jeong, the chief producer of MBC's radio division, emphasized the significance of the project, noting that it had been "in the works since last year."
"As we prepared for the 35th anniversary, I believe this all came together thanks to the recognition we've received as Korea's only radio program dedicated exclusively to pop music [for decades],” Nam said.
Anticipation built well ahead of the trip, with the project securing sponsorship from major Korean institutions and brands, including the Korea Tourism Organization, leading bakery franchise Paris Baguette and Lotte's hotel chain, L7.
“This is the first time a Korean broadcaster has come to one of the world's biggest and most popular music festivals and being here really reinforced the idea that music is a universal language," Nam said. "We feel proud to be part of such a trend-driven scene. It also makes me hope that one day, a festival like this could happen in Korea too."
The 35th anniversary episodes of Bae Chul-soo's Music Camp broadcasts at 6 p.m. (KST) from Friday, with two-hour episodes airing daily, through Wednesday.