Zico performs with winners of anti-smoking campaign

Korean hip-hop artist Zico promotes anti-smoking campaign "fingerband." / Courtesy of Fingerband

By Hong Dam-young

Korean hip-hop artist Zico held a collaboration performance with finalists of an anti-smoking campaign audition where each competitor performed a self-composed rap with Zico.

Known as a non-smoker, Zico has been promoting the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s anti-smoking campaign called “fingerband” since June.

Fingerband held open online and offline auditions for a new campaign song from Aug. 17 until Sept. 30.

Zico was one of the judges, the ministry reported on Friday.

Online participants had submitted videos of their freestyle rap about anti-smoking. Offline auditions were also held in Seoul and two other cities.

The six finalists, who were selected on Oct. 12, performed their songs with Zico at the “Fingerband Festival” on Sunday at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu district in Seoul.

Hip-hop musicians such as Simon Dominic, Loco, and Huckleberry P performed before to the final audition.

Out of 10 million won ($8,760) prize money, 3 million won went to the first place winner, while the other five shared 7 million won. The winners were decided from a spot poll.

“The works of the final six were impressive in that their lyrics and melodies showed their determination to quit smoking,” said Zico.

Meanwhile, Zico had remade one of his hits, “Boys & Girls,” into an official campaign song, which was released on the campaign site on Aug. 17.