Singer Im Ja-young is having a photo time at the press conference for the traditional song tribute performance ‘Continuing the Pulse’ held at the Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Reporter Kim Jong-won won@donga.com
The ‘seniors’ who have led the history of popular music, including singers Im Ja, Nam Jin, and Joo Hyun Mi, are returning to the stage after a long time. They plan to convey the value and sense of mission of popular singers to their juniors through performances that contain important meanings to their respective musical lives.
Im Ja (84), who has devoted herself to the development of traditional songs, including trot, for 66 years, is preparing for her ‘Last Concert’. She will meet the audience at the ‘Im Ja Traditional Song Tribute Concert - Connecting the Pulse’ on April 26th and 27th at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Grand Theater in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Although she is not completely retiring as a singer, this performance will likely be the last opportunity to see Im Ja-eun on stage.
Im Ja-eun is determined to personally convey to her juniors her belief, which she has held for 66 years, that “popular singers are those who share the pain and joy of the times,” through this performance. At a recent press conference to commemorate the opening of the performance, she said, “I will not hold any more performances or recordings,” and “I am happy to end my career as a singer by holding a performance where I can pass on my responsibility for popular and traditional songs to my juniors.” Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo, whom she chose as her “successors to carry on the tradition of traditional songs,” will also be on stage.
Nam Jin (79), her “eternal older brother,” will be on a nationwide tour of Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju, and Jeju Island to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her debut, when she is approaching eighty. According to the performance planning company Msten, Nam Jin‘s ‘60th Debut Anniversary Concert - 2025 Nam Jin Nationwide Tour’ will start at the Jeonbuk National University Samsung Cultural Center in Jeonju on the 15th and continue until June.
Photo courtesy of Showplus
In this concert, Nam Jin plans to perform a parade of his hit songs such as ‘With You’, ‘My Heart To You’, ‘Nest’, played by a live band. Nam Jin said, “I was able to stand on stage until now thanks to the fans who have loved me unconditionally for 60 years. This national tour will be a stage of gratitude with everyone who has been with me in my musical life,” he said.
Joo Hyun-mi (64), who was named the ‘successor of traditional songs’ by Imja Lee, will also present a national tour ‘The Queen’ to commemorate the 40th anniversary of her debut starting on April 19. The concert planning company Showplus announced, “This will be a place to look back on Joo Hyun-mi’s singing life, which has been loved by the public for a long time with various songs that reflected the times over the past 40 years.”
Reporter Yoo Ji-hye yjh0304@donga.com
This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.
