Cho Yong-pil, widely recognized as South Korea's "King of Pop," delivered a spectacular performance at KBS's 80th Liberation Day anniversary concert on September 6, marking his first appearance on the network's stage in 28 years. The legendary singer performed at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul's Guro District before an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 18,000 fans.
Speaking to the packed audience, Cho expressed his commitment to continuing his musical career despite his advancing age. "I will continue singing," he told the crowd. "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?" The 74-year-old performer acknowledged the significance of his return to KBS, stating, "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 began approximately 30 minutes behind schedule with "Unknown World," after which Cho immediately launched into a series of his greatest hits including "Can't Find the Oriole," "Darling," and "Reunion" with minimal commentary between songs. While the overall concert concept was similar to his performances from the previous year, approximately 30 percent of the setlist featured new arrangements and different selections.
Performing alongside his longtime backing band The Great Birth, Cho emphasized heavy rock arrangements that transformed his classic songs into powerful anthems. His rendition of "Eyes of the Sun" was particularly notable for its heavy metal intensity, leading many fans to describe the event as feeling more like a rock festival than a traditional tribute concert. The multi-generational audience actively participated by singing along, waving KBS-provided light sticks, and responding with enthusiastic cheers as Cho alternated between playing guitar and encouraging audience participation.
Despite his age, Cho's voice remained remarkably powerful and clear throughout the performance, drawing amazed reactions from the crowd. "Like the title of today's concert, I want this moment to last forever," he said, referencing the concert's official title "Forever This Moment." Over the course of two and a half hours, the veteran performer delivered nearly 30 songs without any guest performers, demonstrating his enduring stamina and stage presence.
The concert concluded with rousing performances of "Leopard of Kilimanjaro," "Bounce," and "Let's Go on a Trip." Cho danced energetically to the final rhythms before expressing his gratitude to the audience and leaving the stage. His performance lived up to his legendary status as the artist behind numerous Korean music industry firsts: the first album to sell one million copies, the first artist 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.
The massive demand for the free concert was evident when all tickets were claimed within just three minutes of their release, underscoring Cho Yong-pil's enduring popularity across generations. The special concert performance is scheduled to be broadcast on KBS television on October 6, allowing viewers nationwide to experience this historic musical moment.
