Lee Seung-chul sheds tears at 40th anniversary event: “I envy BTS’ stage; I want to remain active, not a legend”

A towering figure in South Korea’s music industry, Lee Seung-chul (60) shed tears at a poignant event marking the 40th anniversary of his debut. At a listening session for his anniversary album held Thursday afternoon at Hyundai Card Understage in Seoul’s Yongsan district, he expressed his firm resolve, saying, “Rather than remain a legend of the past, I want to keep performing as an active singer forever, staying by the public’s side.”

Forty years after overcoming vocal-cord nodules, he still longs to perform

The event was more than a simple anniversary celebration; it was a look back at an artist’s fierce fight to survive. Lee Seung-chul recalled the painful ordeal that forced him offstage for three years after he underwent surgery for serious vocal-cord nodules and polyps. He also had to endure a month of enforced silence. “When I debuted in my early 20s, it was an era when people naturally began considering retirement once they turned 30,” he said, struggling to continue as he reflected on the emotion of having endured four decades.

The secret behind 2,500 live shows — and the enduring classic “Heeya”

Lee Seung-chul made his debut in 1986 as the vocalist of the legendary rock band Boohwal and went on to create numerous hit songs after launching his solo career. He has completed more than 2,500 performances and earned the singular title “Emperor of Live.” Paradoxically, he said, the secret to his longevity was “letting go of himself.” He stressed the flexibility required to fully embrace a producer’s intentions when performing a song. He also named “Heeya” as his favorite song across his career, conveying the overwhelming emotion it inspires by commanding an audience from its opening line.

A cross-generational project: Lee Seung-chul connects with WOODZ and praises global stages

His 40th anniversary project is built around musical solidarity across generations. As prominent younger artists including Kim Jae-joong, Young K and Wendy take part in the tribute album, a pre-release track, “Our Own Story,” created with singer-songwriter WOODZ, will be unveiled Friday. Lee Seung-chul described the alternative rock song, written and composed by WOODZ, saying, “I stripped away the excess and listened fully to the younger artist’s voice,” as he shared details of the collaboration.

He also paid tribute to younger artists commanding the global K-pop market. Referring to BTS’ World Cup final performance, he praised the group, saying, “I envy them and feel proud of them enough to wish I could be born again.” He announced an ambitious run of about 50 performances, beginning with a nationwide tour this November and continuing with a world tour next year. “I will become a singer the public listens to and seeks out unconsciously, like breathing, like the sound of a breath,” he vowed.