Singer Jo Yong-pil has rewritten the history of the king with KBS.
The ratings for KBS2's 'Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever - The Record of That Day,' which aired on the 8th, reached a peak of 9.1% and a nationwide average of 7.3% (Nielsen Korea), securing the top spot in viewership for the time slot. The broadcast on the 6th, 'Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever,' recorded a peak rating of 18.2% and a nationwide average of 15.7%, and 'Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever - The Record of That Day' naturally continued the lingering excitement and fervor.
This is the highest record among all programs aired during the Chuseok holiday, both from KBS and other networks.
This documentary captured the time spent by 75-year-old Jo Yong-pil preparing for the 'This Moment Forever' performance, along with the stories of those who remember and love him. Following the passion and dedication of the king Jo Yong-pil behind the hot stage at Gocheok Sky Dome, which colored South Korea with music, it added to the lingering emotion of the concert that has not yet faded.
'The Memory of That Day' was not just a simple behind-the-scenes look at a performance, but a story connected to everyone centered around Jo Yong-pil. It was a heartfelt record that bridged generations and time, featuring colleagues who have protected music by his side, fans who have endured life with his songs for many years, and Jo Yong-pil stepping back onto the stage, telling the story of 'the people who have lived together.'
The confessions of fans who have found comfort and courage in his songs for decades, as well as the journey of the band 'Great Birth,' which has been with him on stage for 32 years, left a deep resonance.
After 28 years since the 'Big Show' in 1997, Jo Yong-pil returned with a solo concert on public broadcasting, where songs like 'Short Hair,' 'Mona Lisa,' and 'Come Back to Busan Port' were sung in unison across generations. In the audience, elderly fans waved their light sticks, and families sang together in their living rooms, reviving the meaning of Chuseok.
On stage with songs from his 20th album, 'It's Okay' and 'Where You Stop,' Jo Yong-pil offered warm comfort to the weary, saying, "It's okay, it's still fine." 'This Moment Forever' was not just a music show, but a national stage sung together by South Korea.
As proof of this, immediately after the broadcast, KBS's viewer bulletin board was flooded with praises such as "This is not just a broadcast, but a history in itself," "A solo performance by the living legend of the music industry, Jo Yong-pil, along with KBS, is all legendary," and "It was a transcendent emotion across generations, a time to feel the true power of music again." Heartfelt tributes from junior artists followed. In the opening, Lee Seung-chul said, "Jo Yong-pil is a genre in himself," and Insooni called it "a challenge and innovation." IU expressed her respect, saying, "He is a unique existence loved by all generations."
Thus, 'Jo Yong-pil, This Moment Forever - The Record of That Day' showcased the king's intense preparation outside the stage, communication with fans, and the comfort contained in his songs. The KBS staff, who took on the significant task of documenting Jo Yong-pil's concert, which he decided to hold with the intention of "creating a place to meet the people before it's too late," had a unique mindset.
In fact, during the concert preparation process, KBS staff dedicated themselves to perfecting the stage, lighting, sound, and camera work, with hundreds of people pouring their efforts into it. To enhance the quality, they added meticulous direction with giant LED screens, fireworks, CG, and light sticks, and even considered the size and font of the subtitles for 'home audience sing-alongs' to increase viewer immersion. The collaboration with the KBS Symphony Orchestra created a masterpiece that broke down the boundaries between the music industry and classical music, blending with Jo Yong-pil's explosive vocal power.
The production team stated, "During Chuseok, South Korea was colored by Jo Yong-pil's music. His stage was not just a music show, but a national stage where the people sang together and received comfort together, and it was an emotion of the present, not just a memory," adding, "The record of this day will remain as an eternal memory."
This documentary has become a warm record that filled the end of the Chuseok holiday, a touching account of generations and hearts coming together.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
