The 'national singer' Na Hoon-a (78) is putting an end to his 59-year singing career.
Na Hoon-a will hold his retirement concert titled ‘2024 Thank You - Last Concert’ at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul from the 10th to the 12th.
In February last year, Na Hoon-a hinted at his retirement by releasing a handwritten letter titled ‘Thank You!’ through his agency. At that time, he stated, “I want to follow the profound truth of the simple saying, ‘Leave when the applause is loudest.’”
Starting in April of the same year, Na Hoon-a held retirement concerts in 14 cities, including Incheon, Cheongju, Ulsan, Changwon, Cheonan, Wonju, and Jeonju, and will put down the microphone after this week’s concert in Seoul.
Na Hoon-a debuted in 1966 with ‘Cheonri-gil’ and released numerous hit songs such as ‘Sanae’, ‘Hongsi’, ‘Jabcho’, ‘Musiro’, ‘Galmu-ri’, and ‘Wulgin Wae Ureo’, earning him the title of ‘national singer’. Notably, he captivated the younger generation with ‘Tess-hyung!’ during the Chuseok special program ‘2020 Korea Again Na Hoon-a’ aired on KBS2 in 2020, creating the ‘Na Hoon-a Syndrome’.
Fans were taken by surprise when Na Hoon-a suddenly hinted at his retirement.
Netizens left supportive comments such as “I think I will miss him already,” “I thought he could perform for another 10 years, it makes me cry,” “Thank you for everything, Tess-hyung,” “Thank you for comforting us with your songs for decades,” and “Leaving when the applause is loudest is wonderful.”
Na Hoon-a will meet about 70,000 audience members at the Seoul concert. During ticket sales held last October, all seats sold out in about 5 minutes, and scalpers were rampant, selling tickets for more than 2-3 times the original price.
Na Hoon-a previously expressed his feelings about his upcoming retirement in a letter titled ‘Preparing for the Last Seoul Performance’.
He said, “It’s hard to imagine what it will feel like to experience the last stage for the first time, but as always, my heart is full of the desire to do even better with joy.” He added, “I will sing a farewell song with a bright smile. Thank you all! Thank you.”
For a long time, Na Hoon-a has made the public laugh and cry as a national singer. There is great interest in what feelings he will share during his final performance of his musical career.
[Lee Da-kyum, Star Today Reporter]
