"Absolutely 1st place by 15.7%"...Cho Yong-pil, a 75-year-old singer, devoured the entire Chuseok holiday
Oct 07, 2025
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KBS's "Cho Yong-pil, This Moment Forever" (broadcast on the 6th) ranked first overwhelmingly in the same time period with a national viewership of 15.7% (based on the second part of Nielsen Korea). This is the highest number of all the programs broadcast during the Chuseok holiday, proving that there is still no enemy 'King's dignity'.
This broadcast is a huge project prepared to commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation, and it was Cho Yong-pil's first solo performance in 28 years since KBS 'Big Show' in 1997. With the entire generation's attention focused even before the start, the broadcast was organized for three hours, 20 minutes longer than originally scheduled, making 'The Return of the King' even more special.
The performance came to a splendid end with 'Unknown World'. Cho Yongpil said, "I can't find it." He dominated the stage with his still voice and rhythm, leading an explosive group singing with 'Sky Tail'. The parade of masterpieces that spanned entire generations, including 'pride', 'you', 'short hair', 'red pepper dragonfly', 'yesterday and today', and 'candlelight', was truly 'legendary class'. The audience got up from their seats and sang together, completing a generational impression.
In particular, Cho Yong-pil focused on the essence of "Song-centered Concert", filling the stage entirely with his own songs without guests. The physical strength and charisma of walking around the stage beyond belief at the age of 75 made the hearts of the viewers beat. The group singing time, which continued to 'Empty', 'That Winter's Tea House', and 'Q', was the moment of uniting with the audience, culminating in the second half 'Asian Fireworks', 'I like you', 'Youth Era', and the ending song 'Mona Lisa'.
On the encore stage, "'Leopard of Kilimanjaro ', 'Bounce', 'Let's go on a journey' were heard, 'Thank youThe audience was filled with cheers at the sight of Cho Yong-pil finishing the stage with a series of ". Cho Yong-pil said, `It's because of you that I've been able to sing so far,' adding, `I'll be happy if I die singing, but I don't think I can" left a jestingly heartfelt aftertaste.
For this performance, KBS has completed the class worthy of 'The Return of the King' by mobilizing all of its super-large LEDs, CGs, orchestras, and cheering sticks. He also showed his sincerity as a broadcaster by carefully adjusting the subtitle size and font to induce viewers to sing along in the bedroom.
Meanwhile, a documentary about the behind-the-scenes of the concert 'Cho Yong-pil, this moment forever?Record of that day' will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on the 8th. A special edition containing the unreleased song 'Friend' will then be released at 9 p.m. on the same night.
mj.cho@sportschosun.com
