The End of a 58-Year Legend... Na Hoon-a's 'Final Stage' at Seoul KSPO Dome Starting Today

Three-Day Final Concert... Official Retirement on the 12th
"I Will Sing Farewell Songs with a Bright Smile"

'Gahwang (歌皇)' Na Hoon-a (78) will present his final stage, concluding a brilliant 58-year career as a singer.

Singer Na Hoon-a. [Photo by Yea Ara·Yea Sori]

Na Hoon-a will perform a total of five shows of the '2024 Na Hoon-a Thank You - Last Concert' over three days from the 10th to the 12th at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Seoul. Each show accommodates about 15,000 people, and when tickets opened last October, all seats sold out in about five minutes.

Currently, tickets are being traded on various secondhand marketplaces at prices inflated 3 to 4 times, reaching up to 500,000 won, reflecting the enthusiasm of fans eager to see his final performance. This concert marks the grand finale of a nationwide tour that has continued for about a year since he announced his retirement in February last year.

Starting from Incheon Songdo Convensia in April last year, Na Hoon-a has been bidding farewell to fans across the country in cities such as Daejeon, Gangneung, Andong, Jinju, and Gwangju. Every venue on the nationwide tour was sold out, and during the tour, he expressed his affection for fans by saying, "How sad would it have been if you all were not disappointed?"

In a letter titled 'Preparing for the Last Seoul Performance,' Na Hoon-a shared, "It is hard to imagine what kind of feelings or mood this first-ever final stage will bring, but as always, my heart is full of the desire to perform joyfully and even better." He added, "I will sing farewell songs with a bright smile. Everyone! Thank you. I am grateful," conveying his sentiments.

Singer Na Hoon-a. [Photo by Ye Ara·Ye Sori]

Debuting in 1967, Na Hoon-a established himself as a representative singer of Korean popular music by releasing numerous hit songs such as 'Nae Sarang,' 'Musiro,' 'Jabcho,' 'Gohyangyeok,' 'Gajimao,' and 'Tess Hyung.' After a temporary retirement in 2006, he made a comeback in 2017 with a new album after 11 years, demonstrating his enduring presence through steady album releases and nationwide tours.

There is also interest in what remarks he might make on his final stage. Na Hoon-a has attracted attention for his fearless criticism of political, social, and international issues at every concert. At a Daegu performance shortly after the December 3 martial law last year, he said, "I was wondering whether to perform or not," and sharply questioned, "Where is the National Assembly building? Which side is Yongsan? Where are the ruling and opposition party leaders' homes?"

At the Incheon concert last April, targeting North Korea, he declared, "I must say this and then stop: I do not consider the North a country. It is a strange group, not a country." His appeal that "there must be strength for peace" was met with enthusiastic responses from the audience, such as "That's right!" and "Exactly!"

Na Hoon-a is scheduled to conclude his 59-year singing career with the concert held on the evening of the 12th. Some express regret over his retirement, as he still demonstrates outstanding vocal skills and dazzling showmanship. As the saying goes, "There was no Na Hoon-a before Na Hoon-a, and there will be no Na Hoon-a after Na Hoon-a," all eyes are on the final stage of the 'Gahwang' who dominated an era.