"Like an SF Movie" First Korean to Perform on a Stage Reserved for Eagles and U2

Choi Hoon, Professor at Howon University, Becomes First Korean to Perform at Las Vegas 'Sphere'
Celebratory Performance with Lenny Kravitz at Delta Air Lines CES Keynote
"I Will Use My Experience to Mentor the Next Generation"

"I experienced music performed at the Las Vegas Sphere, engaging all five senses. It felt like stepping into a sci-fi movie."

Professor Choi Hoon of Howon University during an interview with Asia Economy. Photo by Baek Jongmin

On January 7th (local time), the opening day of CES 2025, the world's largest home appliance and IT show, Professor Choi Hoon of Howon University (President Kang Hee-seong), a bassist for the world-renowned rock star Lenny Kravitz, described his experience of a performance created with cutting-edge information technology (IT) during Delta Air Lines' keynote held at the famous Las Vegas venue, the Sphere, in an interview with Asia Economy.

The Sphere is a massive spherical building with a diameter of 156 meters and a height of 112 meters, famously constructed at a cost of 1 trillion won. Both its interior and exterior display video, making it a unique structure. Tourists visiting Las Vegas take commemorative photos with the Sphere as a backdrop, and audiences are overwhelmed by the performer's images projected on the LED screens covering the ceiling and walls of the building. During this performance, large-scale videos of Kravitz and Professor Choi filled the Sphere's screens. Although many Koreans were present at the venue, few noticed that a Korean was performing on the Sphere stage for the first time right before their eyes.

Watching the performance live, the reporter found the reputation of the Sphere as the world's most advanced indoor concert hall to be entirely fitting. In addition to video and sound, vibrations could also be felt. The Sphere's prestige is evident as only mega-groups like The Eagles and U2 have performed there worldwide.

Professor Choi Hoon of Howon University is posing while holding a bass guitar. Photo by Baek Jongmin

Professor Choi, who briefly returned to Korea during his global tour, shared with Asia Economy on the 24th of last month his experience of performing on the largest stage at CES, a mega event attracting key IT figures worldwide, along with behind-the-scenes stories.

Professor Choi gave his first performance at the UEFA Champions League final held at Wembley Stadium in the UK in 2024 and was continuing his world tour, but the Sphere was different. He said, "I had watched performances twice from the audience seats at the Sphere and thought, 'Technology can advance this much.' It was an awe-inspiring experience. I never imagined I would stand on such a stage."

Lenny Kravitz and Professor Choi Hoon (left) are shown performing on the 7th of last month at the 'Sphere' in Las Vegas, USA, with their performance displayed as an immersive video on a giant screen. The actual performance took place on the stage below the photo. Photo by Baek Jong-min

"The feeling from the audience seats and on stage was completely different. The venue overwhelms the audience with gigantic screens and visual elements extending to the ceiling, but on stage, there was no time to appreciate those screens; I had to focus solely on the performance. The experience of the performance and display merging into one was like a dream."

How did Professor Choi come to perform with Kravitz? While active as a K-pop musician, he studied abroad at Berklee College of Music, a prestigious art school in Boston, USA, at the age of 38. After returning to Korea, he began posting videos of his performances on social media. One day, Kravitz followed Professor Choi. After some time, he received a scouting offer via DM. It was an unimaginable opportunity. Naturally, he thought it was spam and ignored it, but it was real.

He immediately crossed the Pacific and joined the Lenny Kravitz band in January last year. Professor Choi said, "US immigration officers are surprised when I introduce myself as a member of the Lenny Kravitz band." Supported by his school, he is currently on leave and touring worldwide as a member of the band of a global rock star. In his late 40s, Professor Choi said, "I listened to Lenny Kravitz's music the most since my 20s. Because I learned a lot from his music, I felt no sense of alienation after joining."

His activities with the global star have left a profound impact. He explained, "Lenny says you have to become an actor on stage. Just as an actor rehearses a thousand times but performs as if it’s the first time, music is the same, and even during practice, you pour all your energy as if it were a real performance." He said it is standard to rehearse dozens or hundreds of times for a single show.

Professor Choi will head back to Europe in mid-month to meet audiences again. He said he wants to pass on what he has learned and experienced on world-class stages to his students. "The most meaningful thing is being able to teach from direct experience. I will convey to my students how to carry themselves on stage and how world-class performances are created based on what I have personally felt."