Comeback of 90s and 2000s Legends in the Second Half of the Year
Shin Seunghoon, Baby V.O.X, Lee Soeun, g.o.d, and More Return to the Stage
(From left) Singers Lee Soeun, Shin Seunghoon, Kim Dongryul. Photo by NHN, Dorothy Company, Music Farm
There was a time when people listened to music on cassette tapes, CDs, and MP3 players. Now, the singers who shared those youthful days are returning to the stage. Baby V.O.X will hold a solo concert for the first time in 23 years, while Shin Seunghoon will celebrate his 35th debut anniversary with his first full-length album and nationwide tour in a decade. Singers such as Kim Gunmo, g.o.d, Lee Soeun, and Kim Dongryul, who dominated the music scene in the 1990s and 2000s, are also preparing comeback performances one after another.
Lee Soeun, who debuted in 1998 and was loved for songs like "Seobangnim" and "Miracle," will release a new album and perform for the first time in 20 years. This marks her return to the stage 13 years after her last concert in 2012. Under the title "Hello Again, Again.," she will meet fans on August 30 at Ewha Womans University ECC Yongsan Theater in Seoul. All tickets sold out immediately after opening, and an additional concert on August 31 has been confirmed. The concert will feature her signature hits as well as new songs from her recently released album "Lee Soeun Siseon - Note on a Poem."
Lee Soeun shared, "I want to sing about the joy of meeting again and the time contained in the comma between the words 'Again.' I hope we can become musical companions for two hours, stirring the innocence in our hearts and spreading hope and happiness."
Two legends are also making their return in September. Baby V.O.X, who represented the heyday of 1990s girl groups, will hold their first solo concert in 23 years on September 26-27 at Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Seoul. The concert, titled "BACK to V.O.X: New Breath," will feature both their hit songs from their prime and new performances. After reuniting as a complete group for the first time in 14 years at last year's KBS "Gayo Daechukje," they have been actively appearing on variety shows and festivals. News of ticket sales immediately became a trending search, reflecting the enthusiastic response.
That same month, "the Emperor of Ballads" Shin Seunghoon will release his 12th full-length album. Marking his 35th debut anniversary, this will be his first full album in 10 years since 2015. According to Dorothy Company, "After the album release in September, he will embark on a nationwide concert tour." The first concerts will be held on November 1-2 at Olympic Hall in Seoul Olympic Park, followed by performances in Busan and Daegu. Shin Seunghoon posted on social media, "I'm ready to meet my fans. I can't wait for autumn."
He rose to stardom in 1990 with his debut song "You Reflected in My Smile," which sold 1.4 million copies. To date, he has sold over 17 million albums, achieved seven million-seller records, and holds the record for the most Golden Disc Awards. This album and tour are expected to be a culmination of his more than 30-year musical career.
Singer Kim Gunmo is also returning after six years. He will begin his nationwide tour "Kim Gunmo." on September 27 in Busan, followed by Daegu on October 18, Daejeon on December 20, and Seoul in January next year. After suspending all activities in 2019 due to allegations of sexual assault, he will be taking the stage for the first time since being cleared of all charges by prosecutors in 2021.
In November, Kim Dongryul will take the baton. He will hold seven concerts titled "Sanchaek" (Stroll) at KSPO DOME in Seoul Olympic Park from November 8 to 10 and 13 to 16. His "Melody" concert held at the same venue two years ago drew 60,000 attendees, signaling another large-scale show this time. Kim Dongryul is known for consistently presenting new performances without long hiatuses, maintaining a strong connection with his fans. The announcement of this concert, accompanied by a fairy tale-like illustrated poster, has reignited fans' anticipation.
g.o.d will close out the year with their concerts. Production company Gemstone E&M stated, "For the fourth consecutive year, we will hold full-member concerts in Seoul and Busan at the end of this year." Starting with their 23rd anniversary concert in 2022 and continuing with their 25th anniversary show last year, the "national group" will keep the tradition going in 2025. Last year's "CHAPTER 0" concert, directed by Son Hoyoung and Kim Taewoo themselves, featured a 360-degree open stage at KSPO DOME and became a hot topic. Even in their 27th year since debut, g.o.d continues to demonstrate strong ticket power, and another sold-out show is expected.
With these comeback performances by artists who led the golden age of the 1990s and 2000s, they are forming a major pillar of the concert market in the second half of the year. Their fan base remains strong. A concert planning company representative said, "The generation that spent their youth with this music 20 to 30 years ago has now become the core consumer group of the concert market, as they have established economic power as middle-aged adults. Their children are also coming to the concerts, creating intergenerational consumption."
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