Performing arts

Over a career spanning more than 40 years and 18 studio album releases, Cho Yong-pil has brought together influences by everything from Ray Charles, to Chet Atkins, to Korean folk music, to fellow 70s and 80s popsters. Pretty much every Korean can hum at least one of his hit songs. His fan club called ¡°Oppa Budae,¡± meaning loosely ¡°big brother¡¯s fan club,¡± is still supported by a massive female fan base.

His career hit the skids a bit when a new generation of Korean rockers appeared in the late 1980s, but the 60-year-old Cho remains one of the all-time superstars of Korean pop. After winning Best Singer of the Year award for six consecutive years in every major Korean award ceremony, Cho announced in 1986 that he would no longer make appearances on television and other media. Since then he has focused – and delivered – on big-venue concerts with larger than life production values, and he¡¯s at it again this Tuesday, August 29.

Admission is free. Show time is 8 pm. To get there, Jamsil Olympic Stadium is located at the Sports Complex Subway Station, line 2, exit 6 or 7, in the Gangnam area of Seoul.

Cho has a Korea-language-only website at www.choyongpil.com. Inquires by phone to 02-564-1307. For help from a Korean speaker, contact the 24-hour Korean tourism hotline at 02-1330.