83-year-old singer to pay tribute to 'traditional Korean pop' in two-day concert
Veteran singer Lee Mi-ja, a defining figure in 1960s South Korean pop music, is set to hold a special concert celebrating her musical journey.
At a press conference Wednesday at Stanford Hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul, Lee, 83, announced her final concert "Lee Mi-ja Traditional Song Tribute Concert ‘Maek.’” The concert will take place April 26-27 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul.
"I've been singing for 66 years, and these are the happiest days of my life. I'm honored to carry on the legacy of traditional Korean songs with my beloved younger artists," Lee said.
Since her 1959 debut, Lee has released numerous hit songs, including “Pure Nineteen” and “Camellia Lady.” In 2023, she became the first pop singer in Korea to receive the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit, the country’s highest honor given to artists.
Although she is often associated with trot music, Lee has consistently referred to herself as a "traditional Korean pop song" singer, emphasizing the importance of preserving this genre.
"Korea has endured countless hardships including Japanese colonial rule, the Korean War and the struggles of rebuilding. 'Traditional Korean pop songs' are the genre that comforted people and captured the essence of our history through all the turmoil," Lee said.
"Just when I was about to give up on continuing the legacy of traditional Korean pop music and thought I could no longer stand on stage, this concert was planned. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to pass down the traditional pop songs I have cherished to the next generation," said Lee.
The upcoming concert will reflect on Lee’s long music career and feature performances with artists like Joo Hyun-mi and Jo Hang-jo.
Lee revealed that this concert will be her final stage performance, saying, “I don’t like the word ‘retirement,’ but this will be my last major concert.” However, she assured that she would continue supporting traditional Korean pop music whenever possible.
Notably, the concert will also feature winners from popular trot competition shows, including the winner of the ongoing "Mr. Trot 3" and "Miss Trot 3" champion Jung Seo-joo.
Tickets for Lee’s tribute concert are available via Ticketlink and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts website.
jy@heraldcorp.com
