'Return' Kim Geon-mo receives love calls... "Many contacts on YouTube, but NO" [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

Singer Kim Geon-mo has officially announced his comeback with a brand-new song after exactly 10 years. Given that this is the return of a legend, public interest is undoubtedly significant.

Kim Geon-mo released his new single "Where Are You Going?" at 6 p.m. on the 1st via major online music platforms. This marks precisely 10 years since he last released an album, which was the 25th-anniversary commemorative album "50" in 2016.

"Where Are You Going?" is a remake of the title track from singer Jeon Young-ui's first album, originally released in 1977. The arrangement minimizes instrumentation while preserving the lyrical melody of the original song as much as possible, highlighting Kim Geon-mo's signature plain yet deep voice even more vividly.

Notably, Kim Geon-mo attempted to bring about change by playing an acoustic guitar instead of a piano. This performance reflects his autobiographical confession, capturing the years he spent practicing the guitar alone to comfort and encourage himself. In response, the original composer Lee Hyun-seop and lyricist Lee Kyung-mi, who are married, replied, "It feels like an unexpected gift."

Regarding this comeback, Kim Geon-mo briefly shared his thoughts: "Since this is a song where I sang while playing the guitar for the first time, I hope it becomes an opportunity to show many people a 'new Kim Geon-mo'."

Kim Geon-mo was eventually forced out of the entertainment industry after being implicated in allegations of sexual assault in 2019, which shocked everyone.

At that time, the YouTube channel Garoseoro Research Institute, operated by lawyer Kang Yong-seok, revealed that "a woman identified as A met Kim Geon-mo at a certain nightclub in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul, around August 2016, and Kim Geon-mo sexually assaulted her." This accusation caused significant controversy because it emerged shortly after news of Kim Geon-mo's pre-marital romance became public.

Kim Geon-mo immediately denied the allegations as false. However, A eventually filed a criminal complaint against him for rape through lawyer Kang Yong-seok with the Prosecution Service, requiring Kim to appear at Seoul Gangnam Police Station and undergo approximately six hours of questioning. While maintaining a firm stance, including stating that he did not even know who A was, Kim Geon-mo ultimately faced consequences akin to retirement from the entertainment industry, such as withdrawing from SBS's "Unkind Us" and canceling his 25th-anniversary concert entirely.

Alongside this, Kim Geon-mo also had to dissolve his marriage. Although he registered his marriage with pianist and composer Jang Ji-yeon, who is 13 years younger than him, in 2019 following the announcement of their pre-marital romance, the wedding was ultimately called off due to complications from both the lawsuit and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subsequently, the Seoul High Court's 30th Criminal Division rejected A's request for a retrial on the sexual assault allegations against Kim Geon-mo, stating: "Although A filed a criminal complaint against Kim Geon-mo for rape, the prosecutor decided not to prosecute due to insufficient evidence. Upon reviewing all case records and materials submitted by the applicant, the decision not to prosecute is justified, and there is no sufficient evidence to deem it unjust." The Prosecution Service had already concluded its approximately two-year investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Kim Geon-mo in November 2021, issuing a non-prosecution decision following a vote by the Prosecution Service Citizens' Council.

Kim Geon-mo's return to activity took place during his nationwide tour concert "25-26 Kim Geon-mo Live Tour 'KIM GUN MO.'" held after a six-year hiatus. On stage, he humorously remarked, "I planned to take a five-year break but ended up resting for one more year," and casually mentioned his divorce, steering the atmosphere with his characteristic wit. He also shared candidly: "From now on, I won't pay attention to comments or anything like that; I'll just live freely. I'll show you how to grow old cutely."

Although he announced his activities again through this new song, it is reported that he is not engaging in any other external activities at present.

A source told StarNews: "We are receiving numerous offers not only for broadcasts but also via platforms like YouTube, but we have no plans to accept them."

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*This content was translated by AI.