"I Regret Leaving Late Kim Kwang-seok Alone"... A Hearty Confession by Ahn Chi-hwan [Star Scene]

*This content was translated by AI.

The background behind singer Ahn Chi-hwan's decision to sing about small everyday happiness lies in the loss of a close friend and his own grueling battle with illness.

On the 8th, a showcase was held at Yeonnam Space in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of Ahn Chi-hwan's fifteenth full-length album 'Seize the Day'.

That day, Ahn Chi-hwan confessed about two decisive turning points that changed his life and musical philosophy. The first was none other than the death of his close friend, the late Kim Kwang-seok.

In response to a question about small everyday happiness, he said, "I am the younger brother by two years from Kim Kwang-seok. We performed together many times, and I thought I knew him better than anyone else." He then revealed his painful regret: "When he passed away, I deeply regretted leaving him alone too often because I was busy."

Ahn Chi-hwan also recalled, "Although there may be people who celebrate when you become popular, gaining fame inevitably creates distance from the world. Eventually, famous people tend to become lonely. It seems I lacked a solid life or family to stand by me through that loneliness." He continued, "I can't compare, but when I became more famous later on, I calmly and decisively set boundaries with relationships entangled by popularity and kept my distance." Through this, he shared the scars and realizations left by loss.

The second turning point was his severe battle with colon cancer. Ahn Chi-hwan stated, "It may have been the result of living wrongly up to that point, but going through treatment changed my perspective on the world significantly. Most importantly, I resolved to value myself more." He expressed his desire to be free from everything that bound him, from basic needs like food and clothing to all other constraints. He added, "That process was by no means easy; it was extremely difficult."

Having passed through the deep tunnel of loss and illness, Ahn Chi-hwan finally gained the strength to protect the small joys of daily life. He said, "Going through these difficulties helped me organize my thoughts significantly," and added, "In the future, I will keep a slight distance from the world and continue to safeguard my simple everyday life."

Notably, Ahn Chi-hwan remarked, "Entertainers must stay close to the world, but artists should maintain distance from it. Only by viewing the world with some distance can an artist endure." This statement reflects the profound insight gained over his 40-year music career.

'Seize the Day' is his first new album in about 11 months since his 14th full-length album 'Human World'. Instead of grand discourses, it captures the preciousness of ordinary days accumulating one by one and offers a warm gaze and praise for people living quietly in the present. Rather than being tied to the past or an uncertain future, the album conveys the message to live more meaningfully with the life given now, emphasizing 'be faithful to the present'.

The title track is 'I Live Only Today'. This track, co-written and composed by Song Bong-ju of Bicycle Landscape, embodies Ahn Chi-hwan's wish for it to offer warm comfort not only to his contemporaries who have struggled hard in a tough world but also to people of the same era.

To commemorate the release of the new album, an exclusive concert titled 'Singing Autumn' will be held on the 18th and 19th.

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*This content was translated by AI.