Hwang Young-woong, returns to stage after 3 years amid bullying controversy.. Shares honest thoughts: "I didn't expect this day would come again"

*This content was translated by AI.

Singer Hwang Young-woong has returned after a three-year hiatus.

Hwang appeared on stage at the 54th Gangjin Celadon Festival held in Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province, on the 28th.

This performance marked Hwang's first official event appearance in three years, drawing fans and local residents from across the country. The venue was packed with over 10,000 attendees, leaving no room to move. Nearby parking lots quickly filled up, forcing fans to split between the first and second parking areas, demonstrating his enduring popularity and intense fan support.

Ahead of his comeback stage, Hwang is reported to have dedicated himself more intensely to practice than ever before. As this was his first official performance in three years, he repeatedly rehearsed and checked details until late the night before the show. He reportedly stayed awake all night, unable to sleep due to his deep focus on preparations.

Opening with his first song "Hateful Love," Hwang bowed deeply toward the audience of over 10,000 people during the performance to express his gratitude. He shared his emotional state, saying, "I didn't expect this day would come again," and pledged, "I will start again step by step."

He continued, "The moment I most earnestly dreamed of during the three years away from the stage is right now." He added, "It feels like I've traveled a long way to hold the microphone again and make eye contact with you all. I sincerely thank the fans who waited without forgetting me and the Gangjin County residents who gave me this precious opportunity."

That day, he performed new songs including "My Older Brother Has Returned," along with "Hot Goodbye" and "Night Fog." He particularly explained that "'Hot Goodbye' is not a farewell to parting, but a passionate greeting signaling a fresh start," adding deeper meaning to his comeback stage.

Drawing a parallel to Gangjin's celadon, he said, "Like celadon that endures harsh flames and produces a brilliant sound, the past three years have made me stronger." He also shared, "For me, who has endured a long winter with Gangjin's clear air and warmth, it felt like a warm spring breeze."

The highlight of the performance was Hwang's final closing remarks just before the encore. He stated, "During the time I lost my way and wandered, what lifted me up again was the unwavering faith of Paradise family members who stayed by my side," turning credit to his fans. He further declared, "From now on, I will practice giving and sharing to become a singer you can be proud of," earning loud applause.

Notably, this comeback stage marks the beginning of his practical social contribution efforts. Hwang donated part of his performance fee to Gangjin County through its "Hometown Love Donation System," expressing gratitude to the local community that embraced him.

An event official stated, "Fan interest in Hwang Young-woong's comeback stage was far hotter than expected." They added, "His sincere stage manners and vocal ability further elevated the festival atmosphere."

Meanwhile, Hwang appeared on MBN's trot competition program "Burning Trot Man" in 2022. At that time, he emerged as a strong contender for the championship and received widespread affection. However, allegations surfaced during the broadcast regarding bullying, assault, prior criminal records for injury, and dating violence, leading him to voluntarily withdraw from the program.

Recently, Hwang's stance on these allegations was also revealed. His agency, Golden Voice, issued an official statement last month: "Much of the currently circulating allegations are maliciously edited or one-sided claims without verified facts." They clearly stated, "While Hwang may have experienced conflicts or wanderings with friends during his school days, there is no truth to accusations that he persistently bullied specific individuals or engaged in cruel acts as reported."

They further added, "Hwang has spent time reflecting on himself, but we could no longer allow baseless falsehoods to solidify as truth." They concluded, "Now, we will openly reveal the truth without hiding, strive to restore his reputation as a singer, and do our utmost to prevent such unjust cases from occurring again."

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*This content was translated by AI.