Two prison terms for marijuana incident... Lee Seung-cheol: "I want to go back with a time machine" — Regrets [Never-ending Lee Seung-cheol]

*This content was translated by AI.

In 'Never-ending Lee Seung-cheol', singer Lee Seung-cheol (60) reflected on his 40-year music career.

The KBS 2TV original documentary 'Never-ending Lee Seung-cheol,' broadcast on the night of the 15th, vividly unfolded Lee Seung-cheol's musical journey—from his debut at the 40th anniversary mark, through his peak and crisis periods, to his present day as he continues to create new stages.

On that day, Lee Seung-cheol recalled his exceptional musical talent from childhood. He noted that even when singing children's songs, he naturally employed vibrato, stating, "Singing requires innate talent. I believe one must be born with at least 90% of it." He also expressed his conviction that "effort involves pain—the pain of creation"—emphasizing that relentless effort must accompany natural ability.

His decision to pursue a music career despite coming from an educator's family also drew attention. Growing up listening to artists like ABBA, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin, Lee Seung-cheol stepped into the professional world as early as his third year of high school by performing on a night club stage in Dongdaemun. Balancing music and academics, he would return to school after performances to join evening self-study sessions, but ultimately chose to abandon university and dedicate himself fully to becoming a singer.

Later, in 1984, Lee Seung-cheol gained public recognition as the vocalist of the band Revival with his song 'Heeya,' imprinting his unique vocal tone amidst the heavy metal and group sound craze of the era. Through KBS archives, viewers were brought back to the fresh-faced young Lee Seung-cheol and vividly relived the 1980s landscape where rock music flourished around Jongno and Itaewon.

After Revival disbanded, Lee Seung-cheol embarked on a solo career, ushering in a new peak with his 1988 hit 'Don't Say Goodbye.' He recalled, "Over one million copies were sold within two weeks, causing chaos." Alongside this, past interviews showcasing his youthful ambition were revealed, retracing the intense years of Lee Seung-cheol in his twenties.

However, his 40-year journey was not filled solely with success. Due to consecutive marijuana scandals in 1989 and 1990, Lee Seung-cheol had to suspend broadcasting activities for a period. He reflected, "I often think I wish I could go back with a time machine and start over."

After distancing himself from broadcasting, he chose concerts as his breakthrough path. Lee Seung-cheol became the first in Korea to produce live concert video recordings, even investing his appearance fee from Park Chan-wook's film 'The Moon Is Dreaming of the Sun' into production costs, pouring everything into his performances. His determination—performing 200 out of 365 days a year—ultimately earned him the title 'Ra I-beu-ui (황제)'.

His return to broadcasting after a long hiatus also left a deep impression. Appearing on KBS's 'Big Show' in 1996 for the first time in seven years, Lee Seung-cheol admitted at the time, "I thought I would never return." Regarding his break from broadcasting, he said, "That period changed me as a person significantly," adding, "It was a time of turning adversity into advantage."

Even after 40 years, his attitude toward performing remains unchanged. Having released 12 studio albums and over 270 songs, and performed live more than 2,000 times, Lee Seung-cheol personally inspected sound systems throughout the venue on the morning of a regional tour performance day. As he stated, "When audiences come to a concert, I must move them emotionally and ensure their money is well spent," his hands-on approach from audio to visuals reflected his profound sense of responsibility toward fans and perfectionism.

This same determination continues in KBS's Mid-Autumn Special Music Show 'Never-ending Story - Lee Seung-cheol,' airing on the 24th. Having begun full preparations, Lee Seung-cheol has been creating new stages under his philosophy that "for a singer to have longevity, they must know how to design their own songs." His focus on not resting on past hits and records, but constantly striving for better performances, demonstrates why 'Lee Seung-cheol, a 40-year veteran singer,' remains an ongoing reality.

Finally, when reflecting on his 40th anniversary, Lee Seung-cheol mentioned his fans. Regarding the reason he has been able to sing for so long, he said, "People often say it's because of fans, which sounds cliché and ordinary. But that is sincere and true." His continued preparation for future stages despite success and crises evokes anticipation for a 'Never-ending Story' that, like his song title, will never truly end.

The 2026 KBS Mid-Autumn Special 'Your Life Is a Never-ending Story - Lee Seung-cheol' begins with a documentary and continues as a three-part series encompassing variety shows and music performances. The variety program 'Delivered Song' will air on the night of the 21st at 10 PM, while the performance special 'Never-ending Story - Lee Seung-cheol' will be broadcast on the evening of the 24th at 7:30 PM on KBS 2TV.

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*This content was translated by AI.