[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Just an acoustic guitar and his voice. Tens of thousands held their breath.
As singer Lim Young-woong began singing “The Story of an Elderly Couple in Their 60s,” the massive stadium fell silent. Audience members could be seen wiping away tears throughout the stands, and as the song reached its climax, his voice soared deep and high. By the time Lim Young-woong finished the song, his eyes, too, had grown moist. Soon, the cheers of fans chanting “Im Young-woong” filled the night sky.

This is a scene from the second day of the “IM HERO-THE STADIUM 2” concert, held on the 5th at the Main Stadium of the Goyang Sports Complex in Gyeonggi Province.
“The Story of an Elderly Couple in Their 60s” holds special meaning for Lim Young-woong. It is the song that powerfully cemented his presence in the public’s mind during the 2020 season of “Mr. Trot.” Six years later, as he marks the 10th anniversary of his debut this year, this song resonated even more deeply when he performed it again at his second stadium concert.
Although the stage had grown larger, his heartfelt approach to the song remained the same. On this day, Lim Young-woong used his voice to reflect on the past 10 years of his career, gifting “Young-woong Era” fans a night in Goyang that will be remembered for a long time.

◇Lim Young-woong Returns to “I Hate You” from 10 Years Ago
The concert’s opening also took the audience back 10 years. As dazzling fireworks lit up the night sky over Goyang, Lim Young-woong appeared dressed in pure white. He wore sky-blue in-ear monitors and held a single microphone. The first song was his 2016 debut track, “I Hate You.”
He was solid from the very first verse. His powerful vocals filled the vast main stadium, complemented by steady breathing, perfect pitch, and crisp, soaring high notes. Even in such a grand stadium, the most powerful element of the performance was ultimately Lim Young-woong’s voice.
Lim Young-woong said, “This year marks the 10th anniversary of my debut,” adding, “It is an honor and a joy to spend this special day in this special place with you all—who are more special than anyone else.” Explaining why he chose “I Hate You” as his opening song, he said he took the stage with a mindset of returning to the starting line, recalling the time 10 years ago. He continued, “One thing that hasn’t changed, whether then or now, is that the journey to meet you all always fills me with excitement,” prompting a huge cheer from the audience.

“Love Always Runs Away” was transformed into a massive anthem through a combination of the band’s arrangement and the audience singing along. During his cover performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the Korean lyrics were displayed on the front screen so that people of all generations could enjoy it together.
At one point during the concert, Lim Young-woong even removed his in-ear monitors—just to hear the cheers of the “Youngwoong Era” fans directly. As tens of thousands of fans erupted in cheers, he laughed heartily, saying, “Are you competing with the fans who came yesterday? Your cheers are more than twice as loud as yesterday’s.”
Above all, live performance was at the heart of the show. During “I’ll Be a Wildflower,” he soared to crisp high notes atop a rotating circular stage, and in “Will We Meet Again?” and “Our Blues,” he drew gasps of admiration from the audience with his deep vibrato and explosive vocal power.
The atmosphere reached its peak as the set progressed from “Warmth” and “It’s Raining” to “The Story of an Elderly Couple in Their 60s.” Instead of flashy stage props, he captivated the attention of tens of thousands with just an acoustic guitar and his voice. Whether it’s a ballad or trot, it all comes down to the power to fully convey the story of a song to the audience. It was a moment that revealed the most powerful weapon Lim Young-woong has built up over the past 10 years.

◇From songs to a drone show… a packed program lasting over three hours
His new songs revealed a different side of Lim Young-woong. The Latin-flavored “Baila” ramped up the excitement with dancing and fireworks, while “Tto Tto” showcased his light and sweet vocals. This was followed by “New York,” which drew on his experiences traveling there, demonstrating a broadened musical spectrum that refuses to confine him to a single genre.
The atmosphere shifted once again with “Ah, Bianto” and “Eolssigu.” Riding the intense beats and dominating the stage, he unveiled a “hip Im Young-woong” that was a complete contrast to the emotional performances that came before. Even while moving seamlessly between ballads, trot, pop, and Latin music within a single concert, he never seemed out of place in any genre.
Spectacular visual displays that fully utilized the stadium’s scale unfolded nonstop. Following the water screen, confetti, and fireworks show, the drone show—which turned the entire night sky into a stage—was the highlight. Guided by a narrator’s voice, countless drones formed patterns of jewels and galaxies, and when they suddenly completed a profile of Im Young-woong, gasps of awe erupted from the audience. At the very end, the concert title “I’m Hero” (IM HERO) appeared vividly against the night sky.

Even in such a massive venue, he bridged the gap with his fans. During “I Am a HERO” and “Nest,” he rode a mobile stage around the main arena to reach fans in the farthest seats. He ensured the safety and well-being of audience members in the upper levels and even set aside a special time for fans to take selfies with their backs to the stage. A VCR featuring Hong Yoon-hwa, Hyun Bong-sik, and Yoon Byung-hee added laughter with a short time-travel drama that spanned the Joseon Dynasty and the present day. Lim Young-woong, who didn’t shy away from comedic acting and deliberately went all out to make a fool of himself, provided a delightful interlude to the performance.
The excitement didn’t wane even during the encore. Lim Young-woong performed three more songs, including his new track “Mose,” which he presented alongside a traditional percussion troupe, as well as “My Love Like Starlight” and “To Us Who Have Lived.” Although the concert had long surpassed three hours, he connected with the audience through his powerful voice right until the very end.
Lim Young-woong opened the show with his debut song “I Hate You” and filled the entire decade with a lineup that included new releases, signature hits, and an encore. From his unwavering live vocals and genre-spanning transformations to stadium-worthy visuals and thoughtful fan service, the over three-hour performance clearly conveyed Lim Young-woong’s determination to deliver a performance worthy of his 10th anniversary.
Lim Young-woong’s “I’m a Hero—The Stadium 2” continues through the 6th. Over the course of three days, Lim Young-woong will meet with approximately 95,000 “Hero Era” fans to cap off this special 10th-anniversary celebration.