[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] Singer Lee Seung-chul, marking the 40th anniversary of his debut, showcased his unwavering vocal prowess and stage presence, living up to his title as the “Emperor of Live Performances.” On the 1st of last month, he held a concert titled “Your Life Is a Never-Ending Story – Lee Seung-chul” at the Inspire Arena in Incheon, where he sang 28 songs passionately for three hours with his signature sweet yet powerful voice, sharing memories with an audience of over 12,000 people.

◇The Power of the “Live Emperor”… Audience Responds with “Singing Along” to His Hit Songs
“Your Life Is a Never-Ending Story – Lee Seung-chul” is a major holiday concert produced by KBS in collaboration with Lee Seung-chul to celebrate Chuseok. Previously, artists such as Na Hoon-ah, Im Young-woong, and Cho Yong-pil have taken the stage as headliners for KBS’s major holiday concerts.
As the latest headliner, Lee Seung-chul utilized a “Flying Sound” system featuring approximately 200 speakers to create a three-dimensional soundscape. He also enhanced the visual spectacle with a variety of stage props, including large retractable LED screens on both sides, aerial lifts, and giant air balloons. The audience enjoyed the performance while waving Bluetooth light sticks provided free of charge by KBS.
The concert kicked off with the song “Hee-ya.” As Lee Seung-cheol descended onto the stage via a lift and sang the first verse, enthusiastic cheers filled the venue, and when he followed up with “There’s No One Like That,” the audience erupted into a massive sing-along.

After finishing the opening performance, Lee Seung-cheol said, “Having sung for 40 years, I’ve come to realize that my songs are no longer just mine. For some, they evoke memories of a first love, while for others, they bring back memories of someone they loved in their youth.” He added, “I hope today’s concert becomes a time for us all to look back on those memories together.”
Lee Seung-cheol continued the concert by performing songs such as “The Last Concert,” “A Long Day,” “Because My Fingernail Fell Out,” “The Sunset and Me,” and “You to Me.” During his performance of “The Last Concert,” footage of his past activities played on the screen while flower petals fluttered through the air, enhancing the atmosphere. For “A Long Day,” he stood at a standing microphone, playing the acoustic guitar himself and presenting a performance with a more rhythmic arrangement.
“On a Sleepless Night” was presented as an upbeat performance accompanied by percussion and dancers. After finishing the song, Lee Seung-cheol laughed and said, “You thought that was Kim Gun-mo’s song, didn’t you? This is actually my song,” adding, “There are often people who leave comments asking why I sing other people’s songs,” which drew bursts of laughter.
Lee Seung-cheol expressed his gratitude, saying, “The reason I’ve been loved for so many years is because of all of you,” before singing “Don’t Say Goodbye.” As the song filled the venue, the audience turned on their cell phone flashlights, creating a spectacular scene that lit up the concert hall.

◇From ballads to dance tracks… The excitement reached its peak with “Never-Ending Story”
The parade of hit songs continued well into the middle of the concert. Lee Seung-chul performed “You Are Another Me,” “A Farewell Like a Memory,” “Western Sky,” “That Person,” and “Have You Forgotten?” one after another. The performance of “A Farewell Like a Memory” was enriched by the dancers’ synchronized choreography, and when he sang “It’s Raining,” the staging—which incorporated a lift—added visual excitement.
When actor Park Bo-gum appeared as a surprise guest shortly afterward, cheers erupted that made the venue feel like an idol concert. Park Bo-gum played the piano and sang “I Love You So Much” with Lee Seung-chul.
The two shared a lighthearted conversation, recounting how they first met while filming the music video for that song. There was also a special moment when, at Lee Seung-cheol’s request, Park Bo-gum sang “Let’s Go See the Stars” on the spot. Park Bo-gum said, “Next time, I want to have grown even more so I can perform a proper duet with you, Senior,” and Lee Seung-cheol responded with a heartfelt hug.

As the concert moved into Part 2, the atmosphere grew even more electric. When Lee Seung-chul sang “My Love,” audience members throughout the venue rose to their feet to fully enjoy the moment. Lee Seung-chul kept the energy going by performing a string of upbeat songs, including “Wandering” and “Today, I Am.” During the “Girls’ Generation” segment, 24 dancers—including Hyojin Choi and Ri Hee—added to the spectacle with a dazzling group dance. In the latter half of the concert, a giant hot-air balloon shaped like Lee Seung-chul floated over the floor seats, providing a unique visual spectacle.
Lee Seung-cheol brought the concert to its climax by performing his signature hit “Never-Ending Story” following “Shout,” and the audience responded by singing along at the top of their lungs.
Returning to the stage for an encore, Lee Seung-cheol sang “Amateur” and promised, “I’ll continue to sing many great songs for all of you.” He added, “There are still so many performances I want to show you. Today is a new beginning,” and asked the audience, “Please stay with me until my 50th anniversary.”

Lee Seung-cheol once again showcased his explosive vocal prowess with “Mali Flower.” He then smiled and said, “I have too many hits, don’t I?” before choosing “Fate” as his final song. Accompanied only by the melody of the piano, he left a deep, lingering impression with his subtle emotional expression and profound vocals. Lee Seung-cheol conveyed his gratitude until the very end by bowing deeply at a 90-degree angle several times to the audience as they exited the venue.
The live recording of the concert “Your Life Is a Never-Ending Story – Lee Seung-chul” will air on KBS 2TV on the 24th at 7:30 p.m. Prior to this, KBS will air the original documentary “Never-Ending Lee Seung-chul,” which highlights Lee Seung-chul’s musical career, on the 15th at 9:40 p.m., and the variety show “Song Delivery,” in which Lee Seung-chul, along with Tak Jae-hoon and Sunny, delivers songs to citizens, on the 21st at 10:00 p.m.