[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “When I debuted at age 20, I thought I’d retire as soon as I turned 30. I never imagined I’d celebrate my 40th anniversary.”

Singer Lee Seung-chul finally shed tears as he marked his 40th debut anniversary. At the listening party for his new song “Our Own Story,” held on the 29th at the Hyundai Card Understage in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, he recalled his junior artist WOODZ, who wrote the song specifically for him, saying, “The past flashed before my eyes like a series of snapshots. It made me realize I need to sing even harder.”
Lee Seung-chul, who debuted in 1986, is celebrating his 40th anniversary this year with a tribute project in which younger artists reinterpret his music. Following Kim Jae-joong, Wendy, Young K, Lee Mu-jin, and Jannabi, WOODZ has now presented him with a new song that he wrote and composed himself.
“Our Own Story” is a song WOODZ wrote while reflecting on both Lee Seung-chul’s past 40 years and the 40th anniversary he himself will one day celebrate. It’s an alternative rock track that blends the texture of 1970s classic rock with a modern pop-rock sound, starting with gentle guitar and piano before building to a climax in the latter half where strings and the two artists’ vocals intertwine. Woods wrote the lyrics, and the song was co-composed by Woods, Nathan, and Seed.
Recalling the first time he heard the song, Lee Seung-cheol said, “I cried when I heard this song. It was so moving.” He explained, “I received a wonderful song as a gift on the most important and historic day of my life,” adding, “I was worried whether I could pull off Woods’s distinctive, intense, and piercing vocal style at my age, but when I actually sang it, the words flowed naturally. I finished the recording in just two takes.”

The bond between the two is also special. Lee Seung-chul said, “He was a junior artist I’d been keeping an eye on, and we became close after coincidentally sharing a drink together,” adding with a laugh, “Woods calls me ‘Abuji’ (Dad), and I call him ‘Son.’” He continued, “Woods’ father is the same age as me, and he told me he’s a fan of mine.”
Woods also laughed, saying, “I thought calling him ‘Father’ might be too formal, so I playfully call him ‘Dad.’” He continued, “When I was young, my father would always sing Lee Seung-cheol’s songs whenever we went to a karaoke bar together. I think my father would be incredibly envious of this moment right now.”
The core theme Woods incorporated into the song was “the people who have built these 40 years together.” He explained, “I believed that Senior Lee’s 40 years weren’t a time he created alone, but a time he built together with his fans,” adding, “Just as the phrase ‘our own story’ suggests, I wanted to offer comfort—even if only through my voice—to those going through difficult times, and to convey the message that our story will never end.”
Hearing this, Lee Seung-cheol was ultimately unable to hold back his emotions. “The very fact that a junior like Woods wrote a song for me is incredibly moving,” he said. “As I listened to the song, the past flashed before my eyes like a series of snapshots. It made me realize I need to sing even harder.”

The past 40 years haven’t always been smooth sailing. Lee Seung-cheol recalled a period when he was unable to sing for some time after undergoing surgery for vocal cord nodules and polyps. “There was a time when I couldn’t sing properly for three years, and there was even a month when I didn’t speak at all, as if I were practicing vowing silence,” he said. “In the end, I waited, and when a good song came along, the results were worth the wait.”
Surprisingly, the vocal care secret he cited was “keeping on singing.” Lee Seung-cheol explained, “I performed almost once a week,” adding, “I focused more on not losing the feel for singing than on the condition of my voice itself.”
Having navigated numerous turning points over the past 40 years—including Buval’s debut, his transition to a solo career, and hits like “Never Ending Story” and “Mali Flower”—Lee Seung-cheol cited this day as yet another turning point. “There are many things I wish I could undo,” he said, “but now that I have grandchildren, I feel like I have nothing more to ask for.” He added, “I think this moment today will remain in my memory for a long time.”
He also made no secret of his envy toward the younger generation. Describing his new singing style, he said, “In a word, it’s a ‘singing style that abandons Lee Seung-cheol,’” and continued, “I can’t tell you how envious I was watching BTS perform at the World Cup. Back in our day, we weren’t even allowed to wear sunglasses on TV, and we weren’t free to dye our hair or speak English as we pleased,” he recalled. He continued, “These days, the younger generation even has their sights set on the Grammys. I want to help them achieve the dreams I couldn’t fulfill.”
Having looked back on 40 years, Lee Seung-cheol’s gaze is now turned toward the future. Following his performance at a university festival, he is preparing for a nationwide tour consisting of about 50 shows. “Every time I step on stage, I think, ‘If only every day could be like today,’” he said, treating this 40th anniversary as yet another starting point.
Finally, when asked if he would be able to collaborate with Woods again for his 50th anniversary, Lee Seung-cheol replied, “I hope we can be together for the 50th anniversary as well.” Having received a song as a gift from a younger artist after 40 years, Lee Seung-cheol now continues his musical journey toward the next decade.
“Our Own Story” will be released at 6:00 p.m. on the 30th. Written and composed by Woods himself, this song is a tribute that encapsulates both Lee Seung-chul’s past 40 years and the 40 years that Woods will one day celebrate.