“Now, as I completed the painting, unlike my hands that are stained with paint, my heart is as white and pure as it was back then. Perhaps this is what a new beginning feels like, filled with this complex excitement.” – Jung Ill Hoon
[241111] Translated by hyunsikdaily. Please take out with full credit. Scroll down to read full article.
< Lim Jihoon brought up, “Not long ago, I found a letter from Hyunsik when he was in elementary school. It said, ‘Please play janggi with me.’ But now, it’s me who’s asking Hyunsik for help. ‘Teach me how to work on music using a computer, show me how to write on social media,’ I’m learning a lot from him. I wrote this song with the thought that life is a continuous process of learning, even as we grow older.” >
Folk singer Lim Jihoon (65), who is celebrating his 40th debut anniversary, released a commemorative album and will hold a concert at the end of November. Late last month, we met him with his youngest son, Lim Hyunsik (32), a member of BTOB, at the JoongAng Ilbo headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul. With a bright smile, he said, “People can tell we’re father and son right away because of our similar eye smiles. Even our toes look the same.” Lim Hyunsik added, “Whenever I meet people in the industry who know my father, they often mention him as ‘the senior who loves treating others to food and drinks.’ I think I’ve inherited that from my father, as I also enjoy being generous with people around me.”
Lim Jihoon debuted in 1984 as part of the folk group ‘Kim Changwan and the Rascals’. Rather than appearing on TV, he connected with people through live performances. He is recognized as a pioneer in the small-theater concerts in Daehangno. In 2000, he achieved a milestone by completing 2,000 live performances, setting a domestic record for the most live concerts after conducting a continuous 100-day non-stop live concert series. He shared, “The loneliness in an empty theater after a performance is indescribable. The solitude is so deep and painful that I would often comfort myself by drinking with friends.” Some of those friends included the late Kim Kwangseok, who performed long-running shows at the nearby Hakchon Theater, and Zoo’s Kim Changgi, who wrote Lim’s solo debut song, < Low Tide of Love > (1987).
These days, Lim Jihoon’s favorite drinking buddy is his sons. He has two sons: the eldest, Yoonsik, is a cartoonist, and the youngest, who is two years younger, Hyunsik, is a singer.“The most exciting time for me is on the weekend evenings, when my wife and sons, who now live on their own, gather together. It’s a chance to enjoy a drink and talk about music and art,”he shared. Lim Hyunsik recalled, “One unforgettable drinking moment with my father was when we were invited to senior Kim Changwan’s home. It was the first time I blacked out from day drinking. We had a great time singing together and chatting about all kinds of music.”
Lim Hyunsik, who inherited his musical talent from his father, debuted in 2012 as a member of BTOB and has established himself as a solo artist. Known for his exceptional vocals and music production skills, he’s affectionately called as the ‘Father of BTOB’s Music’ by fans. He just released his second mini-album, ‘The Young Man and the Deep Sea‘, in February as a solo artist. To add, the underwater music video for the title track < La Mar > gained significant attention. He shared, “I feel a great responsibility not to tarnish my father’s name. I understand that even a small mistake I make could affect him as well. That’s why I constantly strive to grow, both as a person and as a musician.”
Lim Jihoon admitted, “At first, I was totally against my son becoming a singer. It’s a career that can be emotionally challenging. But seeing him overcome that and stay true to his commitments to fans as a member of BTOB makes me realize how well he’s doing. He’s an admirable artist performing on the global stage.” As a senior, Lim Jihoon didn’t hold back on pouring words of encouragement to Lim Hyunsik.
On 3rd November, they performed the title track < Today I Might Be a Flower > from Lim Jihoon’s 40th-anniversary album Crayon, which was released that day. The song, which talks about the importance of family, also featured the voice of his eldest son, Lim Yoonsik, who designed the album cover. It’s a happy song sung by the three of them. Known in the 1980s for his nickname ‘the voice of sadness‘, Lim Jihoon reminisced, “After my father passed away and my older sister, who was eight years older than me, went to West Germany to work as a nurse, I played the acoustic guitar she left behind to soothe my loneliness. That’s why sadness naturally came out in my music. But now not anymore. My children are all grown, fulfilling their own roles. I’m also feeling grateful that I can still sing. From now on, I want to sing warm and bright songs.”
“After undergoing surgery and taking about five years off, I’ve come to truly appreciate the happiness of seeing the world through my eyes. This album was created to share that happiness,” he explained. The album’s title, Crayon, symbolizes the diverse musical styles showcased by his sons, as well as by junior artists who contributed to the album, like Joo Hyunmi, Min Haekyung, Park Seunghwa, Son Junho, Indian Sunny, and Oh Seunghee. The last track, < My Longed-For Country >, is a special reimagining of a song from his first album, with violin played by Iruda.
Another title track of the album, < Well, I’ve Grown Older >, is a song dedicated to fathers who have lived their lives diligently. The reflective lyrics, ‘Grandfather, you say? Well, I’ve grown older, I can’t deny it… Smiling and shedding tears through countless people and experiences / Life has more losses than victories / Today passes just like yesterday,’ leave a strong impression. The song also carries a message of ‘love today’.
Lim Jihoon brought up, “Not long ago, I found a letter from Hyunsik when he was in elementary school. It said, ‘Please play janggi with me.’ But now, it’s me who’s asking Hyunsik for help. ‘Teach me how to work on music using a computer, show me how to write on social media,’ I’m learning a lot from him. I wrote this song with the thought that life is a continuous process of learning, even as we grow older.”
Lim Jihoon will be performing many songs, including his new track, as a gift to the audience at the ‘Lim Jihoon 40th Anniversary Concert with Lim Hyunsik’ which will be held on the 22nd at Yonsei University’s Main Auditorium. Lim Hyunsik recalled, “Last year, my father came as a guest at my solo concert and contributed significantly there. Many people said that the father-son stage felt so special. That’s why I’m so excited that I can repay that favor this time.” Lim Jihoon, who sees this 40th anniversary as the beginning of his second musical life, said, “I prepared this concert with a desire to reconnect with young people. I hope this stage will be a gift to both my fans and myself.”
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