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Among all of the songs, the song < IM’s > holds a special meaning. It features a contribution from his eldest son, Yoonsik, a cartoonist who illustrated the album cover, and his second son, Hyunsik, a member of the idol group BTOB for 13 years, both contributed their voices to the track.

“Again?” That’s what people around singer Lim Ji-hoon asked when he started his ‘100-day concert’ at the Daehangno 2 Live Hall in Seoul on February 12, 1993. This question arose because Lim Jihoon had performed over 2,000 concerts in small theaters since the mid-1980s. “Again?” has became Lim Jihoon’s nickname.

Lim Jihoon, who led the small theater culture in the 1990s, is celebrating his 40th debut anniversary. Lim Jihoon (65) will hold a 40th-anniversary concert at the Grand Auditorium of Yonsei University in Seoul on November 22nd. He will also release a commemorative album, “Crayon” at the end of this month. When we met him recently in Gwanghwamun, he said, “I want to convey the gratitude I felt for being able to consistently sing songs with my name engraved on them for 40 years, much like the joy I experienced when I received crayons as a gift in my childhood.” Although he wrote all the songs himself, he also borrowed various voices from Joo Hyunmi, Min Hyekyung, and Park Seunghwa, just like the colorful crayons. Among all of the songs, the song < IM’s > holds a special meaning. It features a contribution from his eldest son, Yoonsik, a cartoonist who illustrated the album cover, and his second son, Hyunsik, a member of the idol group BTOB for 13 years, both contributed their voices to the track. Lim Jihoon said, “If you translate the title directly, it becomes < The Song of the Three Im’s >. He added, “Hyunsik will also join me on stage.”

Lim Jihoon’s journey as a singer did not come as a gift from the beginning. He stated, “The source of my music was loneliness.” When he was in the first year of middle school, his father passed away from stomach cancer, leaving his mother, who struggled with health issues, to take care of the household. His older sister, who is eight years older than him, chose the path of a nurse abroad. “She sang Yang Heeeun’s < Senoya Senoya > beautifully. My sister, who originally wanted to be a singer, left behind an acoustic guitar which then became my only friend and my musical lifeline.”

Starting to dream of becoming a singer in his twenties, Lim Jihoon gained recognition as ‘the kid who sang Song Changsik’s < Song of Ivory > well’ at the MUA Room in Jongno, Seoul. In 1984, he debuted with the group ‘Kim Changwan and the Rascals’ through Daesung Records, where the elder Kim Changwan served as the head of the literary department. Lim Jihoon remarked, “The president of Daesung Records and Changwan hyung were the benefactors in my singing career.”

The six members of the group ‘The Rascals’, along with Lim Jihoon, were renowned talents among the youth known for their singing skills at the time. Their first album, featuring the hit song < Reminiscence > was a tremendous success. They also held the first 100-day concert at the small theater in front of Ewha Womans University. Lim Jihoon recalled, “At every performance, Zoo and Kim Kwangseok always followed us as fans. And at some point, they turned into our younger brothers who shared drinks with us. This butterfly effect led to their debut as well.” In 1987, Kim Changki from Zoo wrote Lim Jihoon’s solo debut song < Low Tide of Love > which prompted Kim Changwan to plan Zoo’s first album after listening to the song.

“For me, this 40th anniversary feels like the beginning of a second musical career,” said Lim Jihoon, who wore dark sunglasses on the day of the interview. He shared, “I underwent eye surgery last year for retinal detachment.” He added, “At the end of December, I will release an album titled ‘The Time of Memories’ filled with ten songs written entirely in Japanese. It feels like going back to being a rookie. When I entered the operating room, I was afraid I might never see light again. But now that I can see again, what’s stopping me from taking on new challenges? This is just the beginning for me.”

• Source : Chosun Ilbo
• Translation may contain inaccuracies.