Singer Kim Yong-pil to perform on major LA stage

Singer Kim Yong-pil, who began his career as an announcer, is set to take the stage at a major U.S. concert just three years after his musical debut. After expanding his career from broadcasting to trot music, he is accelerating his musical journey by broadening his scope to include producing and planning his own shows.

Kim will appear in 'The Good, the Bad, and the Weird Show' (NOM.NOM.NOM SHOW), held in Los Angeles on September 25 and 26. As part of the Chuseok LA Festival, this performance will be held three times in total, featuring Kim alongside Jang Min-ho, Cheon Rok-dam, and Na Tae-joo.

Park Sun-ju, CEO of LV Nexus and the executive producer of the show, explained the vision behind the event: "Trot is currently not just a single genre, but a synonym for adult contemporary music. I wanted to create a special performance where four individuals, who have walked their own paths as an idol, a producer, an announcer, and a national Taekwondo athlete, stand together on one stage as adult contemporary singers."

For this LA performance, Kim plans to move beyond trot to present a wide repertoire including pop, jazz, and Latin music to appeal to the local audience.

"This is not just a simple stage, but an opportunity to share the essence of trot—'Han' (sorrow) and 'Heung' (excitement)—with audiences coming from various parts of the United States," Kim said. "I will heat up the nights of LA with the best vocals and performances. I hope everyone can laugh and cry together, releasing their sorrows and enjoying the excitement."

The concert poster also breaks away from the typical imagery of trot performances. Kim, Jang, Cheon, and Na are dressed in tuxedos against a backdrop reminiscent of 1970s New York, creating an atmosphere like a scene from a musical film. Director Ji Young-bin handled the filming, enhancing the concept and visual quality of the production.

Kim's activities are not limited to overseas stages. Prior to 'The Good, the Bad, and the Weird Show,' he will hold the '2026 Kim Yong-pil Concert - Busan' at the Sohyang Theater Woori Bank Hall on September 12 and 13. This is an encore performance of his solo concert held in Seoul last April.

In particular, 'Beautiful Life' is a unique format that combines a long-running play of the same name with a musical performance. Kim personally met with the play's staff to design the show's structure and participated in the entire planning and execution process. It was a stage where he tested his potential as a producer designing performance content, rather than remaining solely in the role of a singer.

The fact that the Busan encore performance was arranged just five months after the Seoul concert demonstrates the enthusiastic response from fans. In Busan, he is expected to perform various songs themed around the city, including his representative tracks such as 'In the Vineyard,' 'Homeward Bound Instinct,' and 'Grow Old With Me.'

Having transitioned from the world of broadcasting to the musical genre of trot, Kim is now expanding his reach into international performances and content production. All eyes are on whether this LA stage, reached just three years after his debut, will serve as a turning point to establish his musical identity with global audiences.