The 2025 Nostalgic Concert is scheduled to tour across South Korea this September and October, offering a unique cultural experience that celebrates veteran artists while bringing entertainment to smaller cities and underserved communities. The Culture Ministry announced the nationwide series on Friday as part of a broader initiative to expand performance opportunities for senior citizen artists, including veteran actors, voice actors, comedians, and singers.
The concert series aims to make arts and culture more accessible to residents of small and mid-sized cities, particularly those communities that have traditionally been underserved by major cultural events. The tour will visit four locations: Hongcheon-gun, Sangju-si, Hwacheon-gun, and Taebaek-si, each hosting a variety of entertainment segments designed to appeal to diverse audiences.
The highlight of the series is the Nostalgic Concert 5080 segment, which will showcase celebrated singers including Kwon Sung-hee, Kim Guk-hwan, Park Il-jun, Lee Ae-ran, Jo Seung-gu, and Ahn Da-mi. These veteran performers will deliver nostalgic hits spanning multiple decades, offering audiences a chance to relive memorable musical moments from their past.
The theater component, presented by the Korea Federation of Broadcasting Artists Associations, will reimagine two beloved dramas from the 1970s and 1990s as trot musicals. The productions will include "Madam" and "What on Earth is Love?" featuring distinguished veteran actors. "Madam" will star Kim Hyung-ja, Ahn Dae-yong, Lee Gi-yeol, and Jung Jong-jun, while "What on Earth is Love?" will feature Kim Jin-tae, Seo Gwon-sun, Kim Hyo-won, and Yeon Woon-kyung. The entire event will be hosted by comedian Jung Jin-soo, with additional performances by pansori singer Jo Yong-ju and singer Seon-gyeong.
In addition to music and theater, the Korea Voice Actors Association will present a live adaptation of the popular radio drama "Our Happy Home." This unique segment will feature talented voice actors Kim Mu-gyu, Kim Jeong-ae, Yoon Ki-hwang, Lee Yeon-hee, Lim Young-hwa, Choi Mun-ja, Choi Jae-ho, and Hong Young-ran, bringing the beloved radio drama to life on stage.
The comedy segment, titled "Nostalgic Concert: Laughing Day, Good Day," is produced by the Korea Broadcasting Comedians Association under the direction of comedian Kim Hak-rae. This portion of the concert will offer a variety of comedy performances designed to entertain audiences with humor that spans generations.
Acting KOCCA President Yoo Hyun-seok emphasized the cultural significance of the initiative, stating, "Through the Nostalgic Concert, we provide cultural and artistic experiences to residents in culturally marginalized areas and give popular veteran artists an opportunity to perform on stage again. Moving forward, we will work with local governments to make these performances an annual event and strive to expand K-content from local communities to the global stage."
