Singer Hwang Garam attributes his success to being 'ordinary,' as he shared during the '2025 ATA Festival' held at Nanji Hangang Park in Seoul on the 27th.
At the festival, Hwang performed his hit songs 'Missing You Like Crazy' and 'I Am a Firefly.' Expressing his gratitude, he said, "Thank you for inviting me. I can't wait to get on stage and sing."
Reflecting on his journey, Hwang shared a message to his younger self from ten years ago, "Ten years ago, Hwang Garam was 31. There's still a long way to go, so stay humble and work hard on your music. Happiness is on the horizon." He added, "I'm not special; I'm just an ordinary person who worked hard and was loved later. That's my charm. I will continue to live each day ordinarily and make ordinary music that people love."
As a senior artist, Hwang finds it challenging to advise younger artists, saying, "It's daunting to influence others. Am I worthy of it? I prefer to show my dedication to achieving dreams quietly. After all, juniors are colleagues too." He encouraged, "Let's not compare ourselves and be happy in our unique ways."
To his fans, Hwang expressed, "Thank you to all the fans who follow me to every stage. I'm grateful to all the new fans who will get to know me. Let's enjoy the music together. Fighting!"
The ATA Festival lineup includes headliner Kim Junsu, sub-headliners Jannabi and Peppertones, along with performances by Lee Mujin, 10cm, H1-KEY, Say My Name, Kyungseo, Park Hye-won, and Hwang Garam. On the second day (28th), Kim Jaejoong will headline, with K-pop groups The Boyz, Tours, Cravity, Ha Sung-woon, Fifty Fifty, 82Major, QWER, Eunice, Bad Villain, and New Beat gracing the stage.
Hwang Garam released his single 'Amun-da' in August, following the success of his remakes 'I Am a Firefly' and 'Missing You Like Crazy.'
The ATA Festival at Nanji Hangang Park offers a convenient shuttle bus service from DMC (Digital Media City Station) to the venue. The buses operate from 9 AM to 10 PM, providing easy access between the DMC exits 2 and 8, Saenuri Children's Park, and the ticket zone near the venue.