Aired on January 14th, SBS's 'Sung Si-kyung's Lunar New Year Special Concert' achieved 2049 ratings of 2.3% for the first part and 2.7% for the second part, making it the number one variety show in its time slot and the highest-rated entertainment program of the day. The peak minute rating soared to 5.2%, according to Nielsen Korea's metropolitan household data.
The 'Lunar New Year Special Concert' was a televised version of the 'Sung Si-kyung Concert' held from December 25th to 28th last year, following the music timeline of Sung Si-kyung, who is celebrating his 25th debut anniversary.
Reflecting on his 25-year career, Sung Si-kyung remarked, “It's like a child being born and graduating from college,” adding, “This concert was a decision made with great courage. It's nerve-wracking and emotional. I'm scared but also well-prepared.”
Sung Si-kyung, who quit smoking and reduced drinking for this performance, shared, “I only thought about the concert. I want this to be the happiest day of the year,” expressing his special feelings for the event.
Notably, fellow celebrities like Yoo Jae-suk, IU, Yoon Jong-shin, Park Jin-young, Shin Seung-hun, Choi Hwa-jung, and Park Kyung-lim participated in interviews for the concert. Music critic Lim Jin-mo humorously praised Sung Si-kyung's voice, wondering, “How does he maintain that voice while drinking?” Park Jin-young described him as “a singer who knows how to move people's hearts,” while IU commented, “His pronunciation, voice, and unique name are Sung Si-kyung.”
Sung Si-kyung performed his hit songs such as 'Like the First Time', 'We Match Well', 'It Would Be Good', 'On the Street', 'Goodbye My Love', 'Every Moment of You', 'Hee-jae', and 'Solar System', which have brought smiles and comfort to many. He also showcased a surprising dance duet with special guest Hwasa of Mamamoo, performing 'Good Goodbye'.
After singing through 25 years of his musical journey in 180 minutes, Sung Si-kyung vowed, “I will manage myself well to sing for a long time,” and concluded the concert with 'The Road to Me', a song he sang in his 20s.
Meanwhile, it was revealed last November that Sung Si-kyung suffered financial damage from a manager he had worked with for over a decade. His agency, SK Jaewon, stated, “It was confirmed that Sung Si-kyung's former manager committed acts that betrayed the company's trust during his tenure. We are aware of the seriousness of the matter and are verifying the exact extent of the damage. The employee has since resigned.”
Shocked by the incident, Sung Si-kyung confessed on Instagram before finalizing his year-end concert, “Honestly, I keep questioning whether I can or should stand on stage in this situation.”
Reporter Dayeon Jung, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr