PARK KU YOON to release rock-punk single with free virtual concert

Singer PARK KU YOON will release his new rock-punk single "When the Evening Sky Turns Red" at 12:00 p.m. on the 9th. To celebrate the release, he will host a free virtual "Sunset Concert" where fans can interact using 40 different character types.

Singer PARK KU YOON will release his new single "When the Evening Sky Turns Red" at 12:00 p.m. on the 9th. The track will be released simultaneously on online music platforms. To coincide with the release, PARK KU YOON will host an online "Sunset Concert," a virtual venue where he will listen to the new song for the first time with his fans.

According to Maeil Shinmun, this performance has no admission fee. Attendees can access the concert via mobile phone or PC without the need to install separate programs or use virtual reality (VR) equipment.

PARK KU YOON, known for "Only You" and "Woodcutter," has chosen the rock-punk genre for this release. The lyrics, which evoke his hometown and past days, are set to a fast band sound.

https://parkkuyoon.kr/

Created by a trio... with self-performed chorus

PARK KU YOON co-wrote the lyrics and melody for this song with Kwon Sun-hyeok and Lee Beom-jun. Yoo Jong-mi joined the three for the arrangement, making a total of four participants. Instrumentals were divided among the group: Kwon Sun-hyeok played guitar, bass, and drums while also handling mixing and mastering, and Yoo Jong-mi was responsible for the piano and string parts. In addition to being the main vocalist, PARK KU YOON also participated in the chorus recording. The composition features a foundation of electric guitar, drums, and bass behind his husky vocals.

Hometown alleys recalled while watching the sunset

The song begins with the moment of suddenly recalling the past while watching a red-tinted evening sky. The lyrics sequentially present the alleys of the hometown he left behind, sounds heard from a distance, and a longing that is not easily let go. The opening lines are, "When the evening sky turns red / I miss the days gone by." Rather than unfolding a long story, the song chooses to evoke memories through a few familiar scenes and short sentences.

While the lyrics are poignant, the tempo is fast, layering the vocals over guitar riffs, drums, and bass. Introducing the new song, PARK KU YOON stated, "Longing does not necessarily have to be tears."

The album cover also depicts the scenery described in the lyrics. Under an orange sunset, a person carrying a bag walks down a street lined with lit shops and old houses. A bicycle stands by the roadside, and an antenna rises above a roof. At the bottom of the image, the song title is written in handwriting along with "PARK KU YOON."

From ticket booth to stage... virtual venue divided into four zones

Entering the venue follows the same sequence as ticketing and inspection at a real performance. Upon accessing the concert website, users can enter a nickname and select a character to receive a free admission ticket, which can be downloaded as an image file.

The space is divided into four areas: the ticket booth, the fan waiting room, the Sunset Stage, and the Alley of Memories. Audience members move between these zones using their characters. The waiting room opens early so fans can gather before the performance. The waiting room features sofas, chairs, a station to select lightsticks, and a photo booth. Attendees can exchange greetings via chat and select the color of their lightsticks. Approximately 40 types of audience characters have been prepared, varying in age group and clothing.

The area in front of the stage is a standing zone. Audience members can move around, facing the stage or turning away. The movement is designed so that characters can move without colliding with other audience members.

An "audio-listening type" rather than real-time live

The performance is structured in the order of an opening greeting, listening to the new song, and a closing greeting. It is not a stage where PARK KU YOON sings in real-time; instead, pre-recorded greetings and the new song's audio are played at the scheduled time. On stage, a singer character created based on PARK KU YOON's actual photo stands, showing his face and the microphone in his hand while moving to the music. As the song plays, the lyrics, lighting, and cheering effects change according to the playback section.

Audience characters groove to the rhythm, dance, and wave lightsticks. The lightsticks move following the characters' hand motions. They can also respond with claps and heart gestures. A high-five function is also available, where approaching another audience member in the same space and extending a hand allows the two characters to meet palms if the other accepts.

A separate chat window is opened for direct communication between the singer and fans. When PARK KU YOON enters via a dedicated singer account, an artist mark appears next to his name. Fans can leave questions in a window separate from the general chat. The music playback and singer chat functions are operated separately.

Four-cut photos and memos... mobile screens also optimized

The photo experience space is named "Park Ku-yoon's Best Shot." When an audience member uploads their own photo, it is combined with pre-prepared photos of PARK KU YOON to create a vertical four-cut commemorative photo. Users can repeat one photo across the four frames or distribute multiple photos, while also changing the position, size, and frame color before saving. Group photos featuring both PARK KU YOON's photos and the audience character can also be taken.

In the "Alley of Memories," short messages can be left. Activities performed at the venue, such as receiving lightsticks, making photos, and leaving memories, are collected in a notebook-style screen.

On mobile phone screens, control buttons are gathered at the bottom so as not to obstruct the stage. If the movement function is collapsed, the stage can be viewed focusing on the singer, and the chat and menus can be expanded only when needed. Settings for easy operation with larger text and buttons, as well as settings to reduce rapid light changes and movement, are also provided.

The new song listening program begins at 12:00 p.m. (KST), the same time as the audio release, and the fan waiting room can be entered before then. If no sound comes from a mobile phone, the "Sound" button on the screen must be pressed to play the audio.

PARK KU YOON Sunset Concert · When the Evening Sky Turns Red

Read the original (Korean)