Kim Changwan on Joining 'Sync Next': "I Hope My Old Songs Will Gain New Relevance"

"I believe that this performance will allow my songs from the past, which I had considered outdated, to acquire a new sense of relevance in the present."

Kim Changwan, leader of the Kim Changwan Band, shared these thoughts about participating in "Sync Next 26" at a press conference held at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on April 27, 2026.

Sync Next is a contemporary performance stage presented by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts since 2022. It pursues artistic experimentation and contemporaneity.

Kim Changwan, who formed the rock band Sanulrim in 1973 and debuted in 1977, is a giant in the Korean popular music industry, having led the direction of Korean pop music. He has always been at the forefront, consistently challenging himself with new music and creating works that reflect the era.

Singer Changwan Kim is sharing his thoughts on participating in "Sync Next 26" at a press conference held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on the 27th. Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

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Regarding the hard-to-define Sync Next stage, Kim explained that the word "contemporary" resonated with him. He said, "Next year marks 50 years since I began my career. Is the word 'contemporary' appropriate for a singer who has been active for 50 years? I wondered why I felt so out of place here." He continued, "I think the meaning of 'contemporary' does not come from me, but rather, it is a declaration from contemporaries saying, 'You are with us.' Doesn't everyone struggle to truly understand their own present? I think the term 'contemporary' encompasses this concept." Kim added, "With K-pop sweeping the world, as a musician, I feel just how far we are from K-pop. I believe Sync Next will be an opportunity for me to awaken to my own sense of contemporaneity that I may not have realized myself."

Sync Next 26 will be held at Sejong S Theater from July 3 to September 5. Sixteen teams of artists will present 10 works over 28 performances.

The opening piece, commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between France and Korea, is "No Sound from Wind Alone, Nor from Sand Alone," created by six artists from both countries. Sound artist Haemi Klemensewicz, haegeum player Kim Yeji, viola d'amore player Olivier Marin, geomungo player Sim Eunyoung, medieval vocalist Christian Ploy, and jeongga singer Cho Yoonyoung will come together to present a world premiere.

The circus creation group Code S?si will present a circus performance for the first time at Sync Next, and the troupe Cheonhajeil Tal Gongjakso, which reinterprets traditional mask dance in a contemporary style, will collaborate with the band baan to showcase a stage that fuses mask dance with intense metal music. In addition, there will be experimental performances that break the boundaries of genres, including folk and documentary, contemporary dance, contemporary music and fairy tales, reinterpretations of K-pop, and electronic music.

The cast of 'Think Next 26,' which opens on July 3, are taking a commemorative photo at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Over the past four years, Sync Next has established itself as a leading platform for domestic contemporary performances. According to Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, over the last four years, a total of 73 teams have presented 45 works across 139 performances, drawing a cumulative audience of approximately 24,000 people. In 2024, it achieved a record-high seat occupancy rate of 91%, and last year, it reached its highest-ever paid audience ratio at 77%.

The achievements have been significant. "Gwang-gwang, Gweng-gweng," performed in 2023, advanced to the 2024 London EFG Jazz Festival, while "Baek Hyunjin Show: Public Broadcast" was selected as the opening film for the 50th Seoul Independent Film Festival. "The Elephants Laugh (2023)" and "Liquid Sound (2025)" have been invited to the Korea Week of the Avignon Festival this year.

An Ho-sang, president of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, said, "I thought it was necessary to have our own program to elevate the artistic capabilities of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, so I launched Sync Next." He emphasized, "In the first year, 2022, we began by introducing external performances, so the proportion of in-house productions was only about 25%. However, this year, all 10 performances are produced directly by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts."

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