Singer Lim Young-woong is opening a new chapter with a comeback done the “Hero” way. Ahead of his second studio album, he’s turning the city sky-blue with a festival-style rollout and introducing an eco-conscious album package aimed at more meaningful fan engagement.
Lim will release his second full-length album, “IM HERO 2,” on August 29. The project goes beyond a standard drop, centering on interactive promotions and messages designed to connect with fans in real time.
Under the banner “THE MOMENT,” the sky-blue celebration is ambitious in scale. On August 28, the eve of release, select CGV theaters nationwide will host listening parties where fans can hear the new songs and watch the music video first. The night continues with sky-blue lighting and photo zones at N Seoul Tower, capped by a drone light show over Ttukseom Hangang Park.
The “sky-blue” washing over the Namsan skyline is Lim’s signature color and a nod to his fandom, Hero Generation. With more than 1,000 drones set to light up the night above Ttukseom, the comeback is positioned less as routine promo and more as a bona fide cultural event.
Earlier, Lim surprised the industry by announcing that his second album would be released not as a traditional CD but as an “album book” filled with photos and personal messages.
His label Fish Music said, “After lengthy discussions and consideration, we chose an album book over a CD. The format may be different, but we hope the sincerity comes through even more.” The move reads as a thoughtful challenge to knee-jerk “fandom consumption” and a decision mindful of real environmental impact―very much in line with Lim’s long-held philosophy of genuine, two-way communication as an artist.
The “IM HERO 2” listening parties offers the first public play of the album and its music video. Tickets for each CGV location will roll out in phases starting at 10 a.m. on the 21st.
Lim’s new album arrives on major streaming platforms on Friday, August 29, with a slate of preview content set to roll out beforehand.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)