Lee Seung-chul’s KBS Chuseok Trilogy: Sunny and 40 Years of Music

Girls’ Generation’s Sunny is joining Lee Seung-chul and entertainer Tak Jae-hun to visit people with personal stories and bring them songs of comfort. 1 Their on-location variety program is part of KBS 2TV’s Chuseok trilogy celebrating the singer’s 40th debut anniversary, alongside a documentary and a concert broadcast. 2

That is an appealing reason to get curious about Lee: the project pairs an arena performance with singing shaped around individual people’s lives. 2 1 Sunny’s installment puts that personal connection at the center, with the performers going directly to the people whose stories the program features. 1

From Buhwal to a Park Bo-gum duet

For newcomers, Lee’s story begins with rock band Buhwal, which he debuted with as its vocalist in 1986 before moving into a solo career in 1989. 3 His August anniversary concert reached back to that beginning: he descended onto the stage on a lift while singing the opening of “Huiya,” his 1986 hit. 3 What a theatrical way to revisit a debut-year song.

The concert also brought a screen-and-music connection: actor Park Bo-gum appeared as a surprise guest and sang “Naega Mani Saranghaeyo” in a duet with Lee. 3 It gives anyone approaching the anniversary through Park a specific musical collaboration to explore, while Sunny’s connection belongs to the separately announced variety installment. 1 3

Yonhap reports that Lee performed 28 songs over three hours at the live concert. 3 Those details describe the August event; the supplied reports do not establish whether the Park duet or lift entrance will appear in the television edit, or specify its full setlist or running time. 2 3

When the three specials are scheduled

KBS 2TV’s announced September 2026 schedule uses Korean broadcast times, listed here in KST. 2

September 15, 9:40 p.m.: Documentary. The opening installment examines Lee’s 40 years of music activity alongside the development of Korean popular music. 2
September 21, 10 p.m.: Variety program. Lee, Tak Jae-hun and Sunny visit people in their own settings to deliver songs of comfort. 1
September 24, 7:30 p.m.: Concert recording. The finale draws on August’s Inspire Arena performance, with Hwangje Band’s playing and large-scale staging. 2

For a newcomer deciding where to begin, the documentary promises career context; the Sunny installment connects songs to personal stories; and the finale presents Lee in an arena setting. 2 1 These announcements establish the Korean broadcasts but do not specify a US viewing platform, English subtitles or simultaneous US access. 2 1 3

There is something inviting about an anniversary that leaves room for more: Lee said he still had many songs he wanted to sing and stages he wanted to show. 3