Singer Lim Young-woong is set to make his return with a new album on the 29th, following a three-year break. In anticipation of his comeback, broadcasters are ramping up programming that features Lim Young-woong. SBS has cast him in the new travel variety show ″Island Village Bachelor,″ which is scheduled to premiere on the 26th. This will be Lim Young-woong’s first regular variety show appearance since his debut.

″Island Village Bachelor″ will consist of four episodes showcasing the healing travels of Lim Young-woong, along with science YouTuber ″Orbit,″ chef Lim Tae-hoon, known as ″Iron Bag Chef,″ and actor Lee Yi-kyung. Additionally, KBS 2TV’s music variety show ″Immortal Songs″ will air a two-week special featuring Lim Young-woong and Friends on the 30th and the 6th of next month. While he previously appeared in the ″Songhae Song Festival Special″ in May 2020, this will be his first solo special under his own name.

The first part of the special will include performances by Lee Juck, No Brain, and Jeon Jong-hyuk, while the second part will feature Lyn, Roy Kim, Choi Yu-ri, and Jo Jazz performing Lim Young-woong’s songs. He has also confirmed his participation in the JTBC sports variety show ″Let’s Eat Dinner Together 4″ on the 7th. Currently, Lim Young-woong plays in the amateur soccer league ″KA League.″ Last year, he appeared on ″Let’s Eat Dinner Together 3,″ where he led his team to a 4-0 victory against coach Ahn Jung-hwan’s team. His upcoming appearance on ″Let’s Eat Dinner Together 4″ hints at a potential rematch with Ahn Jung-hwan.

Broadcasters are offering Lim Young-woong special treatment in various ways, going beyond just recruiting him for new programs. With a broad fan base spanning multiple generations, Lim Young-woong is seen as a key asset for boosting viewership and generating excitement.

For the ″Immortal Songs: Lim Young-woong and Friends Special,″ nearly 10,000 viewers applied to be part of the ″Masterpiece Judging Panel.″ According to the official website and app, over 9,000 applications were received from the opening of the application period on the 8th until it closed at midnight on the 14th. Experts attribute Lim Young-woong’s significant impact on the broadcasting industry to his diverse fan base and strong loyalty across age groups.

Pop culture critic Jeong Deok-hyeon noted, ″Lim Young-woong’s fan base transcends the typical star-fan relationship. Broadcasters anticipate that his appearances will generate quick word of mouth, translating into high viewership.″ He added, ″Musically, Lim Young-woong spans various genres, including ballads, country music, and band music, which distinguishes him from other trot singers. This diversity has broadened his appeal beyond middle-aged and older generations to include younger audiences, contributing to the ongoing Lim Young-woong phenomenon.″