Kim Nam Gil Took the Festival Stage for the First Time as a Singer, not an Actor
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ASTON OTONITY – Actor Kim Nam Gil made his debut at his first festival as a new singer. Kim Nam Gil performed at the “KB Joy Olpark Festival 2026,” held on September 20 at 88 Lawn Field in Seoul Olympic Park. He performed five songs over the course of about 30 minutes.
Kim Nam Gil performed with a full backing band, opening his set with the song “Time Walking on Memories” by Nell. His deep vocals blended with the band’s rich sound to create the perfect atmosphere for the performance.
Kim Nam Gil took the festival stage for the first time as a singer, not an actor. He exuded the confidence of a seasoned performer, even though he is new to the music scene. “Some of you might be wondering why I’m here,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll keep it short today.”
He continued with Nell’s song, “Four Times Around the Sun.” For Jung Joon Il’s song, “Hug Me,” Kim Nam Gil moved to a larger stage, performing the song with his signature emotional vocals.
Then, he changed the mood with DAY6’s “Time of Our Life.” Finally, he shouted, “Come on!” before closing his set with his debut song, “Running to You.”
Kim Nam Gil wowed the audience with his steady live vocals and laid-back stage presence, filling the 30-minute set without a single dull moment. Between songs, he also kept the audience engaged with his signature wit.
He released "Running to You" in March, marking his official debut as a singer. Since then, he has performed on various stages, including fan meetings, music shows, and university festivals.
Meanwhile, Kim Nam Gil is currently filming SBS' upcoming drama 'Nightmare.' He is also set to return to the big screen later this year with the film 'Canvas of Blood,' directed by Jang Hoon.
South Korean actor Kim Nam-gil remains extremely famous and relevant to this day thanks to his extraordinary and versatile acting skills, smart role selection, and consistency in delivering new hit projects. Since his debut in 1999, he has managed to maintain his popularity for more than 25 years in the entertainment industry thanks to the following key factors:
He has never faded from the spotlight by consistently taking on relevant, modern projects. In recent years, he has actively starred in original series for global streaming platforms, such as the Netflix action drama *Trigger*, in which he plays a former sniper, and made a cameo appearance in the thriller *Karma*. This consistency has allowed him to continue captivating new generations of viewers.
Off-screen, he is deeply loved for his kindness. He is the founder and CEO of Gilstory, a nonprofit organization (NGO) focused on humanitarian missions, cultural heritage preservation, and arts campaigns. Kim Nam-gil even frequently reinvests a significant portion of his personal income into this foundation and shares bonuses to ensure the well-being of his staff.
In addition to acting, he possesses extraordinary vocal talent. Kim Nam-gil often performs on the soundtracks (OSTs) for his own dramas. In fact, he has officially expanded his horizons as a professional singer by releasing a powerful rock single titled “I’m Going to You” (Running To You).
