Choi Yu-ri offers comfort at Seoul Jazz Festival: "I will walk faster in my own way"

In an era where everyone is racing forward, Choi Yu-ri proposes her own pace. Performing at the Seoul Jazz Festival 2026, Choi sang about a life lived without rushing through a Korean version of her song, "Toko Toko."

A Calm Question for Those Exhausted by the Pace of Life

On stage, Choi Yu-ri's voice was calm yet resolute. At the beginning of the song, she poses a question: "People these days keep running; what's so good about going that fast?" The performance is driven by lyrics that observe modern individuals speeding up to clear their minds, only to ask what it is they are actually in such a hurry for.

The audience became deeply immersed during the passage describing a state where even yesterday's memories fade because one is too busy keeping up with others. To those running breathlessly for fear of falling behind, Choi offers a candid confession: "I don't even have the confidence to run more without rushing like this." This sentiment resonates far more deeply than a simple, hollow encouragement to "just hang in there."

The Process of Finding 'My Tempo' Instead of Someone Else's

As the song progresses, its message becomes clearer, revealing a determination to find one's own pace rather than running blindly. Through the line, "Then I will walk faster in my own way," Choi demonstrates an attitude of maintaining her own stride instead of conforming to the speed of others.

The core of the song lies in the lyrics, "In the tempo I create, I see more; I rise higher." She uses musical narrative to convey that looking inward and noticing the scenery missed while chasing others' paces is ultimately the path to reaching higher ground. Blending seamlessly with the atmosphere of the Seoul Jazz Festival's outdoor stage, the melody served as a small consolation for those who chose to walk rather than run.