Korean rock singer Yim Jae-beom is enjoying a new phase in his career with his name topping the most-searched-word list at major Internet portals, thanks to blockbuster TV program “I am a Singer.”

Yim was one of two new entrants on Sunday for MBC’s weekly singer survival program and his performance of “Neoreul yuihae (For You)” was so impressive that he ranked first in the audience’s vote.

Yim’s performance was not exactly his best technically, but was nonetheless deeply moving, with his husky voice pouring out an overwhelming amount of emotion and energy.

MBC aptly broadcast several female audience members crying in response to Yim’s singing, and thousands of online users posted similarly emotional comments on Twitter and Facebook in the following days.

Kim Hyung-seok, a composer and consultant for the show, said earlier that Yim was a talented singer who could claim, “I’m the only singer.”

The intense reaction to Yim’s participation in the program was partly due to his personal circumstances. Last month, he revealed to his online fans that his wife was fighting cancer and he was struggling emotionally.

Yim’s performace of the song is available free on Daum’s video section, and attracted nearly 3 million plays in just three days.

Yim, who made his debut in 1986 as the vocalist for Sinawe, garnered fame as a seasoned rocker before he suddenly retired in 2005 when he was injured in a bus accident.

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldcorp.com)