Hyun-chul closes his eyes while listening to ‘My Heart is Like a Star’… Enduring a long period of obscurity, he becomes a ‘chronic patient’

by times news cr

2024-07-17 03:43:11

“I will become a star in the sky like the star in my heart and shine forever!”

Singer Hyun-chul, who lived with a heart that sang of stars, passed away on the 15th. He was 82 years old. It is said that when the deceased closed his eyes for the last time at a hospital in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, he listened to his own song, “My Heart is Like a Star.” He was attended by his family, including his cherished grandson. The deceased’s health had deteriorated due to nerve damage after undergoing cervical disc surgery several years ago, and he had recently been hospitalized for pneumonia and was receiving treatment.

Hyun-chul, born in Busan in 1942, debuted in the music industry in 1966 with his first album under the name of ‘Tae-hyeon-chul’. However, he did not receive much attention from the public for a long time. It is said that he lived in a rented room with his wife during his unknown days. After much thought, he decided to leave the music industry and wrote ‘Sitting or Standing, Thinking of You’ (1982) as his last song dedicated to his wife. This song became his breakthrough song. He was 40 years old at the time.

After that, he had consecutive hits with ‘Love is a Butterfly’ and ‘My Heart is Like a Star’. The late 1980s to the late 1990s were Hyun-chul’s heyday. His savory voice, his way of speaking with a strong dialect, and his unique singing style were his trademarks.

Singer Hyun Chul (real name Kang Sang Soo)'s funeral was held in Room 1 of the Seoul Asan Medical Center funeral home on the 16th. The funeral will be held at 8:20 AM on July 19th, and the burial site will be Bundang Memorial Park. Photo joint reporting team

Singer Hyun Chul (real name Kang Sang Soo)’s funeral was held in Room 1 of the Seoul Asan Medical Center funeral home on the 16th. The funeral will be held at 8:20 AM on July 19th, and the burial site will be Bundang Memorial Park. Photo joint reporting team

After that, he gained wings with the explosive popularity of ‘Bongseonhwa Yeonjeong’ released in 1988. When he won the KBS Music Award with this song, he shed tears as if he was recalling his 10 years of obscurity, and even the viewers cried. At that time, Hyun-chul was called one of the ‘4 Heavenly Kings’ along with Song Dae-gwan, Seol Woon-do, and Tae Jin-ah and dominated the trot market. The last broadcast was KBS Music Stage in September 2020.

People who know Hyun-chul all agree that he is a chronic patient. Former manager and composer Jeong Won-su recalled, “He is someone who has suffered for so long that he is very good at enduring. Even though he was over 60 and had to release a new song, he said, ‘Let’s wait 5 or 6 years. Songs need to mature.’ If it were someone else, he would say, ‘Hurry up, hurry up,’ but no matter how urgent it was, he had the attitude of going back.” He added, “That’s why he rose to fame late and why he worked until late. He was an amazing person.”

Condolences from fellow juniors in the music industry also followed. Singer Tae Jin-ah, who performed and worked with Hyun-chul, said, “Hyun-chul senior was more affectionate than anything else. When he won an award, he held my hand and cried, and I did the same,” and added, “He was the best singer in the Korean trot world, and it’s so sad that such a big star in the music world has passed away.” The deceased is said to have been friendly with neighbors who did business in the neighborhood and lived a consistent life, taking the subway to work.

The deceased’s funeral home is located in Room 1 of the Seoul Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall. Visitors will be able to visit from the afternoon of the 16th, and the funeral will be held on the 18th. 02-3010-2000

Reporter Kim So-min [email protected]

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2024-07-17 03:43:11

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