National MC, 'Popeye' Lee Sang-yong has passed away. On the 9th at 12:45 p.m., he collapsed while returning from a hospital near his home and was transferred to the hospital but ultimately passed away. He was 81 years old. The news of his death brings a lingering feeling, reminding us of the tumultuous life he had to endure.

He was regarded as an 'icon of good deeds,' having supported countless children and performed for military personnel during his lifetime. In fact, he was also a person who helped save lives by assisting in surgeries for nearly 600 children with heart disease. However, even someone who devoted his entire life to service and sharing faced harsh trials.

According to close friend and author Kim Hong-shin, Lee Sang-yong once had to bear the unfounded accusation of 'embezzling sponsorship funds' and faced public criticism. Kim noted, “It was a truly absurd and unjust story. Until then, he was a hero of our time. Then suddenly, he got caught up in something strange; it was clearly a framing.”

Lee Sang-yong himself calmly recalled that time. “I dedicated my entire life to saving 600 lives through surgeries, yet they said I didn’t perform any surgeries... The whole nation called me a bad person. I remained silent. I believed heaven knows,” he said, reflecting, “I endured because I had no shame at all.”

To escape the injustice, he moved to the United States for a while, working as a tourist bus guide and putting in 14-hour days. He silently endured taking tourists from LA to Las Vegas. Eventually, the court found him not guilty, but even that moment was overlooked by the media. “Even though the verdict was not guilty, it didn’t appear in the newspapers. That was even more heartbreaking,” he had said.

Author Kim Hong-shin reflected, “I wondered how he endured that moment. That’s why I came to like him even more,” adding, “He was someone who shared his inner pain and personal stories with me. Many people know the truth. It all just passed by.”

Despite the unjust trials, Lee Sang-yong walked his path silently until the end. His voice, shouting, “Hang in there! You can do it!” may have been words he first spoke to himself. Having lived a whole era with positive influence, Popeye Lee Sang-yong will be remembered by many as a true adult who lived a life free of shame, even if the world did not recognize him for a while.

[OSEN]