It has been 25 years since the eternal youngest member of group NRG, the late Kim Hwan-sung, passed away. His story, leaving this world at an age not yet twenty, still deeply resonates in the hearts of fans.

The late Kim Hwan-sung passed away on June 16, 2000, from an unknown viral acute respiratory illness at the age of 19. He had visited the hospital due to cold symptoms but was transferred to the intensive care unit due to high fever and respiratory distress, ultimately not regaining consciousness and passing away.

The deceased debuted in 1996 with the mixed group “Kkaebi Kkaebi” and began his full-fledged activities as a member of NRG in 1997. He received great love for his exceptional visuals and outstanding dance skills, and NRG played a leading role in the Korean wave centered in China. However, the sudden death of Kim Hwan-sung, who was the center and youngest of the team, brought great shock and sorrow to the entertainment industry and fans.

The death of Kim Hwan-sung was observed closest by his colleagues. In the TV CHOSUN program “Abadream” aired in 2022, member Cheon Myeong-hoon recalled, “The person who went to the hospital with him when he first got sick was (No) Yu-min.” In response, No Yu-min said, “At first, I thought it was just a simple cold. I thought one IV would fix it, but after a while, I couldn't reach him. A few days after speaking with his sister, I heard the news from his parents,” expressing the shock and guilt he felt at that time.

No Yu-min said, “I regret whether things would have changed if we had taken him to a bigger hospital. So whenever I think of Hwan-sung, I always feel nostalgic and sorry,” lowering his head.

In the broadcast, the performance of Kim Hwan-sung's “Avatar” with the members in the 'Hit Song 2022ver.' stage moved the fans. Kim Hwan-sung's mother said, “It felt like my son came out of heaven for a moment to give us a performance,” adding, “It was an emotional stage that made me want to run and hold his hand and hug him.”

In particular, the voice of Kim Hwan-sung restored by AI resonated even more. His confession, “To Myeong-hoon who brought me to NRG, and to Yu-min who always smiled… I was happy. Even when I sprained my wrist while tumbling and had body aches, it felt like nothing the next day. I was proud to be a part of NRG,” conveyed the dreams he cherished in life and his love for his colleagues.

Even after 25 years, the hearts of his colleagues have not changed. On this day, No Yu-min said, “June 15th is the 25th anniversary of the eternal youngest Antonio Kim Hwan-sung” and expressed gratitude to the fans from Korea, China, and Japan saying, “Thank you for not forgetting and remembering Hwan-sung and for keeping his memory alive.”

[OSEN]