It has been one year since trot singer Hyun-cheol (real name Kang Sang-su, 82) passed away.
Hyun-cheol died from an illness on July 15 last year at the age of 82.
Born in 1942, he made his debut in the music industry at the age of 27 with "Unfeeling You" in 1969. It was a time when stars like Na Hoon-a and Nam Jin were gaining attention, but Hyun-cheol had to endure a long period of obscurity.
In the 1970s, he was active as part of the band "Hyun-cheol and the Bees" but did not gain significant attention, and later transitioned to solo work to challenge himself in trot music. Then, in the 1980s, he began to gain public affection by releasing hit songs such as "Whether Sitting or Standing, I Think of You" and "Love Must Be Like a Butterfly."
In particular, the release of "Bongsunhwa Romance" in 1988 catapulted him to the ranks of a national singer. With this song, he won the KBS Music Awards in 1989 and followed it up with another hit, "I Don't Like You," the following year, earning the honor of the grand prize for two consecutive years. Hyun-cheol enjoyed a golden period as one of the "Four Kings of Trot" alongside Song Dae-kwan, Tae Jin-ah, and Seol Un-do.
Until the late 2010s, he continued to release new songs and perform, but after appearing on KBS 1TV's "Gayo Stage" in 2018, he temporarily halted his activities due to health issues. He was seen on screen alongside Ha Chun-hwa as a legendary singer on KBS 2TV's "Immortal Songs" in 2020, and he was not seen thereafter; the news of his passing in the following year left many hearts aching.
The late singer's wife noted at the time, "(Five years ago) his cognitive functions were slightly impaired due to cervical disc disease. He received treatment through rehabilitation exercise, but his mobility was limited, and given his age, recovery was not easy." She added that while he had the will to return to the stage, "he was very nervous about performing in front of the public for fear of making mistakes."
In particular, it was reported that Hyun-cheol spent his final moments peacefully, surrounded by his grandchildren and family, closing his eyes in tranquility.
Hyun-cheol, who was loved across generations with "Bongsunhwa Romance," continues to resonate in the memories of many, providing comfort and inspiration through his songs.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]