Although he lived in a room costing 150,000 won, Lee Sang-yong, who devoted himself to saving lives, has forever remained in our hearts as the Popeye of this era.
'National MC Popeye' Lee Sang-yong collapsed while returning from a nearby hospital on the afternoon of the 9th at 12:45 p.m. and was transferred to a hospital, but ultimately passed away at the age of 81.
He debuted as an MC for CBS Christian Broadcasting in 1971 and gained popularity as 'Popeye' while hosting the KBS children's singing program 'Let's Sing Together' in 1975. Notably, he was loved by military personnel and families as a host of MBC's military welfare program 'Stage of Friendship' starting in 1989.
Above all, Lee Sang-yong supported the surgical costs for 567 children with heart disease throughout his life. He revealed on a broadcast, "When I was hosting, a teacher and a parent came to me. The child had blue lips and nails. They said they couldn't afford the surgery. At that time, I was receiving 14,000 won per show, but the surgical cost was 18 million won. I said I would take responsibility." Despite living in a room costing 150,000 won, he supported a whopping 15 million won for a heart surgery to save a life.
He continued, "I hosted events at three bars, receiving payment in advance for six months. That's how I was able to fund the surgery. That child was number one. After that, the parents spread the word everywhere that Mr. Popeye had funded the surgery. Heart disease patients from around the country came to our house asking for surgeries. I would say, 'Let's do it!' and I ended up funding surgeries for 567 children."
However, he had to leave the entertainment industry due to the unfair accusation of embezzling donations. Lee Sang-yong said, "Over 50 years, 567 children with heart disease underwent surgeries, but I was misunderstood for misusing the surgery fund. I was acquitted three months later, but it was not reported." He reminisced about the time when he could not respond to the fake news and noted, "This caused all broadcasting to come to a halt." He expressed that "even after the acquittal, it was not published in the newspapers, which was even more sorrowful."
Afterwards, he moved to the United States and worked as a sightseeing bus guide for 14 hours a day. Close friend and author Kim Hong-sin remarked, "It turned out the allegations were false. I wondered how he managed to endure that moment. That made me appreciate him even more. He shares all the stories he's unable to tell others with me. Many people know the truth. It's all in the past now."
Lee Sang-yong also expressed his longing for his mother during his life. He said, "My mother passed away at the age of 58. I heard the news while recording 'Let's Sing Together.' Still, I managed to smile and continue the recording. It was a day when my eyes were filled with tears as I traveled from Seoul to Daejeon for four hours. My mother had already passed away." He shared, "The message I want to deliver to my mother is that I will live without greed, wanting only what I can have. I will not speak ill of others, I will forgive, and I want to do good deeds. I want to live in a way that people can say I'm a decent person."
Despite the unfounded accusations, Lee Sang-yong persevered and quietly walked his own path. He was a true adult who lived a life without shame, even if the world momentarily overlooked him, and the Popeye of everyone.
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