A year has passed since the late Kim Min-ki, who sang 'Morning Dew' and adorned the streets with 'Hakjeon,' left us. His passionate dreams and ardor, which made everyone's hearts ache even more as he closed his eyes due to illness alongside the closure of his beloved theater, still remain in the hearts of many.
Born in 1951 in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, Kim Min-ki entered Seoul National University to study painting but instead walked the path of music. In 1970, during his freshman year, he debuted by composing 'Morning Dew,' a song that still represents him and symbolizes resistance and lyrical beauty. He became a master of the Korean folk music scene, comforting the people's hearts with songs like 'Evergreen Tree,' 'Friend,' and 'Beautiful Person,' while uplifting the spirit of the times. Especially, he continued his music activities steadily despite the external pressure that led to the confiscation of his debut album shortly after its release.
Being sincere about both music and theater, Kim Min-ki opened the small theater Hakjeon in Daehakro, Seoul, in 1991, writing a new history in the Korean performing arts scene. Notably, the musical 'Subway Line 1,' directed by him in 1994, was adapted from a German original to fit Korean sentiments, running over 8,000 times and drawing more than 700,000 audience members, thereby creating a myth of small theater musicals. He regarded the 4,000th performance as the most significant moment in Hakjeon's history, showing his affection for the work.
Hakjeon was more than just a theater; it was a cradle for countless artists. The late Kim Kwang-seok held over 1,000 performances here, and Yoon Do-hyeon grew by handling opening stages during his unknown days. Renowned actors such as Sul KyungGu, Kim Yoon-seok, Hwang Jung-min, Jang Hyun-sung, Jo Seung-woo, Lee Jung-eun, Ahn Nae-sang, Lee Jong-hyuk, and Kim Dae-myung—all of whom remain active today—are 'Hakjeon kids' who passed through Hakjeon. Kim Min-ki was recognized for his contributions, winning numerous art awards, including the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Special Award at the Korea Musical Awards, and in 2013 he received the Silver Crown Cultural Medal at the Popular Culture and Arts Awards.
Although Kim Min-ki was still filled with passion and moving towards his dreams, his battle with stomach cancer hindered him. Even when suffering from stage 4 stomach cancer with metastasis to the liver, he continued to live at home and undergo treatment, but his declining health posed significant difficulties for maintaining the Hakjeon small theater.
In 2024, to mark the 33rd anniversary of Hakjeon, a project performance titled 'Hakjeon AGAIN' was conducted through the voluntary participation of juniors to prevent its closure. The Arts Council also showed willingness to remodel Hakjeon through negotiations with the building's owner, vowing to rebirth it as a diverse cultural space. Stakeholders determined to seek a revival of Hakjeon after Kim Min-ki's health recovery. However, Hakjeon ultimately closed on March 14 last year, and Kim Min-ki also left this world on July 21, 2024, at the age of 73, approximately four months later.
Upon the news of the maestro's passing, the entertainment industry was engulfed in deep sorrow. Park Hak-ki left a memorial message on social media saying, "Brother~!! Thank you... May you rest peacefully in a beautiful place." Yoon Do-hyeon lamented, "He was like a father to me, a respected musician, Kim Min-ki. I will miss Hakjeon, my teacher, and Daehakro a lot." Lee Jeok recalled, "My hero, thank you. I love you," while Ali expressed, "It was an honor to know and feel the footprints of your artistic life and to experience it through your songs." Go Hyun-jung also conveyed her deep sorrow with the words, "Oh, it's so sad and overwhelming. My heart feels a pang. I deeply wish for the repose of the deceased." Actors Hwang Jung-min and Jang Hyun-sung visited the funeral home, and many colleagues and juniors, including singers Yoon Sang, Lee Eun-mi, Jang Ki-ha, Ali, and actors Ryu Seung-beom, Kim Hee-won, and Kim Dae-myung, gathered at the funeral home to see the deceased off on his final journey. According to the family's wishes, the funeral was conducted privately, without accepting condolences and floral tributes, and after the funeral, the procession moved towards the burial site at Cheonan Park Cemetery, passing through Hakjeon's courtyard and small theater.
Kim Min-ki may have departed, but his music and the spirit of 'Hakjeon' he maintained continue to live on. Based on the archive from the Hakjeon website, works such as the script books, stages, and music created by him until the end are being worked on at the Arko Arts Archive and are expected to be released in 2-3 years. In particular, his nephew, Head of Team Kim Sung-min, firmly stated, "There is no 'Subway Line 1' that Kim Min-ki did not direct," while also leaving the possibility of a re-run open for special anniversaries in the future, hinting at continuing the late director's legacy.
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