It has already been 11 years since the late Shin Hae-chul passed away. His voice, philosophy and music still live on in the memories of many and resonate across generations.
Shin Hae-chul underwent surgery for intestinal adhesion release at a hospital in Seoul on Oct. 17, 2014, complained of high fever and chest and abdominal pain, then collapsed from cardiac arrest. He later died on the 27th from hypoxic ischemic brain injury.
In response, Dr. A, who performed the surgery on the late Shin Hae-chul, was sentenced in the first trial in Nov. 2016 to 10 months in prison with a two-year suspension for professional negligence resulting in death. But the bereaved family and the prosecution appealed the ruling, and in the second trial he was handed a one-year prison sentence. The Supreme Court also upheld the second-trial ruling, and A served one year in prison.
On the late Shin Hae-chul's 10th anniversary last year, a two-day Shin Hae-chul tribute concert, "The Devil 10th: Ghost Stage," was held at Inspire Arena on Yeongjongdo in Incheon to commemorate him.
The concert was prepared by fellow musicians gathering their hearts to mark Shin Hae-chul's 10th anniversary, and featured N.EX.T (Kim Young-seok·Kim Se-hwang·Lee Soo-yong), the late Yoo-jin, Hong Kyung-min, Kim Dong-wan, Psy, Kim Beom-soo, Yesung, Solar and the band Nell, Harry Big Button, Jun In-kwon Band, Lee Seung-hwan, Guckkasten, Epik High Project, Xdinary Heroes and others, and BTS member J-Hope also delivered a video message expressing his respect and mourning.
At the 39th Golden Disc Awards held in Jan., Shin Hae-chul was presented with the Golden Honorable Choice, reaffirming the enduring legacy and power of music that still coexists with us.
The procession of tributes continues this year on his 11th anniversary. On the 24th, Hong Kyung-min visited the late Shin Hae-chul's grave and posted a message that drew attention: "I kept the date I promised myself. I printed and bound it in white so anyone can read it, so look at it by yourself."
He added, "He promised he would definitely come to the wedding unless an enormous schedule that would make a fortune came up. In the end, an enormous schedule to go to heaven came up and he couldn't come, but I have never forgotten that remark even once and I have always been truly grateful and still think so now," and said, "I can only now say I'm sorry I couldn't attend the funeral. Rest in peace having happy dreams... Thank you for leaving good music in my childhood."
Also on the 26th, a memorial concert, "Ghost Stage," was held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, where Hong Kyung-min, Kim Kyung-ho, Kim Jong-seo, and Buhwal participated to honor the late musician, and the broadcast of 2025 MBC College Music Festival – Turn on youth featured Shin Hae-chul's children, Shin Ha-yeon and Shin Dong-won, performing a newly reinterpreted version of their father's signature song "To You," delivering a poignant emotional moment.
Even after 11 years, the "Devil" Shin Hae-chul still lives and breathes in music. His songs continue as unfinished stories in the youth and hearts of many.
[Photos] OSEN DB, MBC, SNS
[OSEN]