It was belatedly learned that Ji Byung-su, who sang Son Dam-bi's "Crazy" on KBS 1TV's "National Singing Contest" in 2019 and earned the nickname "Haldam-bi," has died. According to acquaintance Song Dong-ho, CEO of Seungjin Toys, the deceased passed away from old age at the National Medical Center (NMC) on Oct. 30. Age 82.
Born the youngest of 11 siblings in a wealthy family in Gimje, North Jeolla, the deceased dropped out of Hanyang University's department of trade, then gained varied social experience working at a construction company and running a clothing shop. At one point, while running a bar, the deceased learned traditional dance and was talented enough to be selected for a performance troupe in Japan.
But the deceased's life was not all smooth. After losing all assets due to three frauds and loan guarantees, the deceased lived on basic livelihood benefits. The deceased did not marry but raised two adopted sons and, in later years, lived alone in a semi-basement rental room in Sungin-dong, Jongno District, Seoul. The deceased loved clothes enough to use two of three rooms as closets. There were 30 suits, 50 shirts, and 100 pairs of shoes.
In 2019, the deceased appeared on the Jongno District episode of "National Singing Contest" and became a star overnight. After introducing the self as "the dandy of Jongno," the deceased delivered a flawless rendition of "Crazy" and took the popularity award. The deceased went on to appear on several programs, including "Entertainment Weekly," "You Quiz on the Block," and "Human Theater," and was widely loved by the public.
In 2019, the deceased released a new song, "Stand up," and the following year published the essay "Haldam-bi, you really never know about life," continuing active work. The deceased also enjoyed a second heyday in life, such as throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a pro baseball game.
However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, TV appearances decreased and the deceased gradually faded from the public's memory. Song, who served as manager, said, "After COVID, everyone's attention was focused entirely on trot…" and recalled, "Still, the deceased would always say, 'It was an honor that, even for a moment, people recognized me as a celebrity.'"
Even while battling illness alone, the deceased relied on religion to remain at peace before the end. The funeral was handled as having no known family, but Song and the adopted sons kept vigil as chief mourners. The remains were placed in the columbarium at Byeokje Municipal Cemetery after the send-off on Nov. 15.