Kim Young Dae, a music critic who broadened the horizons of popular music criticism in Korea and served as a "compass of K-pop," died on Dec. 24, 2025, Christmas Eve. He was 48.
According to the music world and the bereaved family, critic Kim Young Dae passed away on the 24th, and the news was shared via the late person's social media on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Until just a day before, he was communicating with the public through social media, and until recently continued active work such as participating in recordings of CBS Radio "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," making the shock and grief even deeper.
▲ from business student to musical anthropologist... depth that created "difference"
Born in 1977, Kim Young Dae graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in business administration and received a Ph.D. in musical anthropology from the University of Washington. His criticism, combining the sharp industrial analysis of a business student and the humanistic depth of an anthropologist, is credited with elevating K-pop criticism from mere appreciation to the realm of "cultural phenomenon."
He began his criticism activities in the mid-2000s through platforms such as "Gaseum Network," and based on his experience living in the United States, he sharply captured the intersection between trends in the U.S. pop market and Korean popular music.
▲ the "Sherlock of K-pop" who first read the BTS phenomenon
Critic Kim Young Dae's name became deeply imprinted on the public after he analyzed the global phenomenon of BTS. From the early stages when BTS began to gain attention in the U.S. mainstream market, he anticipated the impact of their music and message, and challenged some dismissive views of idol music by logically arguing for K-pop's artistic value and industrial sophistication, helping to raise the authority of K-pop criticism.
▲ from Billboard to the Grammys... the thrill of the scene delivered to living rooms
The late critic was also one who engaged the public closely through broadcasting beyond text. From 2020 he took charge of live commentary for major overseas award shows in domestic broadcasts, such as the Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) and the American Music Awards (AMA), and since 2023 served as a panelist for the Grammy Awards.
His explanations, which made the complex context of the pop market easy and entertaining to understand, were known as "trustworthy commentary" among overseas pop music fans and K-pop fans. He also ran a YouTube channel and conducted in-depth interviews with musicians, showing his role as an archivist who recorded artists' candid stories.
▲ with music until the final moment... remains an eternal "listener"
Critic Kim served as a selection committee member for the Korean Music Awards and as a judge for the MAMA Awards, maintaining a fair and professional perspective. Recently, he continued his scholarly passion through constant writing activities, including authoring a book that illuminated the history of Korean ballad.
Meanwhile, the wake for the late person was set up in Funeral Hall 6 at Chung-Ang University Hospital in Seoul, and the funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on the 27th. The burial site is Seoul Memorial Park.
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