Music critic the late Kim Young Dae has passed away.
At 9 a.m. on the 27th, a funeral procession for the late Kim Young Dae was held at Chung-Ang University Hospital funeral hall in Dongjak District, Seoul. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. at Heukseok-dong church. The burial site is Seoul Memorial Park, and the remains are scheduled to be placed later at the Peace Shelter.
The late Kim Young Dae died on the 24th. She was 48. Kim Young Dae's side said via social media, "We inform you of the passing of Kim Young Dae," and the exact cause of death has not been revealed. Notably, just before news of her passing became known, she appeared on a pre-recorded episode of CBS' Kim Hyun-jung's News Show to talk about a special on "Top 7 carols chosen by Koreans."
After the broadcast, which aired, the program behind Kim Hyun-jung's News Show explained, "This broadcast was pre-recorded last week. After the Dec. 25 airing, we were informed of the death of pop music critic Kim Young Dae," and added, "We are at a loss after this sudden sad news. The production team of Kim Hyun-jung's News Show expresses deep condolences."
The music industry also fell into sorrow at the news. Yoon Jongshin mourned, "Young Dae, what is happening? You were someone who paid attention to the delicate thoughts of me as a creator; thank you. Let's share those conversations again later," and CNBLUE's Jung Yong-hwa said, "Someone who recognized the value of music and always believed sincerely has become a star in the sky. I will cherish that heart and memory for a long time. I hope she rests in peace."
Writer Heo Ji-woong revealed his grief, saying, "The last time I spoke with her on the phone was about an appearance; she said she couldn't because she was cutting broadcasts, and he insisted we do it later. I can't get anything done all morning. Don't promise later, don't promise later, I keep promising later to people I cherish and end up failing to keep it."
Former announcer Lee Ji-ae, who co-hosted the Emmys with the deceased for three years, visited the funeral altar and lamented, "Holding the two young daughters, I couldn't stop crying in bewilderment over how we came to meet like this. How much must the children have looked forward to spending Christmas with their busy dad? Thanks to a father who loved music, her home must always have been filled with music; now it's pitiful and heartbreaking to think it will become quiet."
Lee Ji-ae confessed, "That's why I told them, holding their hands, how often their proud father talked about his daughters and what a wonderful person he was, but I kept crying and probably looked foolish. I almost texted him that I was so foolish. Maybe the announcer would have laughed and asked why my pronunciation was like that.."
Born in 1977, Kim Young Dae graduated from Yonsei University's department of business administration and earned a doctoral degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Washington. Her criticism, combining the sharp industrial analysis of a business student with the humanistic depth of an anthropologist, is credited with elevating K-pop criticism from mere appreciation to the realm of a "cultural phenomenon."
Since 2020 she had been the domestic live commentator for major overseas awards such as the Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) and the American Music Awards (AMA), and from 2023 she served as a broadcast panelist for the Grammy Awards, while working as a judge for the Korean Music Awards and a judge for MAMA Awards, maintaining a fair and professional perspective. Recently she pursued constant writing activity, including authoring a book illuminating the history of Korean ballad, demonstrating her scholarly passion.
[Photo] Kim Young Dae's social media, broadcast capture
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