"eternal singer" the late Kim Kwang-seok left us 30 years ago.
Jan. 6, 2026, is the 30th anniversary of Kim Kwang-seok's death. Kim Kwang-seok ended his life at his home on Jan. 6, 1996, at the young age of 32. To this day, various suspicions have been raised regarding the cause of the late Kim Kwang-seok's death.
His sudden death, when he was a symbol of Korean folk music and an icon of youth, left an indelible sadness on the popular culture scene at the time. Yet even after a long 30 years, his songs remain alive and stay with us.
Kim Kwang-seok, who began his musical activities by participating in Kim Min-gi's 1984 album, became known to the public as the vocalist of the group "Dongmulwon". After moving on to a solo career, he produced numerous classics such as "I loved you but", "A private's letter", "Those days", "Get up", and "A love so painful was not love".
Beloved for a single acoustic guitar, a harmonica, and a voice that pressed sincerity into every note instead of flashy technique, his songs were the warmest comfort and a friend. His record of more than 1,000 live performances proves how much Kim Kwang-seok wanted to breathe close to his audience.
In particular, his signature song "Around thirty" became a song that runs through Kim Kwang-seok's life. He stopped at the age of around thirty, but that song is called a guide to life across generations for people in their 20s, 30s and middle age.
This year, marking the 30th anniversary, the memorial fervor honoring him is hotter than ever. A memorial event honoring his life will be held at Daegu Jung-gu Daebong-dong Bangcheon Market "Kim Kwang-seok Dasi Geurigil" (Kim Kwang-seok Street), and the performance will feature cellist Chae Song-ah, guitarist and singer-songwriter Kim Sung-Joon, soprano Shim Kyu-yeon and others, who will present a tribute stage reinterpreting Kim Kwang-seok's great songs.
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