Veteran singer Park In-soo, known for the hit song "Spring Rain," passed away from pneumonia on the 18th.
The family stated, "The deceased had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for a long time and passed away this morning after pneumonia worsened while receiving treatment at a university hospital in downtown Seoul."
Born in 1947 in Gyeongju, North Pyongan, Park In-soo took refuge with his mother during the Korean War but was left alone after losing her hand on a train. He wandered through orphanages and was adopted in the United States at the age of twelve with the help of a U.S. military missionary, but he ended up wandering in Harlem, New York, due to loneliness and nostalgia.
After returning home, he gained attention for his performances with the U.S. Eighth Army and joined Shin Joong-hyun's band in the late 1960s.
He rose to stardom in 1970 with "Spring Rain," written and composed by Shin Joong-hyun. He left behind numerous hit songs, including "Bell-bottoms," "Punk Broadway," "Doubtful Love," "Flowers and Butterflies," and "Have You Ever Wept While Looking at the Stars?"
Among his representative songs, "Have You Ever Wept While Looking at the Stars?" drew attention as a song expressing nostalgia for his mother, whom he was separated from during the Korean War. The song's popularity led to a dramatic reunion with his mother in 1983.
However, his life was not smooth. In the mid-1970s, he became embroiled in a marijuana scandal, and from the mid-1990s, his health deteriorated due to symptoms of hypoglycemia and Parkinson's disease, forcing him to leave the stage. During the break, in 2002, he underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and also suffered from short-term memory loss.
He gained renewed attention in 2012 through KBS 1TV's "Human Theater." At that time, he made headlines by reuniting with his ex-wife, Kwak Bok-hwa, after 37 years. That same year, he held a comeback performance at a jazz club in Mapo and continued his active career.
However, the deceased's health had been deteriorating for several years, and he reportedly continued his battle with illness without being able to engage in activities properly. The last song he recorded was "Prepared Meeting," released in December 2013, which was written by jazz vocalist and composer Kim Joon.
Park Seong-seo, a popular music critic, noted, "The ups and downs of Park In-soo's life are reflected in his poignant songs," adding, "He was the first soul singer in Korea who could reach the 'three-step high note,' overcoming pain and sorrow through soul, transcending it into joy. He will be remembered in the history of popular music as a singer who sang with his whole body to convey a message of hope."
The funeral parlor has been arranged at the Yeongdeungpo Hospital in Seoul, and his surviving family members include his wife and son.