Kim Kwang Suk
Encyclopedia
Kim Kwang-Seok was a South Korean folk rock
singer. He made his debut by joining the recording of a musical ‘Gaedongi(개똥이)’, which consisted of topical songs and was produced by a songwriter and activist Kim Min Gi in 1984. He also participated in the first publicly released album of "Noraerul Chanun Saramdul-Song Seekers", a group of activists & singers in 1987, and later created a more widely supported band “Dongmulwon(동물원)– The Zoo” in 1988. He jumped to fame with the first album of Dongmulwon, and shortly he began his solo career. Most of his songs were celebrated for his appealing vocals and introspective lyrics which were broadly loved by young generations of South Korea in 1990s. He released 6 studio albums and 5 compilation albums, and had many hit songs such as “On the street(거리에서)”, “Love has gone(사랑했지만)”, “A letter from a private(이등병의 편지) and ”Song of my life(나의 노래)”.
He committed suicide
by hanging
on January 6, 1996.
city, as the youngest child of a former school teacher who had been forced to leave his job on account of his involvement in teachers’ union which was banned by government. In 1968, his family moved to Seoul
, the capital city of South Korea. His peers teased him about his small frame, but he was known to be a smart kid. In his middle school years in Kyunghee middle school, he joined a classical music band, where he learned to play violin, oboe, and flute and to read musical scores. In 1979 when he entered Daegwang high school, he began to sing in a school choir. He started singing at cafes for part time job from 1982, when he entered Myongji university
. An impressionable youngster as he was, he used to burst into tears while singing some topical songs from a collection of musical score book ‘Young Christ’ that dealt with the plight of underprivileged class. His encounter with the songs of Kim Min Gi and Handol, who were admired by many student activists led him to join a club for topical songs.In 1984, as a member of ‘Union of Echoes’, a group of activists & singers composed of students from many colleges, he took part in the production of a topical-song-musical album ‘Gaedongi(개똥이)’. He also joined in the making of the first album of ‘Noraerul Chanun Saramdul –Song Seekers’ under the initiative of Kim Min Gi, along with other major figures of college clubs of songs for activism. He joined the army in January 1985, and during the years of military service, he decided to pursue the career path of a musician. Discharged from the army, he returned to school, and he performed in the first concert of ‘Noraerul Channun Saramdul’ which was held at the Centennial Memorial Hall of Korean Christian Missionary in October 1987. At the concert he was applauded with fervent enthusiasm from the audience, emerging as the key member of the group. He was invited to many major political gatherings and cultural events, where he actively participated.
With his 4th studio album released in 1994, his musical talent was consummated. This album was monumental not only in his career but also in the history of Korean popular music. He kept on singing at concerts, marking a thousand times of concert in August 1995. In the same year he made concert tour around the country, which extended abroad to hold concerts at University of Pennsylvania
and Merkin Concert Hall
in Manhattan. He preferred small concert halls to be in closer contact with audiences, setting a trend of concert in small theatres around Daehangno
in Seoul, a Korean equivalent of Broadway.
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
singer. He made his debut by joining the recording of a musical ‘Gaedongi(개똥이)’, which consisted of topical songs and was produced by a songwriter and activist Kim Min Gi in 1984. He also participated in the first publicly released album of "Noraerul Chanun Saramdul-Song Seekers", a group of activists & singers in 1987, and later created a more widely supported band “Dongmulwon(동물원)– The Zoo” in 1988. He jumped to fame with the first album of Dongmulwon, and shortly he began his solo career. Most of his songs were celebrated for his appealing vocals and introspective lyrics which were broadly loved by young generations of South Korea in 1990s. He released 6 studio albums and 5 compilation albums, and had many hit songs such as “On the street(거리에서)”, “Love has gone(사랑했지만)”, “A letter from a private(이등병의 편지) and ”Song of my life(나의 노래)”.
He committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
on January 6, 1996.
Early life
Kim Kwang-Seok was born in 22 January 1964, at Daebong-Dong of DaeguDaegu
Daegu , also known as Taegu, and officially the Daegu Metropolitan City, is a city in South Korea, the fourth largest after Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, and the third largest metropolitan area in the country with over 2.5 million residents. The city is the capital and principal city of the...
city, as the youngest child of a former school teacher who had been forced to leave his job on account of his involvement in teachers’ union which was banned by government. In 1968, his family moved to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, the capital city of South Korea. His peers teased him about his small frame, but he was known to be a smart kid. In his middle school years in Kyunghee middle school, he joined a classical music band, where he learned to play violin, oboe, and flute and to read musical scores. In 1979 when he entered Daegwang high school, he began to sing in a school choir. He started singing at cafes for part time job from 1982, when he entered Myongji university
Myongji University
Myongji University was founded in 1948 and is located in South Korea. It provides higher education in the fields of engineering, sciences and humanities. It has two campuses; one in downtown Seoul, and the other in Yongin, 35km south of Seoul...
. An impressionable youngster as he was, he used to burst into tears while singing some topical songs from a collection of musical score book ‘Young Christ’ that dealt with the plight of underprivileged class. His encounter with the songs of Kim Min Gi and Handol, who were admired by many student activists led him to join a club for topical songs.In 1984, as a member of ‘Union of Echoes’, a group of activists & singers composed of students from many colleges, he took part in the production of a topical-song-musical album ‘Gaedongi(개똥이)’. He also joined in the making of the first album of ‘Noraerul Chanun Saramdul –Song Seekers’ under the initiative of Kim Min Gi, along with other major figures of college clubs of songs for activism. He joined the army in January 1985, and during the years of military service, he decided to pursue the career path of a musician. Discharged from the army, he returned to school, and he performed in the first concert of ‘Noraerul Channun Saramdul’ which was held at the Centennial Memorial Hall of Korean Christian Missionary in October 1987. At the concert he was applauded with fervent enthusiasm from the audience, emerging as the key member of the group. He was invited to many major political gatherings and cultural events, where he actively participated.
Band Dongmulwon Years
In the summer of 1987, Kim Gwang Seok and other student musicians he affiliated with recorded some practice pieces, which drew attention of Kim Chang Wan, the leader of a rock band ‘Sanwoolim’, a major figure in Korean popular music. Impressed by the quality of the record, he arranged the production of record, which was released in 1988 with the title of ‘Dongmulwon-The Zoo’. Members of ‘Dongmulwon’, including Kim Kwang-Seok, were astonished at the explosive sales of their first album, many of which tracks recorded mega hits. Songs such as ‘On the street’, ‘I’m another guy loving you’, ‘Writing a letter on the cloudy sky of autumn’, ‘Hyehwa-dong’ portrayed emotions of young people in a manner that distinguished them from those of mainstream pop music, which was tarnished by humdrums and commercialism. In response to the enthusiastic support of fans, Kim Kwang-Seok and Dongmulwon held numerous times of concert.Solo career
Encouraged by the unexpected success of Dongmulwon, Kim Kwang-Seok released his first solo album in October 1989, which was followed by another two consecutive albums in 1991 and 1992, in which he made a number of hit songs including ‘Love has gone(사랑했지만)’ and ‘Song of my life(나의 노래)’. Unlike many other entertainers, he earned his fame by singing at concerts along with release of records rather than appearing in TV music show. “I’m still unused to the popularity that I gained, but I rather enjoy it.” He spoke to reporter after getting off to a flying start, “Nevertheless, I’m also afraid that my confidence in the power of songs to affect people’s life is growing weaker, as I prosper.” Later, he tried to get closer to audiences by holding more concerts than before. In July 1993, he celebrated 10th anniversary of his own debut by holding a month-long concert. Also, he released a remake album of Korean folk rock, initiating fads of remake among Korean singers.With his 4th studio album released in 1994, his musical talent was consummated. This album was monumental not only in his career but also in the history of Korean popular music. He kept on singing at concerts, marking a thousand times of concert in August 1995. In the same year he made concert tour around the country, which extended abroad to hold concerts at University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and Merkin Concert Hall
Merkin Concert Hall
Merkin Concert Hall is a 449-seat concert hall in Manhattan, New York City. The hall, named in honor of Hermann and Ursula Merkin, is part of the Kaufman Center, a complex that includes the Lucy Moses School, a community arts school, and the Special Music School , a New York City public school for...
in Manhattan. He preferred small concert halls to be in closer contact with audiences, setting a trend of concert in small theatres around Daehangno
Daehangno
Daehangno is a neighborhood in Seoul north of the Han River within Jongno-gu and Seodaemun-gu.Formerly known as Sunggyobang , meaning "high respect for teaching", its current name was designated when the 1.1km six-lane road from Hyehwa-dong rotary to Ihwadong crossroad was designated as a...
in Seoul, a Korean equivalent of Broadway.
Death and Beyond
After his suicide, allegations were made, all of which were unsubstantiated. Events and projects have been organized in commemoration of Kim Kwang-Seok ever since his death. A tribute concert has been held annually by singers across musical genres including rock and roll and hip-hop, and his albums sell steadily, marking 5 million copies as of January 2007. On 6 January 2008, the 12th anniversary of his death, a memorial relief sculpture was unveiled at the concert hall where he held a thousand times of concert, drawing many fans remembering him. In November 2010, more than 20 artists, designers, and sculptors made collective work of mural to the memory of Kim Kwang-Seok in the city of Daegu, where he spent his early years.Critics and reporters analyze his legacy and persisting fervor for his music in numerous articles and books such as ‘Biography of Kim Kwang-Seok, an unsent message’ by Lee Yoon-Ock and ‘The 100 masterpiece albums of Korean Popular Music’ by Park Joon-Hum et al. From the perspective of history of Korean popular music, he is the direct descendent as well as the successor of Korean topical folk rock, which was initiated by Han Dae-Su and flourished with songs of Kim Min-Gi, Jung Tae-Choon, and arguably Cho Dong-Jin in early 1970s under the harsh rule of the dictator Park Chung Hee, who was in power from 1961 to 1979. However, even though Kim Kwang-Seok’s music was clearly rooted in social issues in his early years of career, he also empathized with sorrow and frustration of individuals, which had been downplayed in the struggle for democracy. Around the late 80s and early 90s, with the improvement of democracy in Korean society, young generations began to turn their attention from collectivism and community to individualism and experiences of contemporary peers. He illustrated the lives of people with loving eyes, but stayed in composure. Lee Joo-Yup, a music critic argues that his songs portrayed individuals who are constantly hovering around the border of pessimism and optimism, but sublimated the self consciousness that never give up the strain of facing the reality. “Standing in the midst of darkness of night, I can’t see even an inch ahead, where I am going, where I am standing, uselessly looked around, drifting over the river of life like floating weed, I may perish away at unknown river bank, stand up, stand up, give it a try, stand up, stand up, like the sprouts in Spring” (Stand up)Discography
- Anthology 1
- 김광석 5th Classic
- Collection：My Way／Story Three - 달
- Collection：My Way／Story Two - 바람
- Collection：My Way／Story One - 편지
- 4집 - 일어나 김광석
- 인생이야기
- 다시 부르기 1
- 다시 부르기 2
- 노래이야기
- 3집 - 김광석 3
- 2집 - 김광석 2
- 김광석 1 + 2
- 1집 - 김광석 1
Film soundtrack
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