25th Anniversary of NRG's Kim Hwan-sung's Passing Remembered

The 25th anniversary of the tragic passing of Kim Hwan-sung, a member of the popular K-pop group NRG, is upon us. He left the world at the young age of 19, leaving a profound sense of sorrow and shock in the entertainment industry.

Kim Hwan-sung passed away on June 16, 2000, due to an unknown viral acute respiratory illness. He was hospitalized after experiencing sudden cold symptoms but was moved to the intensive care unit three days later due to high fever and breathing difficulties. Unfortunately, he fell into a coma and did not recover.

Debuting in 1996 with the song '깨비깨비', Kim Hwan-sung began his full activities with NRG in 1997. The group gained immense popularity as a Hallyu group, especially in China, and continued to perform as a four-member group after his death.

In a 2022 episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Abadream', fellow member Chun Myung-hoon shared memories of Kim Hwan-sung's illness, recalling how his friend No Yu-min accompanied him to the hospital. No Yu-min expressed his regret, stating, "I thought he would get better after receiving IV fluids in the emergency room, but when I called the next day, he didn’t answer. A week later, I received a call from his parents." He reflected on the past, wishing he had taken Kim to a larger hospital sooner, and expressed his ongoing feelings of longing and guilt.

During the 'Abadream' episode, Kim Hwan-sung's avatar performed a rendition of 'Hit Song 2022ver.' His mother shared her emotional response, saying, "Seeing the performance felt like our Hwan-sung was briefly visiting from heaven to show me a wonderful stage. I wanted to run and hold his hand and embrace him."

After the performance, Kim Hwan-sung's AI-generated voice conveyed a heartfelt message: "To Myung-hoon, who brought me to NRG and taught me to dance, and to Yu-min, who always smiled at me, I was happy because of you both. I hope you live a life without regrets while doing what you love. Fans, please continue to support our members."

On this 25th anniversary, No Yu-min took to social media to express his sorrow, reposting a fan's message that read, "June 15 is a sad day as I especially think of our eternal maknae, Hwan-sung. I will remember you forever."