Legendary Singer Han Myung-sook Passes Away at 90

Han Myung-sook (한명숙), the iconic singer known for her hit song '노오란 샤쓰의 사나이' (The Man in the Yellow Shirt), has passed away at the age of 90 on January 22, 2025. The veteran artist had been suffering from chronic health issues. In a touching tribute, fellow singer Hyunmi (현미) mentioned Han during her performance of the same song on KBS2's '불후의 명곡' (Immortal Songs), expressing her sorrow over Han's condition and reminiscing about their shared history performing together at the U.S. military base.

Born in 1935 in Jin-nam-po, North Korea, Han Myung-sook began her singing career after moving to the South and joining the Taeyang Theatre Company. Her career took a significant turn in the 1960s when she collaborated with composer Son Seok-woo (손석우), who provided her with the song '노오란 샤쓰의 사나이' in 1961, which catapulted her to fame. The song was not only a massive hit but also inspired a film the following year, in which she starred as the lead.

Han was recognized as the first 'Hallyu Star' due to her international activities, including a notable performance in 1963 when French chanson singer Yvette Giraud sang her hit in Korean during a concert in South Korea. Despite undergoing a serious vocal surgery, Han released over 300 songs throughout her career and received numerous accolades, including the National Culture Medal in 2000 and a commendation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2010.

Her funeral will be held at the Catholic University of Korea's St. Vincent Hospital in Suwon.