Legendary Singer Song Dae-kwan Passes Away at 79

Renowned singer Song Dae-kwan (송대관), aged 79, passed away on February 7 due to a heart attack. He was rushed to the emergency room at Seoul National University Hospital early that morning but unfortunately did not survive. Song had undergone a gastrectomy in 2019 and had been struggling with health issues since then. His funeral will be held at the Seoul National University Hospital funeral hall.

Born in Taeseong-ri, Taein-myeon, Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, Song made his debut in the music industry in 1967 with the song 'Injeong Manheun Ajeossi' (인정 많은 아저씨), but faced a long period of obscurity. His career took off in 1975 with the release of 'Haetdeul Nal' (해뜰 날), which became a massive hit and earned him the title of Singer of the Year.

He continued to enjoy popularity with hits like 'Ne Bakja' (네박자) in 1998 and 'Yuhyeongga' (유행가) in 2003, solidifying his status as a beloved figure in the Korean music scene.

In addition to his musical legacy, Song was the grandson of independence activist Song Yeong-geun (송영근). Last year, he shared on a radio show, "In a way, it’s a sad story. The torture and suffering my grandfather endured are truly heartbreaking, but the next generation can take pride in the fact that his contributions led to Korea's liberation."

His grandfather, Song Yeong-geun, participated in the March 1st Movement in 1919, where he was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1990, along with a presidential citation in 1982.