Tributes Pour in for Late Singer Song Dae-kwan at His Funeral

On February 9, 2025, a funeral service was held for the late singer Song Dae-kwan (송대관), who passed away on February 7 at the age of 79. The service took place at the Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where fellow artists and friends gathered to pay their respects. Among those in attendance were Tae Jin-ah (태진아), Kang Jin (강진), Seol Woon-do (설운도), Kim Chang-yeol (김창열), Han Ji-il (한지일), Kim Sung-hwan (김성환), Lee Sook (이숙), and Park Sang-cheol (박상철).

Tae Jin-ah delivered a heartfelt eulogy, recalling how Song Dae-kwan had always been a mentor to him, saying, "He would tell me, 'Just follow my path, and you will succeed.'" Overcome with emotion, Tae Jin-ah shared that he had not eaten for three days, reflecting on how difficult it was to imagine performing without his friend. He also mentioned his wife's struggle with dementia and how she reacted to the news of Song's passing, expressing disbelief and sorrow.

Tae Jin-ah reminisced about their plans for a joint performance in May, stating, "We had just discussed doing a rival dinner show together, and he was excited about it. We were even finalizing the setlist the day before he passed."

As he concluded his tribute, Tae Jin-ah expressed his hope that Song would find peace in the afterlife, saying, "Please create a good place for me to come to you one day. Goodbye, my eternal rival."

Kang Jin also shared his thoughts, stating, "I already miss him and wonder why he had to leave so soon. He was a natural-born singer who brought joy to the people through his music. We will forever remember him shining on stage." He wished for Song to rest peacefully and continue watching over them from above.

The funeral service concluded with Song Dae-kwan's burial at the Utopia Memorial Park in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, following a brief ceremony at the Seoul Memorial Park. Song Dae-kwan had suffered from cholangiocarcinoma and had been undergoing treatment prior to his passing, which was due to a heart attack. He made his debut in 1967 with the hit song "Injeong Manheun Ajeossi" and was known for numerous hits including "Haetdeulnal," "Yuhyeongga," and "Ne Bakja." He was often referred to as one of the 'Four Kings of Trot' alongside Tae Jin-ah, Seol Woon-do, and the late Hyun Chul (현철).