The Sinchon area in Seoul is one of the city’s representative bustling districts. Centered around Sinchon Crossroad, it has been a place where culture has flourished, especially given its proximity to major universities in South Korea, including Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Sogang University, and Hongik University.
Sinchon and Hongdae are also well-known for being frequented by various musicians. In Changcheon Culture Park, a small park behind Hyundai Department Store near Sinchon Crossroad, you can find a statue dedicated to one of the most influential artists in the history of South Korean music, Kim Hyun-sik.
“Sinchon Changcheon Culture Park, Kim Hyun-sik Statue”
Kim Hyun-sik was a singer who led the first wave of the heyday of popular music in the 1980s, alongside notable figures like Yoo Jae-ha, Lee Moon-sae, Kim Kwang-seok, Jo Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, Byun Jin-sub, Jeon Young-rok, and Deulgookhwa. He played a significant role in advancing underground music and became a legendary figure who rose above the surface.
However, he passed away at the young age of 32 on November 1, 1990, due to liver cirrhosis, leaving behind a void in the music world.
“Representative Songs of Kim Hyun-sik”
Kim Hyun-sik left behind a variety of representative songs that adorned the era, including:
- Like Rain, Like Music
- My Love Beside Me
- Making Memories
- I Loved You
Though he lived a short life, he was a singer who influenced an entire era of popular music, and his statue in Sinchon stands as a tribute to his enduring presence in that area.