Kwak Sang (Kim Kwang-seok) Remembered: Songs Still Speak as “My Story” 30 Years On
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
In Seoul, musicians and fans gathered near the old Hakjeon Blue Theater on the eve of folk singer Kim Kwang-seok’s 30th memorial. The tribute concert “Meeting Kwak Sang Again” featured artists across generations performing his well‑known songs like “Around Thirty” (서른 즈음에), “On the Street” (거리에서), and “Becoming Dust” (먼지가 되어). Performers, including Park Hak‑ki, Yuri Sangja, Ali, and the band Dongmulwon, revisited Kim’s music—sometimes duetting with archival live footage—highlighting how his honest, unadorned singing still resonates as personal stories for listeners. A limited LP tribute album “Goodbye, Kwak Sang hyung” (안녕, 광석이형) with contributions from fellow musicians and 101 fans was also released, showing his songs cross generations. Organizers will hold a song contest at the same venue to explore how Kim’s songs are interpreted today, and a foundation is planned to continue memorial projects. The article emphasizes that Kim’s simple, sincere style remains a touchstone in Korean folk and ballad traditions.
