On the morning of July 24, at the ARKO Kkumbat Theater in Daehangno, Jongno District, Seoul, the portrait of the late singer and playwright Kim Min-ki, who passed away on July 21 at the age of 73, was briefly present.
As it left, people spontaneously began singing “Achim Isul (morning dew),” a song written and composed by Kim that became a symbolic anthem for pro-democracy protesters against authoritarian regimes in the 1970s and 1980s.
The sound of sobbing could be heard from various corners, and someone shouted, “We love you, teacher!”
Actors Jang Hyun-sung and Sul Kyung-gu, who had performed in the musical “Line 1,” directed by the deceased, continuously wiped away their tears.
Kim was laid to rest amid the farewells of his family, friends, and citizens. The funeral ceremony was held at Seoul National University Hospital on the same day. There was no separate memorial service.
After the funeral ceremony, before heading to his final resting place at Cheonan Park Cemetery in South Chungcheong Province, the late Kim’s 추천 portrait was brought to the front yard of Hakchon Theater, which he founded in 1991 and nurtured for 33 years.
This area, where he planted trees and flowers to commemorate Hakchon’s 30th anniversary in 2021, now thrives with greenery. The courtyard wall features a memorial stone for singer Kim Kwang-seok and busts of playwright Volker Ludwig and composer Birger Heymann, the original creators of the musical “Line 1.”
Singer Park Haki, actors Choi Duk-moon, Bae Seong-woo, director Bang Eun-jin, and honorary professor Yoo Hong-jun of Myongji University were among those who gathered around the theater to bid farewell to Kim.
Choung Byoung-gug, chairman of the Arts and Council Korea, who succeeded Kim in running the ARKO Kkumbat Theater, and Kim’s fans were also present from early on. Actor Hwang Jung-min arrived later to pay his respects.
Upon arriving at the theatre, the bereaved family placed Kim’s portrait in a small flowerbed next to the yard and observed a moment of silence. The flowerbed was adorned with flowers, makgeolli, beer, and soju left by citizens in honor of Kim.
After the hearse left the narrow street in front of the theater, Lee In-kwon, a member of the “Line 1” performance band, played the late Kim’s song, “Beautiful Person,” on the saxophone, turning the sobs into wails.