On the evening of the 5th at 8:30 PM, KBS2TV's 'Celebrity Soldier's Secret' delved into the life trajectory of Shin Hae-chul, a pioneer in South Korea's popular music history, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his final days.
During the broadcast, critic Bae Soon-tak reminisced about Shin Hae-chul as a hero who had the greatest impact on his life, revealing the backstory of the 1988 college song festival grand prize-winning song 'To You.'
Despite facing intense opposition from his family at the time, Shin Hae-chul completed the prelude with a small melodion purchased from a stationery store while under a blanket. This genius anecdote left Oh My Girl's Hyojung deeply impressed. Additionally, Shin Hae-chul was a pioneer who released the first MIDI album in Korea, generously sharing expensive equipment and know-how with numerous juniors like Seo Taiji and Psy. He also chose freedom of expression over appearance fees when hosting radio shows, showcasing his true artist spirit.
However, the process of his death, hidden behind his brilliant musical achievements, shocked the participants. In 2014, Shin Hae-chul visited a hospital for intestinal stenosis surgery but was subjected to an unauthorized gastric reduction surgery by the surgeon, receiving the bizarre notification, "You won't be able to eat much after the surgery." The autopsy later revealed the unbelievable finding of sesame seeds, a food substance, inside the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. Specialist Lee Nak-jun pointed out the fatal issues in the surgical process, stating, "This is something that should never happen in a normal human body structure."
The participants could not contain their anger and sorrow. Lee Chan-won expressed unprecedented anger, questioning whether the surgeon viewed the patient merely as an experimental subject. Jang Do-yeon and Hyojung also shed tears in disbelief at the tragic outcome. The tragic end, contrasting with the warm anecdotes of the 'Demon King' who willingly shared his tools to reduce the trial and error for his juniors, weighed heavily on the viewers' hearts. Through the mysterious traces left in his stopped heart, the public is reminded of the loss of a great musician.
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, Ten Asia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr