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Kang Seung-sik, Pioneer of Korean Folk and Pop Music, Dies at 72
Kang Seung‑sik, the voice that helped shape Korean folk and pop for four decades, passed away on July 19, 2026 at the age of 72. The Seoul‑born singer‑songwriter died in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, after complications from sepsis triggered by low blood pressure, according to industry reports and Yonhap. His death marks the loss of a musician whose influence stretched from intimate coffee‑house performances to the studios that produced some of Korea’s most enduring pop songs.
Born in Seoul in 1954, Kang cut his teeth on the acoustic‑guitar stages of Myeongdong’s music cafés in the early 1970s, a period when Korean popular music was still finding its voice. He officially debuted in 1974 with the self‑written single “One Day, Two Days, Three Days.” The record, released on a modest label, resonated with listeners and positioned him as a respected singer‑songwriter in the nascent folk‑pop scene. Subsequent releases such as “Don’t Forget My Heart” and “Twilight” solidified his reputation, earning him recognition as one of the country’s most sincere vocalists and lyricists.
Kang’s impact extended far beyond his own recordings. He was a prolific composer, penning signature tracks for fellow artists. Jang Eun‑suk’s hits “Let’s Dance” and “Your First Love” were both written by Kang, and they became staples of Korean radio in the 1980s. In 1990, he founded River Production and Mono Planning, production companies that produced albums for notable performers including Park Sang‑gyu’s Wild Horse and Kang Young‑suk’s With an Empty Heart. Music critic Park Seong‑seo has observed that Kang “expanded the realm of Korean popular music by not only performing on stage but also engaging in creation and production,” a testament to his dual role as artist and architect of the industry.
In 1992, Kang relocated to the United States and hosted a music program on a Korean‑American radio station in Los Angeles, bringing Korean pop to a diaspora audience. A diagnosis of stomach cancer prompted his return to Korea in 2003, where he expressed a desire to give back to his homeland. Back in Jeonju and Wanju, he served as head of the Jeonbuk branch of the Korea Singers Association and the Jeonbuk Singers Association, dedicating himself to nurturing local musicians while battling illness. His mentorship helped launch the careers of several regional artists who credit him with opening doors to national stages.
Kang is survived by his wife, singer Yang Mi‑kyung, and their three sons and a daughter. A funeral service will be held at VIP Room 402 in Geumseong Funeral Hall in Jeonju, with a procession scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 21. His legacy endures in the songs he wrote, the artists he produced, and the musicians he mentored across Jeonbuk. For more than forty years, Kang Seung‑sik remained a steadfast figure in Korea’s musical history, bridging the acoustic intimacy of folk with the expansive reach of pop.
Born in Seoul in 1954, Kang cut his teeth on the acoustic‑guitar stages of Myeongdong’s music cafés in the early 1970s, a period when Korean popular music was still finding its voice. He officially debuted in 1974 with the self‑written single “One Day, Two Days, Three Days.” The record, released on a modest label, resonated with listeners and positioned him as a respected singer‑songwriter in the nascent folk‑pop scene. Subsequent releases such as “Don’t Forget My Heart” and “Twilight” solidified his reputation, earning him recognition as one of the country’s most sincere vocalists and lyricists.
Kang’s impact extended far beyond his own recordings. He was a prolific composer, penning signature tracks for fellow artists. Jang Eun‑suk’s hits “Let’s Dance” and “Your First Love” were both written by Kang, and they became staples of Korean radio in the 1980s. In 1990, he founded River Production and Mono Planning, production companies that produced albums for notable performers including Park Sang‑gyu’s Wild Horse and Kang Young‑suk’s With an Empty Heart. Music critic Park Seong‑seo has observed that Kang “expanded the realm of Korean popular music by not only performing on stage but also engaging in creation and production,” a testament to his dual role as artist and architect of the industry.
In 1992, Kang relocated to the United States and hosted a music program on a Korean‑American radio station in Los Angeles, bringing Korean pop to a diaspora audience. A diagnosis of stomach cancer prompted his return to Korea in 2003, where he expressed a desire to give back to his homeland. Back in Jeonju and Wanju, he served as head of the Jeonbuk branch of the Korea Singers Association and the Jeonbuk Singers Association, dedicating himself to nurturing local musicians while battling illness. His mentorship helped launch the careers of several regional artists who credit him with opening doors to national stages.
Kang is survived by his wife, singer Yang Mi‑kyung, and their three sons and a daughter. A funeral service will be held at VIP Room 402 in Geumseong Funeral Hall in Jeonju, with a procession scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 21. His legacy endures in the songs he wrote, the artists he produced, and the musicians he mentored across Jeonbuk. For more than forty years, Kang Seung‑sik remained a steadfast figure in Korea’s musical history, bridging the acoustic intimacy of folk with the expansive reach of pop.