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| ▲ This photo shows a portrait of entertainer Song Hae displayed at an altar at Seoul National Hospital in the South Korean capital on June 8, 2022. Song, who had hosted KBS-TV's national singing contest since 1988, passed away at 95 in Seoul the same day. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap) |
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▲ This photo shows Yoo Jae-suk and Cho Sae-ho paying their respects to the late TV host Song Hae at his altar at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul on June 8, 2022. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap) |
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▲ This photo shows the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit (shown on the altar) awarded to Song Hae. (Pool Photo) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- Tributes have been flooding for Song Hae, the late TV host who passed away on Wednesday morning at 95.
As the late Song was loved by the public as a "national emcee" during his lifetime, a large number of people from the broadcasting, music, and political circles visited his altar in the early afternoon of Wednesday.
Yoo Jae-suk and Cho Sae-ho, who visited the funeral hall at 3:48 p.m. on the 8th, paid their tributes for about an hour and left the altar without saying much.
Trot singers such as Seol Woon-do, Jang Min-ho, and Jeong Dong-won followed, and senior comedians Shim Hyung-rae, Kim Hak-rae, and Lee Yong-sik stayed for a long time to protect the altar.
In front of the altar were flowers sent by people from all walks of life, including President Yoon Suk-yeol, comedian Yoo Jae-suk, Lim Ha-ryong, Nam Hee-seok, Ji Sang-ryeol, Cho Sae-ho, singers Na Hoon-a, Lee Mi-ja, Seol Woon-do, Yoo Hee-yeol, Song Ga-in, actor Ma Dong-seok, KBS President, Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon, Foreign Minister Park Jin, and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum.
Singer Kim Heung-guk paid tribute to the late TV host, by saying, "The one who is most respected by our juniors," adding, "The sight of him holding a microphone until the end of his age and traveling around the country became a great example to us."
The singer recalled that the late Song's hometown is North Korea, and mourned, "He should have gone to his hometown, but I'm most disappointed that he couldn't."
"There is no one in the world who was so active until that age. He was unique," said singer Cho Young-nam, shaking his lips while paying tribute to the late Song.
Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon paid his respects to the late TV host Song Hae at his altar and delivered the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit (shown on the altar) awarded by President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Minister Park expressed his condolences, "Song has brightened the lives of the people and warmed our society. He has become a legend in his lifetime," adding, "The whole nation will miss Song Hae a lot."
(This article is translated from Korean to English by An Hayeon.)
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