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| ▲ This photo, shows the small temporary incense burner set for Song hae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, shows Song hae's portrait during his funeral on the morning of the 10th in Songhae-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, shows the orchestra of "National Singing Contest" performing for the last time with Song hae to say their goodbyes. |
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- Song Hae, the original "National MC," who has been crying and laughing with the people for nearly 70 years while travelling all around the country has passed away.
At 4:30 a.m. on the 10th, at the funeral hall of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the funeral of the late broadcaster Song Hae was held in a solemn atmosphere. About 80 family members, acquaintances, and juniors in the entertainment industry accompanied the deceased's last path.
Comedian Kim Hak-rae, the host, said, "Let's have fun even if our hearts are sad today."
Uhm Young-soo, president of the Korea-Broadcasting Comedy Association, celebrated the achievements of MC Song Hae, who met more than 10 million citizens through the "National Singing Contest."
"He didn't just talk to the performers at the 'National Singing Contest'. The places he went now became traditional markets, radish and cabbage fields, and also a Hwagae Market. He made a place for everyone to dance, sing and have fun. He was a magician who turned grandfathers and grandmothers into youth, performers and stars."
Uhm Young-soo expressed the deceased's life as "unplanned" as he went through Vietnam, Tokyo, debuted as an actor and also released an album. "Once again, just get up unplanned. I'll wait till you do," he said, and a faint smile spread across the faces of his acquaintances as they remembered his pleasant life.
Lee Yong-sik, a junior Song Hae particularly cherished, looked at the portrait placed on the podium, gulping down his tears as he said, “This is me, Yong-sik,” before reading the eulogy he had prepared.
"While you shouted the National Singing contest with many people here, I now wish you were able to shout the 'Heaven Singing Contest' in front of many stars," Lee Yong-sik said. "The chair in the gukbap place that we usually go to has now become a chair for everybody. Goodbye."
"He was a teacher,a father, and a brother for everyone for the past 70 years," said Lee Ja-yeon, the president of the Korea Singers Association. "He played a big role in making many singers into stars. I am truly grateful."
At the funeral, the sound of the deceased from "Songhae 1927," flowed out, adding to the nostalgia.
The family, who watched the funeral ceremony relatively calmly, wiped their tears at the voice of the deceased, and comedians including Kang Ho-dong and Choi Yang-rak looked at the ceiling with red eyes. When Song Hae's trademark, "National" flowed out, all the participants responded by shouting, "Singing contest."
Afterwards, Seol Un-do, Hyun-sook, Moon Hee-ok, Lee Ja-yeon, Kim Hye-yeon, Shin You, and Bae Il-ho sang the deceased's song "Morning Glory Life," while Yoo Jae-suk, Jo Se-ho, Lee Su-guen, Im Ha-ryong, Lee Sang-byeok and many more said their goodbyes.
After the funeral, the carriage, which left the funeral home, arrived at "Songhae-gil" in Nakwon-dong, Jongno-gu, where there is the gukbap house, barber shop, and sauna that Song hae often used during his lifetime. About 30 nearby merchants and residents came out ahead of time to clean the streets, and prepared the "red cap" soju that the deceased enjoyed while he was alive.
The transportation car with a portrait on the front, stopped by the office of the "Celebrity Sangnokhoe," which the deceased had used as a living room for elder celebrities during his lifetime, and the temporary incense burner has been set up in front of the Songhae Memorial Hall.
In front of the main building of KBS, the signal song of "National Singing Contest" was also played. The Shin Jae-dong Band, who had been performing the "National Singing Contest" together with Song Hae, performed the last concert with the deceased, while announcer Lim Su-min hosted the ceremony, and President Kim Eui-cheol took charge of the tribute.
President Kim Eui-cheol said, "Can you hear me? The ding-dong-dang sound of the "National Singing Contest" rang out in a park, in a large playground across the country. Your little yet strong image is still as clear as day, and the scene where you laughed with the people passes by like a flash. Please put away all the worries of the world and sleep in peace."
The remains of the deceased will be placed next to his wife Suk Ok-ee, who is buried in Songhae Park in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, which was considered his "second home" during his lifetime.
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)
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