Trot singer Hyun Cheol of “Garden Balsam Love” dies at the age of 82

SEOUL, July 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Trot singer Hyun Cheol, known for his hit song “Garden Balsam Love,” has died of a chronic illness at the age of 82, his friend said on Tuesday.

Composer Jeong Won-su, who previously worked as Hyun Cheol’s manager, confirmed that the singer passed away on Monday afternoon.

Hyun Cheol, real name Kang Sang-soo, was born in 1942 and made his singing debut at the age of 27 with the song “My Heartless Love”.

However, it took many years for him to gain widespread recognition in the music industry.

His breakthrough came with hit singles such as “I Think of You Whenever I Sit or Stand” and “Love Is Like a Butterfly”.

Hyun Cheol’s career peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1989, he won the grand prize at the KBS Year-End Music Awards for his song “Garden Balsam Love,” which was released the previous year. The following year, he repeated this success and won the same award for his song “Not Anymore.”

In recent years, Hyun Cheol has struggled with health issues. A few years ago, he had to undergo surgery for a herniated disc in his cervical spine, which reportedly caused nerve damage and required prolonged treatment.

Hyun Cheol leaves behind a son and a daughter.

(Currant)