Hakchon Theater founder Kim Min-ki dies at the age of 73

Singer, songwriter and playwright Kim Min-ki / Yonhap

By Lee Gyu-lee

Singer-songwriter and playwright Kim Min-ki, who ran the Hakchon Theater in Seoul’s Daehangno theater street, died on Sunday. Kim was 73 years old.

He was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year and battled the disease before passing away.

Kim was born in 1951 in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, and began his music career in 1969 while studying art at Seoul National University. He formed the folk music duo Dobidoo with his high school friend Kim Yeong-se.

The following year, he wrote and composed “Achim Isul,” which means “morning dew” in English. The song, which was featured on singer Yang Hee-eun’s 1971 debut album, became the symbolic anthem of pro-democracy protesters as it was widely sung during protests against authoritarian regimes in the 1970s and 1980s.

His music career was subject to heavy censorship under the regime. His eponymous 1971 debut album was confiscated by the government shortly after its release and banned from sale, along with a number of his songs such as “A Song of an Old Soldier” and “Sangnoksu” (Evergreen Tree).

While working in a sewing factory and a coal mine to make ends meet, Kim continued his music career and formed the singing group People Seeking Songs in 1984 to release a project album.

A construction worker takes down the signs for the Hakchon Theater in Jongno District, central Seoul, on March 31. Korea Times photo by Jeong Da-bin

He was also active in the theater scene, producing works such as the musical “Light of a Factory.” He found his way into the Daehangno theater scene when he founded the Hakchon Theater Company and its theater in 1991, and discovered numerous musical talents through live performances, such as singers Kim Kwang-seok, Yoon Do-hyun, and Jung Jae-il.

In 1994 he created the musical “Line 1”, an adaptation of the German musical “Line 1” by Volker Ludwig. The musical was a great success and became the troupe’s most popular work. By last year, over 8,000 performances had been given and over 700,000 tickets had been sold.

The play served as a springboard for many acting stars, including Sol Kyung-gu, Hwang Jung-min and Cho Seung-woo.

The Hakchon Theater became a venue for various music concerts and plays, including musicals created by Kim.

Since 2004, Kim has focused on developing children’s games such as “We Are Friends” and “Gochujang Tteokbokki”.

The theater had been struggling financially for years. In March of this year, due to financial problems and Kim’s health, it was decided to close the theater permanently after 33 years of operation. Over the decades, the theater has produced about 359 works.

Kim won the Grand Prize and the Best Director Award in the Theater category at the 2001 Baeksang Arts Awards for his work on the musical “Blood Brothers.” He was awarded the Goethe Medal by the German government for the musical “Line 1.”

His funeral will be held at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul’s Jongno district until Wednesday. His family will visit the Hakchon Theater and the nearby square with the coffin before leaving for the burial site on Wednesday morning.