CBS Radio’s “Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show” opened with a tribute to renowned music critic Kim Young-dae following news of his sudden passing.
On the Dec. 26 broadcast, host Kim said, “It’s the coldest day of the winter, and my heart feels just as cold,” adding that about 30 minutes after a pre-taped Christmas carol special with Kim aired, the team received the unthinkable news of his death.
The Christmas special featuring Kim had been recorded last week and aired the day prior, leaving listeners shocked and saddened when the obituary surfaced afterward. The show clarified that the episode was pre-recorded and offered its deepest condolences.
Kim also apologized again for any confusion and shared personal memories. “We only saw each other once or twice a year for specials, but he was always so bright and candid,” she recalled. “We’re the same age, and we even joked about just being friends.”
“He recently gave me a book―so thick that I asked how he managed it,” she continued. “He smiled and said, ‘It just kept growing; I poured everything into it.’ Knowing now that it became his final work, those words keep echoing, and it breaks my heart.”
Kim Young-dae was a leading voice in K-pop and popular music, known for analyzing the global rise of acts like BTS. He served as a commentator for Korean broadcasts of major U.S. awards shows including the Billboard Music Awards and the Grammy Awards, while maintaining a busy slate of TV appearances, a YouTube channel, and multiple books.
Last month, he released “The Songwriters: From Yoo Jae-ha to IU, The Languages of Love Written in Song” through publisher Munhakdongne and had been promoting the title.
Kim died on Dec. 24 at age 48. A cause of death has not been disclosed. The wake is at Chung-Ang University Hospital Funeral Hall, Room 6; the funeral will be held Dec. 27 at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Seoul Memorial Park, with interment to follow at Peaceful Rest (Heukseok-dong Catholic Church).
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)