'Heartbreaking Family Story'... Late Song Hae Returns to His Family

Died at Home from Old Age at 95
Buried Next to Wife... Expressed Wish to Be Laid Beside Her
Separated from Mother and Sister During Korean War... Also Lost 20-Year-Old Son

The funeral hall for Song Hae, the longest-serving host of KBS's long-running program "National Singing Contest" and the oldest active host, was set up on the 8th at the Seoul National University Hospital funeral hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] Broadcaster Song Hae, known as the 'oldest active MC,' passed away on the 8th at the age of 95. The late Song, who had once shared his heartbreaking family story during his lifetime, will rest beside his wife, the late Mrs. Seok Ok-yi, who passed away in 2018.

He had a sorrowful family history. Born in Jaeryeong, Hwanghae Province, he was separated from his mother and younger sister during the Korean War while fleeing. In a broadcast during his lifetime, he visited the Tumen River in China and said, "I always hoped to see my mother even in my dreams. There were times when my hometown appeared faintly in my dreams," adding, "Before this long and tedious separation ends, I wish I could be held once more in my mother's arms. May she rest peacefully, having laid down her heavy burdens," expressing his longing for his family.

Additionally, in 1986, he lost his 20-year-old son in a traffic accident. He revealed that he still cannot go to Hannam Bridge, where the accident occurred, and that the grief of losing his son led him to quit his radio show, which he had hosted for 17 years, and even attempt an extreme act.

He said on a broadcast, "My son cried out 'Father, please save me' in the operating room. Watching that while standing there was very hard. He wandered in a coma for nearly ten days before passing away," and added, "After losing my son, I let go of everything." He continued, "At that time, I climbed Namsan Mountain and was possessed by an unknown force, hearing hallucinations saying, 'Why live in a world without my son?' I unknowingly ran toward a cliff," recalling, "When I came to my senses, I was caught by a pine tree. I was so embarrassed."

After overcoming his pain, he began hosting KBS 1TV's 'National Singing Contest' in 1988 and continued for 35 years until recently, establishing himself as a representative MC of South Korea. In April, he was also listed in the Guinness World Records as the 'Oldest TV music talent show host.'

His burial site was decided to be Songhae Park in Dalseong County, Daegu. This place is the hometown of his late wife, Mrs. Seok Ok-yi, who passed away in 2018, and where she is also buried. During his lifetime, he had expressed several times his wish to rest eternally alongside his wife.

As a displaced person from the northern provinces, he regarded Dalseong County, his wife's hometown, as his second hometown and served as an honorary citizen and ambassador of Dalseong County. Accordingly, in 2016, Dalseong County established 'Songhae Park,' inspired by his life.

Meanwhile, his funeral hall was set up at Seoul National University Hospital's funeral home, where many from the entertainment industry, including juniors Kim Heung-guk, Cho Young-nam, Song Ga-in, Lee Sang-byeok, and Yoo Dong-geun, as well as figures from various fields such as Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, visited to pay their respects.

President Yoon Suk-yeol posthumously awarded him the Gold Crown Cultural Medal. The Cultural Medal is awarded to individuals with distinguished contributions to the development of culture and arts and the enjoyment of culture by the public, with the 'Gold Crown' being the first-class medal. He had previously received the Silver Crown Cultural Medal (second class) in 2014.

The funeral will be held over three days as a 'Comedian's Funeral' (hosted by the President of the Korea Broadcasting Comedians Association). Eom Young-soo, President of the Korea Broadcasting Comedians Association, will serve as the funeral director, with comedians such as Yoo Jae-suk, Kang Ho-dong, and Kim Gu-ra acting as funeral committee members to accompany him on his final journey. The farewell ceremony will be held at 4:30 AM on the 10th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.