A Tearful Farewell to the Eternal Diva, Hyunmi

The funeral procession departs from the Chung-Ang University Hospital funeral hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the morning of April 11. Yonhap News

The funeral ceremony for the veteran singer Hyunmi (real name Kim Myung-seon) was held at the Chung-Ang University Hospital funeral hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the morning of April 11. The late singer’s family including niece Noh Sa-yeon and nephew Han Sang-jin and fellow celebrities including Han Ji-il, Yang Ji-won and Nam Il-hae were there to see her off one last time.

Comedian Lee Yong-sik, who handled the ceremony proceedings said, “I think Hyunmi’s concert celebrating her 70thanniversary of her debut as a singer will be a concert in heaven, hosted by Song Hae.” Lee Ja-yeon, the chair of the Korea Singers Association said, “I hope she realizes the dreams that have yet to come true in heaven by becoming the most beautiful and the biggest star among the countless stars, a star that shines eternally,” in her lamentation.

Singers Park Sang-min and Ali praised the late singer in their eulogies and the singers Lee Ja-yeon, Ali, Suh Soo-nam, and Moon Hee-ok together sang Hyunmi’s popular song, “Leave Without Words.”

The song, which was released in 1964, was one of the late singer’s popular hits, particularly for its sad lyrics, “Oh, when was that day. The rain falling / How am I supposed to soothe this piercing longing / Leave without words, without words, go.” After the song, the bereaved family and Suh Soo-nam, who was in charge of the funeral, offered flowers.

Hyunmi was found on the floor of her home in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the morning of April 4. She was transported to a nearby hospital, but passed away. Her funeral was conducted in the form of a funeral for members of the Korea Singers Association for five days starting April 7. Her family will take her body to the U.S. after the funeral ceremony.

The late singer was born in Kangdong County (currently Pyongyang), South Pyongan Province in 1938. She debuted as a member of the Hyun Sisters on a stage in the Eighth U.S. Army in 1957 and rose to stardom with “Night Fog,” an adaptation of “It’s a Lonesome Old Town” in 1962. She later enjoyed huge popularity from the 1960s and was evaluated as a diva who raised the class of the South Korean singing industry. She created a number of hit songs with the late Lee Bong-jo, a songwriter and saxophonist who saw Hyunmi’s talent early on. The couple had two sons, Lee Yeong-gon and Lee Yeong-jun.