In the early 1980s, a large project called the “Libya Grand Canal” was underway to turn the Libyan desert into arable land. Dong-A Construction won the exclusive contract for the initial construction phase, leading to a massive deployment of Korean workers to Libya. In 1987, the KBS music program, Gayo Mudae, went abroad for the first time to film at the Sarir construction site in Libya. Leading singers such as Kim Se-hwan, Jo Yong-pil, Kim Yeon-ja, and Choi Jin-hee were accompanied by announcer Kim Dong-gun, who observed the societal aspects. Singer Hyun Cheol performed his debut song “Really,” followed by Nami singing “Bingle Bingle” to liven up the atmosphere.
Hyun Cheol, a middle-aged singer from Busan, sang “Thinking of You Whether Sitting or Standing,” triggering a downpour of tears among the “Middle East workers” as they recalled the faces of their parents, spouses, and children whom they hadn’t seen for years. He then sang “Love Seems Like a Butterfly,” and the men, as if on cue, sang along with tears in their eyes. His sudden popularity on TV surprised the production team, as his fame was mainly limited to cassette tapes shared within Korean families. Hyun Cheol’s former colleague Hyun Suk reminisced upon hearing news about him.
Hyun Cheol, born in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province in 1942, gained popularity in his middle age with his unwavering singing talent. After undergoing disk surgery years ago resulting in nerve damage, his health deteriorated, and he was hospitalized in critical condition due to pneumonia two months prior to his passing.
Throughout his career, Hyun Cheol released over 130 songs and was hailed as one of the four giants of trot music alongside Song Dae-kwan, Tae Jin-ah, and Sul Woon-do. Park Sung-hoon, who composed many of Hyun Cheol’s hit songs including “Love Seems Like a Butterfly” and “My Heart is Like a Star,” described him as a singer who prolonged the vitality of Korean singers and broke the norm of singers no longer performing once they reached their 30s.
Hyun Cheol’s hit songs such as “Love Seems Like a Butterfly,” “My Heart is Like a Star,” “Don’t Like, Hate,” and “The Woman I Want to See” resonated with the public and earned him recognition at KBS’ Gayo Awards for two consecutive years in 1989 and 1990. In his later years, he released “The Label of Love,” which marked a departure from his traditional image, becoming a massive hit among various age groups, including elementary school students and even political candidates.
Hyun Cheol lived his life with a promise to succeed but keep his heart empty, welcoming everyone and living earnestly. Song Hae, Hyun Cheol, and Hyun Suk, whose names combined only had six characters, were close friends in Yeouido. Hyun Suk mentioned, “My dad (Song Hae) and my brother (Hyun Cheol) used to order a bowl of soup and a bottle of soju at Yeouido Sundae Gukjip and chat, and now it feels like the two of them will meet again in heaven.”
Hyun Cheol’s final journey from the intensive care unit was witnessed by his wife, Song Ae-kyung, his son, daughter, and grandchildren. They listened to “My Heart is Like a Star” together. His wife conveyed, “He couldn’t speak, but before departing, tears endlessly flowed from his eyes.” Those tears seemed to hold hardships and glory, sadness and joy, pride and regret. His funeral was held at Seoul Asan Hospital’s funeral hall No. 1, with the funeral procession set for 8:20 AM on the 18th.