South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late, iconic musician Shin Hae Chul on the 11th anniversary of his passing.
On October 26, the president posted a message on his personal Facebook, remembering the rock legend, often called the 'King of Darkness' by fans for his philosophical lyrics and powerful stage presence.
"It has already been 11 years," President Lee wrote. "The late Shin Hae Chul, a musician and conscience of the era, was a symbolic figure who awakened the 'power to think' in youth and the 'courage to reflect' in the older generation." He continued, "The questions he threw at the world were never light. He directly confronted the imperfect reality... telling us to choose courage instead of fear. He held the hands of the isolated with his music and walked in step with the wounded."
President Lee also shared a quote from the recently deceased actor Robert Redford, "Art, not politics, is the power of healing," adding, "The free and just world he (Shin Hae Chul) dreamed of... is still a task before us. I believe the message of his life will be a lamp that lights our way forward."
This public tribute is not the only connection between the president and the late singer. Photographer Kang Young Ho, who worked on Lee's presidential campaign posters, recently revealed a powerful, unseen photo that quickly became a hot topic.
On October 23, Kang posted a photo to his Instagram showing President Lee wearing one of Shin Hae Chul's actual stage outfits. "In 2022, after the presidential poster photo shoot, then-candidate Lee Jae Myung personally accepted my private request," Kang explained. "He wore one of Shin Hae Chul's stage outfits, a memento that I had been keeping."
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