Kim Min-ki

Kim Min-ki is a singer, composer, and playwright. He was born on March 31, 1951, in Iri, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. He relocated with his family to Seoul in 1963, where he studied fine arts. Kim Min-ki first gained recognition in 1970 with his composition "Morning Dew," performed by Yang Hee-eun. The song became a hit, establishing him as an important figure in the integration of Korean folk and pop music. Throughout the early 1970s, Kim Min-ki released nine albums, including the Norae Undong (1972). However, in 1975, the South Korean government censored his music, banning its public performance and halting his recording activities under his own name. During this time, he turned to playwriting and composed music for films. After the lifting of performance restrictions on his work in 1987, Kim Min-ki's theatrical career became very successful. He founded the Hakchon theater troupe and in 1994, adapted the German rock musical Linie 1 for Korean audiences. His career continued to be celebrated over the years. In 2004, there was a 6 CD box set named Past Life of Kim Min-ki which compiled his most important works. He received the Goethe Medal in 2007 and the prestigious Eungwan Order of Cultural Merit in 2018.

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