Godfather of Korean Soul Park In-soo Passes Away at 78, Leaving Behind the Iconic ‘Spring Rain’

Veteran singer Park In-soo, often hailed as the godfather of Korean soul music, has passed away at the age of 78.

According to the music industry on the 18th, Park In-soo passed away earlier this morning at a university hospital in Seoul. He had been battling Alzheimer's disease for a long time and was receiving treatment when his condition worsened due to pneumonia.

Born in 1947 in Gilju, North Pyongan Province, Park In-soo was separated from his mother during the Korean War while fleeing by train. Left alone, he spent his childhood in various orphanages until he was adopted to the United States at age twelve with the help of an American missionary.

After returning to Korea, Park began performing on the Eighth United States Army stage, drawing attention for his soulful vocals and English-language performances. In the late 1960s, he joined the legendary Shin Joong-hyun's musical collective.

Park In-soo rose to stardom in 1970 with 'Spring Rain' ("Bombi"), written and composed by Shin Joong-hyun. He went on to release numerous hits, including 'Bell-bottoms,' 'Funk Broadway,' 'Suspicious Love,' 'Flowers and Butterflies,' and 'Have You Ever Cried Looking at the Stars?'.

Among his most beloved songs, 'Have You Ever Cried Looking at the Stars?' touched the hearts of many as it expressed his longing for his mother, from whom he was separated during the Korean War. The song's popularity led to a dramatic reunion with his mother in 1983.

However, in the mid-1970s, Park's career was hindered by involvement in a marijuana scandal. From the mid-1990s, his health deteriorated due to hypoglycemia and Parkinson's disease, forcing him to step away from the stage. During his hiatus, he also underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer in 2002.

In 2012, Park In-soo shared updates about his life through KBS's 'Human Theater' ("Ingan Geukjang"). That year, he made headlines by reuniting with his ex-wife, Kwak Bok-hwa, after 37 years apart, and even held a comeback performance at a jazz club in Mapo.

Sadly, Park had not been able to continue his music career in recent years due to declining health, and news of his passing has deeply saddened fans and the music community.

Photo Credit: KBS

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Myung Heesuk. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.