Who was Jang Kyung-soo?

Jang Kyung-soo, born in 1953 in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, was one of Korea's most prolific lyricists. He debuted in 1977 with lyrics for Yoon Soo-il's 'Kkumiyeotnabwa', composed by Ham Jung-pil. Over the following decades he wrote hits across ballads, adult contemporary, rock and dance music.

What songs did he write?

| Song | Artist | |---|---| | 'Sangcheo' | Cho Yong-pil | | 'Jeong Ttaemune' | Song Dae-kwan | | 'Kkomainhyeong' | Choi Jin-hee | | 'Cheonnyeon Bawi' | Park Jeong-sik |

According to his family, he wrote more than 1,300 songs in total.

How did he die?

The family said Jang died of liver cancer on the morning of October 29 after a period of treatment. He had appeared on television in recent years, including a 2018 KBS 2TV episode of 'Immortal Songs' and a MBN program in September of the previous year, where he spoke about collapsing during a recording session.

Funeral details

The funeral hall is Myongji Hospital Funeral Hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The funeral procession is scheduled for October 31 at 6:30 a.m., according to Yonhap News Agency.

For international fans

Cho Yong-pil is one of Korea's most influential singers, and 'Sangcheo' remains a classic many Korean listeners know by heart. Jang's catalog spans several generations of Korean pop, making his work a useful entry point for fans exploring 1980s and 1990s K-pop and trot.