Article Reflection No. 13 (6/9/2022)

Article: Song Hae, Who Survived War and Poverty to Become a Beloved TV Host, Dies at 95

A powerful force, bringing people across nations together to celebrate South Korean culture. Mr. Song Hae, 95, passed away at home on June 8, 2022, leaving a legacy of hope and passion. According to journalist Victoria Kim, Mr. Hae escaped his home in 1950, not wanting to be drafted for the North side of the Korean War. He has endured deaths of loving family members, made friends across countries, and brought much laughter to many families each Sunday. Referring to interpersonal connections Song Hae held within various communities through his show “National Singing Contest”, Kim shares a quote from a 2015 biography of Mr. Hae: “ ‘As a refugee who fled south during the Korean War, there [was] a loneliness that [was] wedged in his heart like a knot. He [had] no problem connecting with anyone, from a 3-year-old to a 115-year-old, from a country woman to a college professor, from a shopkeeper to a C.E.O’ ” (Kim 1).

For over 30 years, he led a traditional show enjoyed on the national and global scale with “his cheeky grin and folksy wisecracks” (Kim 1). I truly hope Mr. Song Hae rests peacefully and happily.

Photo Credit: Rakuten Viki