'Expressed the joys and sorrows of life across a wide range of genres'

The late lyricist Jang Gyeong-su [Yonhap]
The late lyricist Jang Gyeong-su [Yonhap]

"Hidden behind those tear-filled eyes, the story still unhealed in my heart — the old wounds of days gone by." (from Cho Yong-pil's "Sangcheo")

"I was counting the raindrops hitting the window one by one, leaving behind only a promise for that day, however late it came." (from Choi Jin-hee's "Kkoma Inhyeong")

Jang Gyeong-su (born Jang Hui-won), the lyricist who crafted the words to Cho Yong-pil's "Sangcheo," Choi Jin-hee's "Kkoma Inhyeong" and many other beloved songs, died of liver cancer Thursday. Jang was 73.

According to Yonhap, the family said Jang "passed away this morning after battling cancer."

Born in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, in 1953, Jang entered the world of lyric writing after meeting singer Ham Jung-ah at a military reserve training session. Ham Jung-ah introduced Jang to an older sibling, composer Ham Jeong-pil, and that connection set Jang on the path to songwriting.

Jang debuted in the popular music scene in 1977 by writing the lyrics to Yoon Su-il's "Kkumieotna Bwa," composed by Ham Jeong-pil.

Over a career spanning decades, Jang wrote the words to numerous hit songs — among them Cho Yong-pil's "Sangcheo," Choi Jin-hee's "Kkoma Inhyeong," Song Dae-gwan's "Jeong Ttaemune," Yoo Mi-ri's "Jeolmeumui Note," Yoon Hee-sang's "Kaseubaui Yeonin" and Park Jeong-sik's "Cheonnyeon Bawi."

Jang wrote lyrics for more than 1,300 songs over a lifetime in music. Jang also served as the ninth president of the Korea Popular Music Writers Association and as a board member of the Korea Music Copyright Association.

A music festival named in Jang's honor — the Jang Gyeong-su Star Discovery Song Festival — had been scheduled to take place Sunday in Jang's hometown of Sokcho, but was canceled after Jang's health deteriorated in recent weeks.

Music critic Park Seong-seo said Jang "wrote lyrics across a wide range of genres, from ballads and adult contemporary to rock and dance music," adding that Jang "did not confine himself to any one genre but expressed, through song, the passion of youth, love and parting, the everyday sorrows of ordinary people, and insights into life itself."

A memorial altar has been set up at Room 8 of the Myongji Hospital Funeral Home in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. The funeral procession is scheduled to depart at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.


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