Kim Kwang-Seok - Early Life

Early Life

Kim Kwang-Seok was born in 22 January 1964, at Daebong-Dong of Daegu city, as the youngest child of a former school teacher who had been forced to leave his job on account of his involvement in teachers’ union which was banned by government. In 1968, his family moved to Seoul, the capital city of South Korea. His peers teased him about his small frame, but he was known to be a smart kid. In his middle school years in Kyunghee middle school, he joined a classical music band, where he learned to play violin, oboe, and flute and to read musical scores. In 1979 when he entered Daegwang high school, he began to sing in a school choir. He started singing at cafes for part-time job from 1982, when he entered Myongji university. An impressionable youngster as he was, he used to burst into tears while singing some topical songs from a collection of musical score book ‘Young Christ’ that dealt with the plight of underprivileged class. His encounter with the songs of Kim Min Gi and Handol, who were admired by many student activists led him to join a club for topical songs.In 1984, as a member of ‘Union of Echoes’, a group of activists & singers composed of students from many colleges, he took part in the production of a topical-song-musical album ‘Gaedongi(개똥이)’. He also joined in the making of the first album of ‘Noraerul Chanun Saramdul –Song Seekers’ under the initiative of Kim Min Gi, along with other major figures of college clubs of songs for activism. He joined the army in January 1985, and during the years of military service, he decided to pursue the career path of a musician. Discharged from the army, he returned to school, and he performed in the first concert of ‘Noraerul Channun Saramdul’ which was held at the Centennial Memorial Hall of Korean Christian Missionary in October 1987. At the concert he was applauded with fervent enthusiasm from the audience, emerging as the key member of the group. He was invited to many major political gatherings and cultural events, where he actively participated.