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| ▲ This photo of Korean trot singer Nam Jin is provided by Studio DHL. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- "When I was young, I sang out of pure passion and enthusiasm. But as the years have passed, I've come to realize that music is my life. Now, at this age, I understand that it's my everything," said Nam Jin (79), reflecting on what music means to him during an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on the 29th.
Nam Jin, who debuted as a singer in 1965 at the age of 20, is set to celebrate his 60th anniversary next year. Despite nearing 80, he remains an active performer. When asked if he still has any goals left to achieve, his answer was clear: "a truly great song."
"I want to create a song with beautiful lyrics, a melody that can live on forever, and a perfect arrangement. I want to live within such a song and, when the time comes, leave behind something like that—even if it's just one song."
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| ▲ This photo of Korean trot singer Nam Jin is provided by Studio DHL. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Born into a wealthy family in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, Nam Jin initially pursued acting, enrolling in Hanyang University's Theater and Film Department against his father's wishes. He shared his college years with fellow actor Im Hyun-sik. Though he also had a talent for singing, Nam Jin was drawn to the music of popular artists like Neil Sedaka, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra. One day, after singing a pop song at a club, he was scouted to become a singer.
With his strong singing ability and handsome appearance, Nam Jin quickly rose to stardom in the music industry. Female fans in their teens and twenties followed him everywhere, calling him "oppa" (older brother), and he starred in over 70 films as a lead actor.
When complimented on how handsome he was in his youth, Nam Jin modestly laughed and said, "Maybe there weren’t many good-looking people back then. I've never really thought of myself as handsome."
On October 4th, a concert film titled "Oppa, Nam Jin," featuring his music and life stories, will be released. The film reinterprets his hit songs like "With You" into acoustic versions, while also delving into both his personal journey and the history of Korean pop music.
Nam Jin shared, "This documentary gave me a chance to reflect on myself. I am sincerely grateful to all the fans who have supported me and made me who I am today."
Looking back on his life, Nam Jin believes that luck played a bigger role than effort in his success. Born with a silver spoon, he became a popular singer in his twenties, but he admits, "I didn't really understand the world because I hadn't faced hardships. Becoming a singer and a star like that meant I lacked depth."
He added, "Now, I sometimes wish I could go back to being unknown. I'd like to sing the songs that were hits 60 years ago once more, with the deep emotions I've gained over time."
"Oppa, Nam Jin" also covers the famous rivalry between Nam Jin and rising star Na Hoon-a, which was sparked when Nam Jin returned from serving in the Vietnam War in the late 1960s. Na Hoon-a, who hinted at retirement in February, is set to hold his final concert in October.
"Na Hoon-a is a much younger junior. There's a big age gap between us," Nam Jin explained. "Back then, the 'show planners,' who organized concerts, worked with journalists to create the rivalry between us to attract public interest. It was all manufactured by the times."
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| ▲ Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon (C) of the People Power Party poses with trot singer Nam Jin (R) and volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung at a restaurant in Seoul on Jan. 27, 2023, in this photo captured from the lawmaker's Facebook page. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Nam Jin also likened their rivalry to that between politicians Kim Dae-jung (DJ) and Kim Young-sam (YS), saying, "What better rivalry could there have been than DJ and YS? It was all a product of the era."
Although Nam Jin took a break from the industry when he moved to the United States in the 1980s, he made a comeback in Korea, starting from scratch. In the late 1990s, he found success again with his hit song "Nest."
"Life is like a wave, with ups and downs. Those who have experienced popularity know how lonely, empty, and desolate it can be," he said.
But what has kept Nam Jin going, even after setbacks, is the love of his fans. The teenagers who called him "oppa" in his youth are now in their 60s and 70s.
"Now, when I meet them, they feel more like family than fans. So much time has passed, but they're not just fans. When I'm on stage singing, I see those in their 60s and 70s looking at me, and their expressions take me back to when they were teenagers. It truly moves me."
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