Bae Ho


Bae Ho was a South Korean singer, known as the "Elvis of Korean trot." A statue commemorating his biggest hit, "Return to Samgakji" stands in front of Samgakji Station in Seoul.

Life and career

Bae was born Bae Sin-ung in Shandong, China, the son of Korean independence activist Bae Gook-min. He moved to South Korea with his family in 1945 following the end of the Japanese occupation.
Bae debuted as a singer in 1963. His popularity grew after the 1967 release of his song "Return to Samgakji", which topped music charts for five consecutive months. He ultimately released about 300 songs.
In 1966 he fell ill with nephritis and spent his last years battling the disease. He died in 1971.