prolog

Part 1.
Me, Shin Hae-chul
My Profile
The Demon King's Story
Very little things about Shin Hae-chul
Father and I
Mother and I
My childhood dream
I have no religion.
Haecheol's first experience
June 1987
Why I started doing music
Infinite Tracks Story 1
Infinite Tracks Story 2
Infinite Tracks Story 3
What kind of democratic fighter?
A Playboy Introduction by a Brother Who Played a Bit
Wittgenstein's orientation
About the work on the jazz album "The Songs For The One"
Next & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Performance Review
Fan Heart Encyclopedia
Fanminjeongeum
The Races of Ghost Nation
Haecheol's 15 Recommended Songs
Haecheol's 25 Recommended Books (Not Related to the Ministry of Education)
Devin and me
I am alive

Part 2.
The Demon King Faces the World
What is art?
Regarding the revival of music ranking programs on public broadcasting
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer in the mind
Let me tell you about marijuana
Operation to keep your seat
A Not-So-New Reflection on Cohabitation
Alice in Madness
We also distort history.
Public Apology Regarding the So-Called "Inappropriate Dress" During the 100-Minute Debate
Interview: I Want to Sing the Politics of Hope
Between people
At the Sungkuri Party policy announcement press conference
You like morning people
Fast & Furious Presents: London Racing Incident
On the return of Afghan hostages
Satanism
Aren't you going to buy a house? You can't!
The man is suffering
Towards the Collapse of False Myths

Part 3.
Hello, Demon King_Memorial Messages
Hwang Seok-yeong (writer), Moon Seong-geun (actor), Moon Jae-in (politician), Son Seok-hee (broadcaster), Kang Heon (music critic), Bae Cheol-soo (broadcaster), Heo Su-gyeong (poet), Jin Jung-kwon (aesthetician), Seo Tai-ji (musician), Heo Ji-woong (writer), writings by mother and wife

Epilogue

Shin Hae-chul, the eternal devil and immortal musician of our time
The only book he left us

This book is a posthumous collection of writings written by the musician Shin Hae-chul, who sadly and unexpectedly left us.
This posthumous collection, which compiles writings neatly piled up in files titled 'book' as if he had prepared for publication during his lifetime, contains stories from his childhood and youth, as well as intimate confessions that give us a glimpse into his musical outlook and worldview. As an autobiographical record of a person who left a huge mark on the history of our popular music, its value is precious and special.
The book was published on December 24th, the day the deceased made his official debut after winning the grand prize for singing "To You" at the 1988 MBC University Song Festival with Infinite Track.

Shin Hae-chul, a musician with his own unique musical world, bold speech, and a warm and just eye and heart for the world.
Through his writings, we will see that the reason he was able to capture the public's heart was because he vividly embodied the artist's uncompromising spirit, striving to strip away the pretense of life and society and see its true colors.

Part 1 contains his personal history and daily episodes related to his musical activities, Part 2 contains the messages he boldly delivered to our society as a musician and cultural figure, and Part 3 contains condolences from cultural and artistic figures, acquaintances, and family members who remember him.

All proceeds from the book will be used to provide scholarships for his children, and his posthumous best album will be released simultaneously with the publication of his posthumous collection on December 24th.
The best album consists of 4 CDs and includes his representative songs and the new song Pink Monster.
On December 27th, a memorial concert will be held by musicians who have been with Next and musicians who honor him.

An outstanding musician who lived an honest and unadorned life
It's easy to imagine that the life of a musician who appeared like a comet and shook up the landscape of Korean popular music since the 90s, taking an era by storm, would be nothing but a glamorous one.
But he too was born into an ordinary and therefore poor family.
He was a boy who ran around and played to his heart's content with the neighborhood kids without even noticing the sun setting. He was a kind and cute boy who worried about his grades and worrying about becoming an unpopular boy while working all kinds of part-time jobs to support his family. He was a beautiful young man who wanted to pursue rock music despite his parents' opposition, but who didn't hesitate when the times called for it and knew how to throw rocks into the streets.

When I was in middle school, my family was having a hard time making ends meet, and as a child, I desperately wanted to be of some help to my family.
(…) When part-time jobs like selling chestnuts and delivering newspapers didn’t work out, I decided to start a barley tea business.
Behind the Dongdaemun Eastern Hotel, there were a bunch of suspicious offices that looked like ghost companies. If you went there, they would give you a bag full of barley tea bags, dishcloths, soap, and other things.
I would carry that bag and go around apartment complexes and houses, ringing doorbells and saying, “I’m a high school student. Can you sell me some barley tea?” It was a somewhat autonomous form of begging.
At first, I rang the doorbell and heard the voice of the landlady's daughter coming out to the front door asking, "Who is it?" I was so embarrassed that I just tucked two bags under my arm and gasped for breath and just called her.
_Pages 46-47 of the text

Why was I unlucky enough to be in the class of '87 and, contrary to my expectations of being able to live my life to the fullest once I entered college, did I end up having to receive ideological education and throw rocks at people?
Besides, why won't that stonehead just leave me alone to live a little more quietly?
(…) In 1987, almost all the students took to the streets, and I, too, was playing the guitar in the department room, but when I heard the sound of the agitation group’s megaphone, I had to put down my sheet music and run out into the campus covered in tear gas like snow to at least fill in the numbers.
It is no exaggeration to say that the tear gas covered us like snow, because in reality, while we were singing the demonstration, we would occasionally say, “Look out the window.
They used to sing Christmas carols, saying, “White snow is falling,” and there was laughter from both the protesters and the riot police.
I have never heard such a large, indescribable, bitter laugh in my entire life.
_Main text, pages 84-85

He had been playing rock music in bands with his school friends since he was young, and he began his career as a musician in earnest when he formed a band called 'Gaksital' in high school.
Although he was still an amateur, he began to make a name for himself little by little from this time on, and his activities during this period played a decisive role in his formation of Infinite Track.
There is a famous anecdote that when Infinite Track won the grand prize for "To You" at the 1988 MBC University Music Festival, there was a rumor in the music world that he had completed "To You" with expensive music equipment and manpower support.
The reason for this was the innovativeness of the song itself, which had never been heard before.


At the time, I had to play the guitar to avoid my father's censorship, and I had a 'late-night composition set', which consisted of a guitar with sponges inserted between the strings and a melodica sold at stationery stores.
I take that and cover myself with the blanket, then write the song while panting under the blanket.
After working for a while, the blanket gets damp and I get dizzy, so I can't work on more than four words in a row.
Still, I was very satisfied with just being able to make noises here and there without being caught by my father, but after we won the award, I heard that 'Infinite Challenge even has an automatic composer, and the coaches wrote it for you'... ... Me... ... Should I cry or laugh?
_Page 114

A free-spirited musician who did not hesitate to criticize the closed-off Korean society.
After Infinite Track and his solo career, he formed a band called Next and ushered in a new golden age for Korean rock music in the 90s. He began to attract public attention with his characteristically blunt and sharp speech.
The lyrics he wrote were ones that exposed the conservatism, hypocrisy, and pretense of the times and society, and the satire and criticism he poured out through television and radio broadcasts were aspects that could not easily be seen from any broadcaster or artist in our society, so he had to suffer from malicious slander as well.
In particular, he appeared as a panelist on MBC's 100 Minute Debate and became a hot topic by boldly advocating for issues that are taboo in our society, such as the decriminalization of marijuana, the abolition of adultery, and the prohibition of corporal punishment. This shows his tenacity as a celebrity who maintained his beliefs even at the cost of enormous losses.


When I was asked to be a panelist on the current affairs debate program 100 Minutes to discuss marijuana decriminalization, I was a bit taken aback and not entirely thrilled.
That's understandable. There was no reason to do something so crazy as to bring up my past, which had already faded from people's memories after more than a dozen years, and considering the national sentiment and level, it was a 'definitely losing fight' that was certain to be a complete defeat.
No fool would go out wearing armor and carrying a gun to a 'definitely losing fight'.
(…) If I were to join the debate, there was a very high chance that it would just look like a ‘powerful celebrity’ just talking and trying to justify and excuse his actions.
So I told them to give up on me without needlessly clouding the issue or causing misunderstandings, but then the screams of a civic group leader rang in my ears.
Whether it's a misunderstanding or a military action, we need to get people to listen and watch, but no celebrity or entertainer is willing to participate in this discussion.
_Main text, pages 251-252

Thank you for being by our side, Demon King.
The courage to take risks as a musician in support of former President Roh Moo-hyun during the 16th presidential election according to his convictions; the tenacity to not give up his musical path even when popular music trends began to change and the public's interest in rock music faded; and the sharp critical spirit that did not hesitate to deliver his characteristically sharp rebuke while seeing through the hypocrisy of the times and society.
The Shin Hae-chul we remember was that kind of artist.
To borrow the words of popular music critic Kang Heon, he was “the first and last humanist artist and Renaissance man to appear in the history of our popular music.”
Will we ever meet a musician like this again? That's why his death is so tragic and heartbreaking.
His songs, which have touched our shoulders at every crossroads of life for a quarter of a century, will resonate in our hearts forever.
He was the 'rocker' of our time.


Some people ask me this question:
Aren't you scared?
Aren't you scared every time you break the rules of safe living that others talk about?
The answer is so obvious.
scary.
I'm human too.
But I chose my own way of life, not because I'm fearless, but because I'm really, really scared.
I just chose to do it my way because the fear of not living the life I truly wanted was far more terrifying than the fear of falling behind on the path others were walking.
Should I conquer fear with fear?
_Main text, pages 379-380

Memorial messages

Seo Taiji (musician)
Shin Hae-chul, that name is the name of a true musician who led us with a pure soul and true will.
As a musician, he was like a huge mountain.
Many juniors also dreamed of becoming musicians while looking up to the mountain called Shin Hae-chul.
Our music industry owes a great debt to his music, and we feel heartbroken by the sudden news before we can even repay that debt.

My brother did that one day.
Life is just a bonus game because life itself has its purpose in being born.
So, I told you to just take a walk in your bonus life and be happy by doing whatever you want.
Now that I think about it, I think my brother drew this bonus really well and wonderfully.
Now, let's go for another walk in a better place and talk freely about the music you like and life.
Lastly, I want to say thank you, sorry, and that you are awesome.
Thank you for always giving me the best music.
My brother was so big and cool, but I don't think I told him he was cool often.
Now, I hope that you will continue to hear this wonderful song in all of our hearts.
I believe that many people will long remember the great name of Shin Hae-chul, the beautiful name that gave us many memories of our youth and wonderful music.
Hwang Seok-young (novelist)
His free spirit, yet consistent honesty and humility about his own talents, make his absence all the more regrettable.
Shin Hae-chul was a musician who knew his era and the public well and tried to love them with all his heart.

Son Seok-hee (broadcaster)
During the 100-minute debate, I met Mr. Shin Hae-cheol five times.
Every time, it was at the center of controversy and became a hot topic.
As far as I remember, he was a singer, but he was also a debater who could clearly express his own opinion on any topic.
He was so cursed at that he even joked that he would live forever, but he passed away unexpectedly early.
Perhaps he will live forever in the hearts of the fans who loved him.

Jin Jung-kwon (aesthetician)
Since he always assured us that he would “live forever because he was so cursed at,” we thought he would stay by our side and keep us entertained for a long time.
But he left us too soon, leaving behind a joke that didn't quite seem like a joke: "Do it while you can."
Any death leaves a sense of loss, but his was exceptional.
This extraordinary sense of loss must be due to the feeling that his absence cannot be filled by anyone else.
I was grateful for his presence.
We were so grateful that he was just here with us on this earth.
Mr. Haecheol, thank you.
And goodbye.


Bae Cheol-soo (broadcaster)
The singer Shin Hae-chul has already established his own peak in the musical field.
There was more he could have done… … that’s what’s disappointing.
The good news is that many people are suffering together with us.
And Shin Hae-chul's music is being re-evaluated.
I think that is a meaningful thing even in misfortune.

Heo Su-gyeong (poet)
Even though they say a square peg fits a square hole, back then we were afraid of being hit by a square peg, yet we encouraged each other to become square stones.
Hae-cheol was forever a sharp stone.
So I was right and I embraced that moment and sang it.
Haecheol, I wish we went by age.
I hope that when you hear of my death from a distant acquaintance, you will remember the good times we spent together as friends while enjoying a glass of soju.
But I honor you, from a faraway place called Germany… … It is bitter and painful.


Moon Jae-in (politician)
The Shin Hae-chul I know was a wonderful person who had the courage to stand up to the unreasonable and boldly confront them.
The thrilling music you played wherever I campaigned during the presidential election is something I will be grateful for for the rest of my life.
I pray that you may rest in peace.

Moon Sung-geun (actor)
He was a surprisingly 'strong-hearted' man with intelligence.
Shin Hae-chul, who blew away the lies of intellectuals and politicians with a single word in the square.
Shin Hae-chul, who became an artist of his time with his personality, intellect, and music.
You will live forever in our hearts because you were such an artist.
I hope you have a pleasant life there too.

Heo Ji-woong (writer)
As a musician, a husband, a parent, and above all, a citizen, our older brother Shin Hae-chul, who was more faithful than anyone else, has passed away.
Shin Hae-chul, a sensitive soul who, like others, was contradictory, but fought and overcame those contradictions, ultimately exhausting himself, has passed away.
I didn't have time to tell my brother.
It's something anyone can easily say, but I couldn't.
I couldn't tell you because you were my older brother.
I couldn't speak because of my country.
I couldn't do it because it tickled me.
It was foolish.
How pathetic it is to procrastinate and not say what needs to be said.

I love you, bro.
I love you forever.
I love you, brother.

Lim Dong-chang (musician)
Who has seen the boundless flame of love burning in your heart, that delicate and beautiful flame?
Who didn't mind the petty words that came out of being smart?
Someone who threw their whole body at you, just as you threw their whole body at them.
Ah! Hot guy, Shin Hae-chul.

Kang Heon (pop music critic)
A man who loved people like a fool, a man who did not take humanities books lightly, a man who did not take comic books lightly, a man who tried to find even a single virtue in the albums of unknown new artists, a man who did not turn away from lives that no one cared about, a man who was enraged with all his might at the various vices that showed no tolerance for the socially disadvantaged… … He was the first and last humanist artist, a Renaissance man, to appear in the history of our popular music.