Kwak Soon-ok
South Korean singer (1932–2023)
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Life and career
Born in Jilin, Soon-ok moved to South Korea shortly before the Korean War.[1] She debuted as a club singer in 1951, performing for the Eighth United States Army.[2] One year later, she started working as a musical theatre actress.[3] Also a lyricist, her major hit was the song "누가 이사람을 모르시나요" ("Does Anyone Know This Person"), which was the theme song of the radio series 남과 북 ('North and South') and of the 1965 film adaptation with the same title, and which was covered by numerous artists, notably by Patty Kim in a 1983 successful version.[1][2] In spite of her success, in 1965 she moved to Hong Kong and abandoned her musical activities.[1][2] She eventually moved to the United States, before returning to Seoul in her late years.[1] She made her last appearance in 2021, in the MBN program Spotlight on the World.[1][3] Soon-ok died on 12 September 2023, at the age of 91.[1]