Yoo Jae-ha
South Korean musician (1962–1987)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yoo Jae-ha (Korean: 유재하; Hanja: 柳在夏;[2] June 6, 1962 – November 1, 1987)[3] was a South Korean singer and songwriter.[4] His first and only album, Because I Love You (Korean: 사랑하기 때문에) was released through Seoul Records in 1987.[5] Yoo died in a car accident months later from the album release at age 25.[6] Even though he died with only one album, Yoo Jae-ha's music has a great legacy in South Korea, and it is credited with exerting tremendous influence in Korean popular music.
Yoo Jae-ha 유재하 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | June 6, 1962 |
| Died | November 1, 1987 (aged 25) Seoul, South Korea |
| Cause of death | Car accident |
| Education | Hanyang University |
| Genre | Pop |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1984–1987 |
| Label | Seoul Records |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 유재하 |
| Hanja | 柳在夏 |
| RR | Yu Jaeha |
| MR | Yu Chaeha |
Biography and death
Yoo was born in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province in South Korea.[1] He attended Hanyang University, where he studied music composition and began playing the keyboard for Cho Yong-pil's band, The Great Birth in 1984.[6]
After graduating from college, he worked with Kim Hyun-sik for Kim's first album Spring-Summer-Fall-Winter, and in 1986, he wrote the song "Hidden Road" (Korean: 골목길) from Kim's 3rd album, which contributed to the creation of Kim's early alum. The following year, in 1987, he released his first and only album, Because I Love You, and then died in a car accident on November 1 of the same year at the age of 25.
Legacy
Following Yoo's death in 1987, his family established the Yoo Jae-ha Scholarship Foundation, followed in 1989 by the Yoo Jae-ha Music Contest. Winners of the contest include You Hee-yeol, Kim Yeon-woo, Bang Si-hyuk, and Choi Yu-ree.[7][8]
As of 2011, Because I Love You has sold more than 2 million copies.[9] The album was remastered and re-released on vinyl in 2014.[10] In 2013, Mnet ranked Yoo at number one on their Legend 100 list of the most influential musicians in South Korean history since the 1960s.[11] In 2018, Because I Love You was ranked the best pop album in South Korean history by a panel of music critics and music industry experts in collaboration with The Hankyoreh and Melon.[12]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [13] | |||
| Because I Love You (사랑하기 때문에) |
|
37 |
|