There was something my wife and I always mentioned whenever we went up to high places. 'Why is it that there is no house with our name on it among all these houses?' I've lived in a house on rent until 1995. Of course it's been a lot better to live than before, but I still didn't own a house. Finally, last year I was able to buy an apartment with the money I had saved for some years added up with loaned money. It was after 14 years of marriage when I had finally bought a house. The money I used was purely from the concerts. It's been a few years since I've been asking for Korea's best guarantee. I didn't like culture where you practically sing for free at concerts, and earn money from giving lessons. So I was asking for the rightful cost of my singing without giving any lessons. But with children, I set off without thinking of the money. In the old days, I'd judged for the program, "Let's see who's good" and right now I participate happily at children's choir concerts. It could be because I like kids, but I think the real reason is because I'm a father of two daughters. As I became a 'two daughter daddy' I've become a true feminist. I teach my children that woman can also become the best at everything. So maybe that's the reason why my daughter, Sae-hee, who's a third grader in elementary school, wants to become a president. Sae-eun, who is in first grade has some talents in drawing and she says that she's going to 'devote herself in art studies after she graduates elementary school, like Picasso.' My two daughters and my wife are my best supporters for my music. Whether it's a the home country performance, or abroad, they always tag along and watch me sing. My wife is has the role of my music coach. At every performance she selects the pieces according to the atmosphere. She's also the one who picked the piece, 'Ta-hyang-sa-ri(being absent from home)" at the 'Open Concert' in L.A., and also 'Dear Friend' and 'Blue Mind, White Mind' at the upcoming concert in Kwangju, '5.18 Anniversary Concert'. Right after the performance I always look at my wife first. If she's smiling brightly when I walk into the dressing room, it means that she liked my singing. On the other hand, if her expression is tense, it means that my singing wasn't very good. At the Hong Kong performance she didn't even speak to me. My wife had reproved that 'Performance on air had changed the way I sing', and I had contradicted saying 'I did well, what's wrong with you?'. My wife had been so mad that as she ran down the stairs, she fell down and rolled. The year before last year, my wife and I, the two of us went on a trip to Italy, to satisfy any of our grudges. My wife's wish was to go to our favorite supermarket and load the groceries in the car. I borrowed the best car in Italy and made my wife's wish come true. In Venice, where we had 'drank only water', we ate all the food we wanted. At that trip we had shed a lot of tears. And we also learned that how the poor years as a student had become a real fortune to us. I had realized the need for God for the first time after I was poor, and hungry for food. It's the truth that only the poor can meet God. There's a phrase from the Bible that never leaves my mind. "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise."(Isaiah 43:21). When the time comes, I'm going to leave my place as a professor and a professional vocalist. It is my last dream in life, to become a praiser and serve my Lord.
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