1970s Star Ok Hee Dies at 73; Ex-Husband Hong Soo-hwan by Her Side

South Korean singer Ok Hee, who rose to fame in the 1970s with her hit song "I Don't Know" (나는 몰라요), has died at the age of 73. Her passing was confirmed on June 21, with reports indicating she succumbed to kidney cancer on the evening of June 20.

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My dear sister, singer Ok Hee, left us for heaven at 8:40 PM on the 20th.

Her ex-husband, Hong Soo-hwan, a former chairman of the Korea Boxing Commission, was reportedly with her at the time of her death. Actor Han Ji-il shared the news on social media, expressing his sorrow and remembering Ok Hee as a kind and cheerful person who left this world too soon.

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She lived a kind and cheerful life, but she went to heaven too quickly.

Ok Hee began her career in 1968 as a member of the group Seoul Sisters, performing internationally in countries like the United States and Canada. She gained widespread recognition as a solo artist in 1974 with "I Don't Know" and also enjoyed popularity for songs such as "Neighborly Friend" (이웃사촌) and "Let's Hold Hands" (두 손을 잡아요).

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Don't be sick and reunite with the seniors who have already gone to heaven comfortably.

Her personal life included a marriage to Hong Soo-hwan in 1977, followed by a divorce approximately two years later. The couple remarried in 1995 after being separated for 16 years, and they had one son and one daughter together. The funeral arrangements are being handled by the Korea Singers Association, with the wake to be held at Asan Medical Center in Seoul.

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My deepest condolences.