Who was Kim Young-dae? Tributes pour in as popular K-pop expert and BTS: The Review author dies aged 48

1 hour ago 2

close

On Thursday, December 25, the team of the popular K-pop expert and critic, Kim Young-dae, took to his X account, @toojazzy25, to reveal his passing. They informed that he had passed away on December 24, at the age of 48, and the cause of his death has not been disclosed. Here's what the team's message via his X post read:

“We humbly bring the news that Kim Young Dae has passed away. We are sorry that he could not greet you in person.”

Kim Young-dae is a renowned K-pop critic and expert in the industry who completed a PhD in ethnomusicology. He has been a judge for several major South Korean music awards, including MAMA, and is also the author of "BTS The Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Music of BTS." The book provides a critical lens into BTS's discography by bringing in several other analytical points.

In the book, Kim Young-dae talked about the many factors involved in BTS's artistic journey as world-famous artists by highlighting their global phenomenon, exploring the deeper themes of their hip-hop songs, the importance of their fandom, and more. Therefore, the book stands as one of the most appreciated and commended reviews of BTS by their fandom, ARMYs.

On the other hand, the K-pop expert has also written other books like The Songwriters, and has interviewed many artists to spotlight their solo careers, such as BTS's Jin, NCT's Haechan, and more. After the announcement of his death, it was also reported that a mass is expected to be held at the Hyeokseok-dong Catholic Church, followed by a burial at Seoul Memorial Park on December 27 at 10 AM KST.

Fans and netizens have been sending in their condolences to the grieving family and friends, while also paying tribute to the K-pop critic for the significant contributions he's made to the K-pop industry and the support he extended for upcoming K-pop artists. Here are a few reactions from fans and netizens regarding the same:

Kim Youngdae was a huge fan and supporter of BTS for so many years, from their group albums to their solo albums 🥺💜 He even wrote a book in their honor, BTS The Review,I hope he's resting in peace, thank you so much for everything sir we gonna miss you so much

Easily one of the most insightful voices in the industry, someone who understood the craft of music. I’ll always be grateful for the way he championed LOONA and post-BBC projects as he was one of the rare few who cared about artistry above all else. Rest in peace, Kim Youngdae.

he gave kpop artists the support and recognition they deserved, always taking the time to see past their idol image and look deeper into their artistry. what a loss for the industry. rest in peace music critic kim youngdae 🙏❤️

i was deeply shocked to hear this news 😢😭 thank you kim youngdae-nim, for your support and love for our haechan 🥹 your kindness will always be remembered, and my deepest condolences 🙏🏻 may you rest in peace 🤍

Others also shared their condolences regarding the same news.

this broke my heart :( he was such a formative voice in my appreciation of bts’ music. rest in peace.

this is so heartbreaking… thank you for constantly appreciating and supporting so many kpop artists, especially haechan, over the years. sending my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. rest in peace, sir. 🙏🏻❤️‍🩹

no wayyyy……. :(( sending my deepest condolences. this is so heartbreaking, may he rest in peace 🤍

He supported K-pop groups so wholeheartedly that I’m seeing so many different fandoms in the quotes. That alone says everything. This is really heartbreaking. Thank you for all your insights about SEVENTEEN, and for including Dust in your latest book. May you rest in peace.


Industry co-workers send condolences following the death of K-pop critic and expert, Kim Young-dae

Following the land of the X post made by Kim Young-dae's family and team, several people expressed their sadness and grievances upon hearing the news. Crystal Bell, the culture editor who works with magazines such as Teen Vogue, Mashable, MTV News, Nylon Magazine, Paper Magazine, Elle Magazine, and W Magazine, also wrote a message for the K-pop critic.

As someone who's often collaborated with Kim Young-dae for pieces on K-pop artists requoted the X post with the following message:

"I’m speechless. I always enjoyed our conversations; he truly loved music. And what a fantastic writer and thinker. It was an honor to edit you."

Additionally, the production team of Kim Hyun-jung's New Show also put forth their condolences regarding his passing. Here's what they stated through their YouTube channel:

"This broadcast was recorded last week. On the 25th, after it aired, we received the news of music critic Kim Young Dae’s passing. We are deeply shocked by this sudden news. The production team of Kim Hyun Jung’s News Show extends our heartfelt condolences."

Therefore, fans and netizens have been paying respect to the recently deceased K-pop critic, Kim Young-dae.

Why did you not like this content?

  • Clickbait / Misleading
  • Factually Incorrect
  • Hateful or Abusive
  • Baseless Opinion
  • Too Many Ads
  • Other

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback

Edited by Aishwarya Sai

Read Entire Article