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.
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Yoo Jae-ha | |
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Born | (1962-06-06)June 6, 1962 Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea[1] |
Died | November 1, 1987(1987-11-01) (aged 25) Seoul, South Korea |
Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1984–1987 |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 유재하 |
Hanja | 柳在夏 |
Revised Romanization | Yu Jae-ha |
McCune–Reischauer | Yu Chae-ha |
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 Hyun-sik's early alum. The following year, in 1987, he released his first and only album, Because I Love You, and died in a car accident on November 1 of the same year at the age of 25.
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, and Bang Si-hyuk.[7]
As of 2011, Because I Love You has sold more than 2 million copies.[8] The album was remastered and re-released on vinyl in 2014.[9] 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.[10]