Singer Lee Beom-hak Returns to the Spotlight After 20-Year Hiatus on Back to the Music Season 2

KBS’s nostalgic music documentary series Song-cumentary: Back to the Music Season 2 is set to feature singer Lee Beom-hak as its 26th subject, inviting viewers on a journey through 36 years of a music career marked by meteoric success, mysterious disappearance, and an eventual return to the stage.

A Debut That Shook the Charts

Lee Beom-hak’s story begins in 1991, when his debut single “Not a Farewell” took the Korean music scene by storm. Despite being a breakup ballad in theme, the song’s upbeat melody, heartfelt lyrics, and irresistibly catchy chorus turned it into the soundtrack of an era, blaring from every street corner across the nation.

The song’s dominance was staggering by any measure. It claimed the number one spot on Gayo Top Ten, the definitive music ranking show of its time, for five consecutive weeks — an achievement that earned Lee the coveted Golden Cup. That same year, he swept the Rookie of the Year and Top 10 Singer awards, catapulting himself to instant stardom.

The Song That Changed Hands

Behind the hit, however, lies a fascinating origin story. “Not a Farewell” was never intended to be a solo release. The song originally belonged to Isaek Jidae, a seven-member band where Lee served as the vocalist. When the group’s debut album was released, it was repackaged under Lee’s name alone — the same album, with only the jacket photo changed, transforming a band project into a solo career overnight.

The creative force behind the track was composer Oh Tae-ho, himself a former member of Isaek Jidae and the mind behind beloved classics such as the late Kim Hyun-sik’s “My Love By My Side” and Pinocchio’s “Between Love and Friendship.” Oh’s hit-making touch extended to Lee’s second album as well, producing the title track “Distance of the Heart,” which further cemented Lee’s position in the industry.

Twenty Years in Silence

After wrapping up his second album activities, Lee Beom-hak virtually vanished from the public eye. For two decades, neither new music nor public appearances materialized, leaving fans and industry insiders alike wondering what had become of the singer who had once seemed destined for a long career at the top.

The upcoming episode of Back to the Music promises to finally reveal the reasons behind this extended absence, shedding light on the personal circumstances that led one of the early 1990s’ brightest stars to step away from the spotlight entirely.

A New Chapter

Despite the seemingly endless gap in his career, Lee eventually found the courage to return, embracing new artistic directions and rediscovering his passion for performing. The episode will chronicle not only his triumphant debut and the mysteries of his hiatus but also the reinvention that brought him back to the stage.

Lee Beom-hak’s episode of Back to the Music Season 2 airs on Sunday, March 1, at 11 PM on KBS1.