Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Shin Joong-hyun

Role / Field:

Pioneering South Korean rock guitarist and singer-songwriter, 'Godfather of Rock.'

Born:

1938-11-04

Century / Era:

1938s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Shin Joong-hyun (Korean: 신중현, pronounced [ɕind͡ʑuŋçʌn] or [ɕin] [t͡ɕuŋçʌn]; born January 4, 1938), also transliterated as Shin Jung-hyeon or Sin Junghyeon, is a South Korean rock guitarist and singer-songwriter often referred to as Korea's "Godfather of Rock." A pioneer of Korean rock music, Shin is known for forming South Korea's first rock band, Add4, in 1962 and for being at the forefront of the country's psychedelic rock scene of the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote his most famous song, "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains," in protest of the military dictatorship of Park Chung Hee in 1972. Shin was later imprisoned and tortured by Park's regime, and his music was banned until the 1980s. He experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s and has since received numerous accolades recognizing his contributions to South Korean popular music.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Shin Joong-hyun was born in Seoul in 1938, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. His mother died when he was a child, and his father later married a Japanese woman. Shin spent his youth with his father and step-mother living in Manchuria and Japan. After they returned to what had become South Korea, Shin's father died in 1952, and...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahn Chang Ho — Contemporary (Died in 1938) (1938): Pioneering Korean independence activist and leader of the Korean-American community.
• Alan Bond — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Australian businessman known for high-profile dealings, the America's Cup, and founding Bond University.
• Alan Dershowitz — Contemporary (Born in 1938) (1938): Prominent American lawyer and constitutional law scholar known for high-profile defense work.
• Art Carney — Shared historical date (11-04 · Born) (1918): Esteemed American actor and comedian, celebrated for his iconic roles.
• Buddy Bolden — Shared historical date (11-04 · Died) (1931): Pioneering cornetist credited with developing the early New Orleans style of jazz.
• Albert Fert — Historical peer (Born in 1938) (1938): Pioneering physicist known for the discovery of giant magnetoresistance.
• Aleksandr I. Kuprin — Historical peer (Died in 1938) (1938): Esteemed Russian author known for novels like The Duel and Yama: The Pit.
• Adolf Eichmann — Historical peer (Died in 1962) (1962): Nazi SS officer and key organizer of the Holocaust's logistics.
• Alain Robert — Historical peer (Born in 1962) (1962): French rock and urban climber, nicknamed 'the French Spider-Man'.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Historical peer (Died in 1972) (1972): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• 1938 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1938
• November 4 (11-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 4

Frequently Asked Questions about Shin Joong-hyun