Kim Jung Mi Haenim (1973)
In the 1970s, South Korea underwent a remarkable transformation, transitioning from a struggling economy to an industrial powerhouse (the East Asian nation currently ranks as the 13th largest economy of the world). However, social progress lagged behind industrial modernization. Confucian values still heavily influenced societal expectations regarding gender roles. Women were often expected to conform to traditional roles as wives and mothers. Those who asserted their independence and strength were considered a menace to the established order. One of the troublemakers was Kim Jung Mi. Beyond being a singer, she identified herself as a psychedelic rock artist—a genre considered rather inappropriate due to its association with the culture of US soldiers stationed in South Korea. As if that wasn’t enough, her songs fearlessly explored topics such as sex and drugs. Hence, the arrest of Kim Jung Mi and approximately 50 other entertainers as part of an anti-marijuana campaign led by the then dictator, Park Chung Hee, came as no surprise. And although she was released after a few months, her arrest marked the beginning of the end of her career. Despite six years of musical triumph, Kim was driven to exit the scene in 1977 due to persistent censorship targeting her allegedly “vulgar voice.” What's left of Kim Jung Mi is the folk masterpiece Now, whose beautifully transcendental opener “Haenim” can rightfully be compared to songs by Grace Slick's Jefferson Airplane.
Start the conversation
Become a paid member of The Rest to gain access to the comments section.