The Secret Behind 'Forever With You': The Brief Yet Profound Friendship of Lee Moon-sae and Yoo Jae-ha

A special bond between the late Yoo Jae-ha and singer Lee Moon-sae will be revealed on KBS Joy's '20th Century Hit Song'.

The episode airing on the 19th, titled 'The Composer of This Song is Me! Part 2', will shine a spotlight on hit songs created by unexpected composers.

The song highlighted in this episode is Lee Moon-sae's masterpiece, 'Forever With You'. This track was a precious gift from Yoo Jae-ha, a genius musician who tragically passed away after releasing only one album.

Lee Moon-sae was instantly captivated when the then-debuting Yoo Jae-ha played the song on his guitar during a drinking session. He later recalled the moment, describing it as a song 'won over with a bottle of soju'.

Despite his 3rd album primarily featuring collaborations with composer Lee Young-hoon, Lee Moon-sae hesitated to include the song. However, he confessed, 'I nervously squeezed in the song Yoo Jae-ha wrote for me, while being mindful of Young-hoon.'

Ultimately, 'Forever With You' secured its place on the 3rd album and became a beloved classic, even being re-recorded on his 10th album.

Their connection didn't end there. Lee Moon-sae directly participated in the chorus recording for 'Past Days' on Yoo Jae-ha's first album, continuing their musical camaraderie.

Tragically, Yoo Jae-ha passed away in an accident in 1987. Since then, Lee Moon-sae has frequently selected his songs on the radio, expressing his deep longing.

Lee Moon-sae debuted in 1978 and is renowned for his timeless hits like 'Gwanghwamun Love Song' and 'Red Sunset', solidifying his status as a legendary ballad singer in South Korea. His gentle voice and profound emotional delivery have earned him enduring popularity across generations. He continues to be active in music and performing concerts, maintaining his esteemed position as a national artist.