Shin Hae-chul
Shin Hae-chul (May 6, 1968 – October 27, 2014) was a South Korean singer-songwriter and the frontman, vocalist of rock band N.EX.T. He was a record producer known for being a pioneer of Korean experimental rock music. He was referred to by fans as the "Demon Lord" or "The Devil" for his charismatic stage presence. Shin and his band Muhangwedo debuted at the 1988 MBC Campus Music Festival, where the band won first place for the song "To You." He formed the experimental rock band N.EX.T in 1992.
Also recorded as Shin Hae-Cheol · Shin Hae Chul
Shin Hae-chul

MBC PD수첩 · YouTube: [Full] 나에게 의료사고가 생긴다면_MBC 2014년 11월 25일 방송 – View/save archived versions on archive.org · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Shin Hae-chul
- Born
- 6 May 1968
- Birthplace
- Seoul, South Korea
- Died
- 27 October 2014
- Place of death
- Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
- Occupation
- * Singer-songwriter
- Nationality
- South Korea · Korea
- Fields
- rock music
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Shin Hae-chul (May 6, 1968 – October 27, 2014) was a South Korean singer-songwriter and the frontman, vocalist of rock band N.EX.T. He was a record producer known for being a pioneer of Korean experimental rock music. He was referred to by fans as the "Demon Lord" or "The Devil" for his charismatic stage presence. Shin and his band Muhangwedo debuted at the 1988 MBC Campus Music Festival, where the band won first place for the song "To You." He formed the experimental rock band N.EX.T in 1992.
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Shin Hae-chul (1968–2014) was an artist, composer and record producer, among other activities, a national of Korea and South Korea. The artist was born in Seoul.
Shin Hae-chul was educated at Sogang University. The artist worked for Sejong Cyber University and was a member of N.EX.T.
The work spans rock music. Languages used include Korean.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q485059 · wikipedia · Shin Hae-chul
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was also known for hosting a radio show from 2001 to 2012. Shin died as a result of medical malpractice after undergoing surgery in 2014.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Shin Hae-chul • Born — 6 May 1968 • Birthplace — Seoul, South Korea • Died — 27 October 2014 • Place of death — Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea • Occupation — * Singer-songwriter • record producer • radio DJ • author • Years Active — 1988–2014 • Children — 2 • Website — shinhaechul.com Shin Hae-chul (May 6, 1968 – October 27, 2014) was a South Korean singer-songwriter and the frontman, vocalist of rock band N.EX.T. He was a record producer known for being a pioneer of Korean experimental rock music. He was referred to by fans as the "Demon Lord" or "The Devil" for his charismatic stage presence. Shin and his band Muhangwedo debuted at the 1988 MBC Campus Music Festival, where the band won first place for the song "To You." He formed the experimental rock band N.EX.T in 1992. He was also known for hosting a radio show from 2001 to 2012. Shin died as a result of medical malpractice after undergoing surgery in 2014.
Early life
Early life
Shin Hae-chul was born on May 6, 1968. He enrolled in Sogang University in 1987, where he studied philosophy until he dropped out to focus on his music career.
Debut
Debut
Shin formed the band Muhangwedo in 1988 when he was a sophomore at Sogang University. The band received national attention when it appeared on the televised 1988 MBC Campus Music Festival, a singing competition for amateurs. Muhangwedo won first place for the song "To You" which was written by Shin. The band released one album, 1989's When Our Lives Are Almost Over.
Early solo career
Early solo career
Shin released his first solo album in 1990, which included a song that had an English rap, which was unconventional in the Korean music scene at the time. The album was a huge hit, leading to Shin rising to the top of Korean pop music charts and receiving multiple Korean pop music awards. His second solo album, Myself, was released in 1991, which was first album in Korea to have used midi. He also started a gig as a radio DJ on MBC FM.
The N.EX.T years
The N.EX.T years
In 1992, Shin formed the band N.EX.T — moving from pop music to rock. Their first album, Home, was a concept album. While his previous songs were mainly about love or heartache, here Shin started to write more about social issues, such as criticizing the fast lifestyle of urbanites in "City People". The group's second album was released in 1994 titled The Return of N.EX.T Part 1: The Being where Shin introduced more philosophical lyrics, such as questioning the meaning of life in the song "The Ocean: About Immortality". The band's third album, The Return of N.EX.T Part 2: World. Some of the band members changed over time, with Shin being the constant lead singer/songwriter. During this time he also did a one-time collaboration with singer Yoon Sang to form Nodance, wrote the original sound track for the Korean movie Jungle Story, and was the DJ for the MBC FM radio program FM Music City from 1996 to 1997. In 1996, he created his own label, Big Bang Music. In 1997 N.EX.T released a rock ballad single, "Here, I Stand for You" which sold 500,000 copies in South Korea. The band went on to release their fourth album Lazenca: A Space Rock Opera in November 1997, which was also the original sound track for the television animation series Lazenca. The band split up after this- Shin went on to study music producing in London.
Crom
Crom
In London, Shin re-named himself Crom (inspired by Cromwell) and released a techno album Crom's Techno Works in 1998. The following year, he formed a project group Monocrom with guitarist Chris Tsangarides and released the eponymous project album Monocrom. The music in the album was experimental, combining heavy metal with Korean folk music, rap, and lyrical rock ballads. Most of the songs in this album were in English, which he collaborated with lyricist D. Yvette Wohn. After the release of Monocrom, Shin went to New York where he worked on producing his live album and some Korean movie soundtracks. In 2000, he created a three-man band Wittgenstein to produce a home studio album of the same name. He also wrote the song "Zergs are Coming" for the StarCraft music album.
Return of N.EX.T
Return of N.EX.T
Shin returned to Korea in 2002 and worked on various projects, mainly writing songs for other artists or for movie soundtracks. In 2004, he re-formed the group N.EX.T although the members were different, and released a double album The Return of N.EX.T Part 3: 개한민국. He also started DJing for a late night radio show Ghost Nation that became extremely popular. In 2007, N.EX.T released a jazz album The Songs for the One inspired by his newborn daughter. In 2008, the band released the album 666 Trilogy. After a long break, the band's final album, Reboot Myself was released in 2014.
Producer
Producer
In 2004, Shin participated in a special project with the best musicians of Korea, an album named "Tribute to Park Nohae's Collection of poems The Dawn of Labor 20th anniversary". It is the first attempted project in the history of Korean music with recordings dedicated to poetry. Shin sang "Heaven" with Psy on this album.
Radio DJ
Radio DJ
Throughout his career Shin hosted several radio programs, including Music City with Shin Hae Chul and GhostStation with Shin Hae Chul After supporting and campaigning for the president Roh Moo-hyun in 2002 election, Mr. Shin hosts the popular Ghost Nation on MBC, a late-night radio program since 2003. His fans call him "Mawang" (마왕 'the Demon Lord'). On September 16, 2007, Shin ended Ghost Nation, but he also announced that the show would be broadcast on the internet and no longer through MBC.
Personal life
Personal life
He married Yoon Won-hee on September 29, 2002, just before the 2002 election. He released his first jazz album The Songs for the One in 2007, dedicated to his wife and daughter. Shin was found to be suffering from prosopagnosia, on a TV show (MBC Goldfish) in which he made a guest appearance. After that, he hosted a brand-new TV comedy debate program 100-second Debate (since May 2007), with a similar format of the MBC's 100 Minute Debate. On July 29, 2007, he appeared as a victim (guest) of Lee Kyung-kyu's Hidden Camera.
Death
Death
Shin was treated for gastrointestinal problems by Dr. Kang Se-hoon at Sky Hospital on October 17, 2014. Kang carried out stomach reduction surgery without consent from Shin. During surgery, Kang punctured Shin's upper small intestine and pericardium, which later resulted in peritonitis. After developing a fever, which he was told was normal after surgery, Shin suffered a heart attack on October 22, and died on October 27 from peritonitis, pericarditis, sepsis, and brain damage due to lack of oxygen. At the urging of friends, Shin's family stopped his cremation at short notice and requested an autopsy. In March 2015, Songpa police found that Shin Hae-chul died from medical malpractice. Kang was struck off the medical register, fined and sentenced to one year in jail. The death of Shin through malpractice led to a revision of the law in South Korea to allow a state-run agency to help in malpractice cases. The law is referred to as the "Shin Hae-chul Law." Shin Hae-chul's remains were cremated on Seoul Memorial Park in Wonji-dong on November 4th and placed in a columbarium at Utopia Memorial Park in Anseong the following day. In October 2015, they moved the remains to a piramidal grave inspired by one of his daughter's drawings.
Studio albums
Studio albums
• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • KOR • 우리 앞의 생이 끝나갈 때 (When Our Lives Are Almost Over)* — * Released: 1989 * Label: Danal Entertainment • * denotes unofficial English translation.
Studio albums
Studio albums
• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • KOR • 슬픈표정하지 말아요 (Don't Put on a Sad Face)* — * Released: May 1, 1990 * Label: HKR, Danal Entertainment — rowspan="5" scope="col" • Myself — * Released: March 20, 1991 * Label: Daeyoung AV Co., Danal Entertainment • Crom's Techno Works — * Released: June 1, 1998 * Label: DMR, Bugs — * KOR: 150,000 • Monocrom — * Released: May 1, 1999 * Label: Doremi, Bugs • The Songs for the One — * Released: January 29, 2007 * Label: CJ E&M Music • * denotes unofficial English translation.
Extended plays
Extended plays
• Title — Album details — Peak chart positions — Sales • KOR • Reboot Myself Part 1 — * Released: June 26, 2014 * Label: Daeyeong A/V, Danal Entertainment — 13 — * KOR: 1,033+
Television
Television
• Hello Franceska (MBC, 2005)
Movies
Movies
• Whatcha Wearin'? (2012) • On a Windy Day We Must Go to Apgujeong (1993)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1968
Shin Hae-chul was born in 1968.
2014
Shin Hae-chul died.
Books
• Shin Hae-chul (1991). 사랑의 날개는 너에게. Prunsoop. • Shin Hae-chul; Ji Seung-ho (2008). 쾌변독설. Buen Libro. • Shin Hae-chul (2014). 마왕 신해철 (Mawang Shin Hae-chul). Munhakdongne Publishing Corp.
Tributes
Psy's song "Dream" was released in 2015 as a tribute to Shin, donating the profits to his bereaved family. The lyrics recount conversations Psy had with Shin while he was still alive. On the fourteenth episode of Hangout with Yoo, Yoo Jae-suk played drums, as part of the show format, to accompany the unreleased song "Father and I: Part 3". The song used the pre-recorded vocal narrated monologue of Shin Hae-chul, and was supported by his friend and colleague, Lee Seung-hwan, and fan, Ha Hyun-woo. The new version was called "Stargazer" by Lee Seung-hwan. It was played to and lauded by some of the biggest names in the Korean music industry, all of whom took a moment to praise the genius nature of Shin.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Mnet.
- 2.Hong, Dam-young. Fans, family remember rocker Shin Hae-chul on third anniversary of death. The Korea Herald. October 27, 2017.
- 3.Doo, Rumy. Psy to honor Korean rock legend Shin Hae-chul in new album. The Korea Herald. November 26, 2015.
- 4.Sung, So-Young. Legendary singer Shin Hae-chul dies at 46. Korea JoongAng Daily. October 29, 2014.
- 5.Mnet.
- 6.Hong, You-kyoung. Shin Hae-chul's surgeon sentenced to prison. Korea JoongAng Daily. January 31, 2018.
- 7.Lee, Se-a. October 29, 2014.
- 8.Mnet.
- 9.네이버 뮤직 :: 박노해 시인 노동의 새벽 20주년 헌정 음반 – Various Artists. music.naver.com.
- 10.Kang, Heon. Dolbegae. 2018. 9788971998434.
- 11.신해철의 음악도시, distributed by MBC, April 1996~September 1997, served as 'the 1st Mayor'
- 12.신해철의 고스트스테이션, by SBS, April 2000~March 2003, The matrix of MBC's 'GhostNation'.
- 13.Ghoststation(고스트스테이션).
- 14.Singer Shin Hae Chul married in Japan (Korean), Yonhap, Retrieved on September 29, 2002
- 15.'Mawang' Shin Hae Chul suffering from prosopagnosia (Korean), Dailyseop.com, Retrieved on February 22, 2007
- 16.Shin Hae Chul hosts '100-second Debate' (Korean), Yonhap, Retrieved on April 21, 2007
- 17.Even Shin Hae Chul encounted Molrae Camera (Korean), Hankook Ilbo, Retrieved on July 30, 2007
- 18.Shin Hae Chul's Death Ruled a Result of Medical Negligence. Soompi. March 3, 2015.
- 19.Jail Sentence for Doctor in Shin Hae-chul's Death Upheld. The Chosun Ilbo.
- 20.Shin Hae-chul's Doctor Who Was Blamed For His Death Is Recently Linked To Death Of An Australian. JKDaily. January 25, 2016.
- 21.Late singer Shin Hae-chul's family decides on autopsy. The Korea Times. November 3, 2014.
- 22.Rock singer Shin Hae-chul died from medical malpractice: police. The Korea Times. March 3, 2015.
- 23.More medical disputes mediated under 'Shin Hae-chul Act'. The Korea Herald. April 30, 2018.
- 24.조선일보. [사진]故 신해철 유골함 안치,'이곳에서 편안히'. 2020-08-06.
- 25.故 신해철, 5일 오전 11시 화장 후 안성 유토피아 추모관 안치. 뉴스1. 2014-11-04.
- 26.신해철 1주기 추모식 열린다…25일 유토피아추모관에서 공개 진행. 한겨레. 2015-10-19.
- 27.[단독]故신해철 묘비, 딸 지유가 그렸다…"종교적 음모론 유감". 스타투데이. 2015-10-01.
- 28.25 November 2015.
- 29.26 November 2015.
- 30.Tsang, Ann. Asia Pacific – Viewer's Choices, Techno Works And A Brother Act. Billboard. August 8, 1998.
- 31.Gaon Music Chart. Gaon Album Chart.
- 32.Gaon 2014년 11월 Album Chart.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q485059: Shin Hae-chulWikimedia Foundation
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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