Here are 2 famous musicians from South Korea died at 56:
Ku Ok-hee (August 1, 1956 Seoul-July 10, 2013 Shizuoka) was a South Korean personality.
Ku Ok-hee was also known by her nickname "Madame Ku". She was a former Miss Korea contestant and later became a high-profile socialite and philanthropist. Ku Ok-hee was married to the Japanese businessman Noboru Uchida and was involved in various charitable activities in Japan and South Korea. She also owned a winery in Shizuoka, Japan and was known for promoting Korean culture and cuisine through her projects. In addition to her philanthropy work, Ku Ok-hee had a keen interest in fashion and established a fashion brand called KUHO. Her sudden death in 2013 shocked many in South Korea and Japan.
Ku Ok-hee was born in Seoul, South Korea to a family of academics. Her father was a professor of political science and her mother was a lecturer in the English language. Ku Ok-hee attended Ewha Womans University and later participated in the Miss Korea pageant in 1978, where she finished as a runner-up. After the pageant, she pursued a career in modeling and soon became a popular socialite among the elite circles of South Korea and Japan.
Ku Ok-hee was well-known for her philanthropic activities in both countries. She was a strong advocate for women's rights and education and frequently donated to organizations that supported these causes. Ku Ok-hee was also an active promoter of Korean culture and cuisine, organizing cultural events and food festivals in both South Korea and Japan.
Apart from her philanthropy work, Ku Ok-hee was also a successful entrepreneur. In 1997, she established her fashion brand KUHO, which soon became a popular label among fashion enthusiasts in South Korea and abroad. She also invested in the wine industry and owned a winery in Shizuoka, Japan.
Ku Ok-hee's sudden death in 2013 was deeply mourned by her fans, friends, and family. After her death, her family continued her philanthropic activities through the Ku Ok-hee Memorial Foundation, which supports various charitable causes in South Korea and Japan.
She died in myocardial infarction.
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Akihiko Hirata (December 16, 1927 Seoul-July 25, 1984 Tokyo) a.k.a. Akihiko Onoda, Hirata Akihiko or Onoda Akihiko was a South Korean actor.
Hirata was best known for his work in Japanese kaiju films from the 1950s to the 1970s. He appeared in more than 100 films during his career. Hirata's most famous role was Dr. Serizawa in the original 1954 "Godzilla" film. He also appeared in "Mothra," "Rodan," and "King Kong vs. Godzilla." Hirata was a frequent collaborator with director Ishiro Honda and actor Takashi Shimura. Outside of his work in monster movies, Hirata also acted in various other genres such as dramas, comedies, and samurai films.
Hirata was born in Seoul, Korea, during the time when Korea was occupied by Japan. He moved to Japan with his family when he was young and grew up in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Hirata attended Waseda University, where he studied literature before moving on to the Toho Actor's School. He began his acting career in theater before transitioning to film. In addition to his work as an actor, Hirata also served as a stage director and screenwriter. He was recognized for his contributions to the film industry and was honored with a posthumous lifetime achievement award at the 9th Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 1986. Hirata's legacy lives on, and his work in the Godzilla franchise continues to be celebrated by fans around the world.
He died in lung cancer.
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