No Yu-min pulls out old NRG photos for Kim Hwan-sung

No Yu-min expressed his gratitude to fans by releasing old activity photos ahead of the 26th anniversary of the passing of NRG member, the late Kim Hwan-sung. It was a memorial that called out once again a name that the first-generation idol fandom has remembered together for a long time.

Released NRG era photos on SNS on June 14

On the 14th, ahead of June 15, No Yu-min posted photos from his NRG days on his SNS and wrote, "Today is the day we remember Kim Hwan-sung, NRG's eternal maknae."

He stated, "Although 26 years have passed, I sincerely thank all the Cheonjae Ilwoo fans from Korea, China, and Japan who still remember Hwan-sung and frequently visit Yongmi-ri, where Hwan-sung is, even on weekends." Cheonjae Ilwoo is the name of the NRG fandom.

At the center of the post were the NRG activity periods spent with the deceased. No Yu-min explained his reason for bringing out the old photos he had kept, leaving words such as "precious times when we laughed and cried together" and "our friend whom we will never forget."

Kim Hwan-sung, who stood on stage as an NRG member in 1997

After debuting with the group Kkaebi Kkaebi in 1996, Kim Hwan-sung took the stage again as a member of NRG in 1997. NRG started as a five-member group consisting of Lee Sung-jin, Chun Myung-hoon, No Yu-min, Moon Sunghoon, and Kim Hwan-sung, and became a team frequently mentioned during the early stages of K-pop's overseas expansion, extending beyond domestic activities to include a Chinese fandom.

Before systematic platforms like today's global K-pop activities were established, fans paved the way for Hallyu by following performances, broadcasts, and albums. To the generation that witnessed his active years, Kim Hwan-sung is remembered for his beautiful voice on stage, bright image, and the sudden parting that remains with his name.

June 15, 2000, passed away at age 19

Kim Hwan-sung passed away on June 15, 2000. He was 19 years old at the time. After being hospitalized for a sore throat and high fever, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he could not return after suffering from breathing difficulties and decreased brain function. The cause of death has been cited as acute viral respiratory disease along with sepsis.

No Yu-min has not let the deceased's birthday or anniversary pass by without asking fans to remember him together. This post, too, was closer to a way of sharing photos and saying thank you to the fans who visit, rather than greatly magnifying the sadness.

Even after the trend of reunions and retrospective variety shows passed, fans' memories of NRG and Kim Hwan-sung gather again every June 15. The old photos brought out by No Yu-min served to confirm that date once again.