Singer-songwriter and playwright Kim Min-ki / Yonhap

Singer-songwriter and playwright Kim Min-ki, who ran Hakchon Theater on Seoul's Daehangno theater street, died on Sunday. Kim was 73.

He was diagnosed with stomach cancer last year and was batting the illness before passing away.

Born in 1951 in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, Kim began his music career while studying art at Seoul National University in 1969. He formed a folk music duo, Dobidoo, with his high school friend Kim Yeong-se.

The following year, he wrote and composed "Achim Isul," which translates to morning dew in English. The song, featured in singer Yang Hee-eun's debut album in 1971, became the symbolic anthem among rallying pro-democracy protesters as it was widely sung in the protests against authoritarian regimes in the 1970s and '80s.

His music career faced much censorship under the regime. His self-titled debut album in 1971 was confiscated by the government soon after its release and was banned for sale, along with a string of his songs like "A Song of an Old Soldier" and "Sangnoksu" (Evergreen Tree).

Even as he was working at a sewing factory and coal mine to make ends meet, Kim continued his music career, forming a singer group People Seeking Songs in 1984 to release a project album.

A construction worker takes down the signs for Hakchon Theater in Jongno District, central Seoul on March 31. Korea Times photo by Jeong Da-bin

He was also active in the theater scene, producing works like the musical play "Light of a Factory." He made his way into Daehangno's theater scene when he founded Hakchon Theater Company and its theater in 1991, discovering numerous musical talents through live performances, such as singers Kim Kwang-seok, Yoon Do-hyun and Jung Jae-il.

In 1994, he created a musical, "Line 1," adapting a German musical, "Linie 1", by Volker Ludwig. The musical was a huge success and became the most popular work of the company, staging over 8,000 performances with over 700,000 tickets sold up until last year.

The play acted as the stepping stone for many acting stars, including Sol Kyung-gu, Hwang Jung-min and Cho Seung-woo.

The Hakchon Theater became a venue for various music concerts and theatrical plays, including musicals Kim created.

Since 2004, Kim focused on creating children's play, like "We Are Friends" and "Gochujang Tteokbokki."

The theater underwent a long financial struggle for years. It was decided to permanently close down the theater this March after 33 years of running due to financial strains and Kim's health. Over the decades, the theater has produced about 359 works.

Kim has won the Grand Prize and Best Director Award in the theater category at the Baeksang Arts Awards in 2001 for his work with the musical "Blood Brothers." He was also awarded the Goethe Medal by the German government with the musical "Line 1."

His memorial service is being held at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno District, Seoul, through Wednesday. His family will visit Hakchon Theater and the square nearby with the casket before proceeding to the burial site on Wednesday morning.