SEOUL - Bang Shili, a beloved trot singer known for hits like "Seoul Tango" and "First Car," has died at the age of 61, her family announced on Tuesday. The singer, born Bang Young-sun, passed away at a convalescent hospital in the Ganghwa district of Incheon, located 27 kilometers west of Seoul, on Tuesday morning.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Bang had been battling the aftermath of a stroke since June 2007, enduring health challenges for 17 years. Her condition had worsened since December. Bang, a native of Ganghwa born in 1963, embarked on her music career with the Seoul Sisters, a female trio, in 1985 before pursuing a successful solo career in 1990 with the release of "Seoul Tango" among other popular tracks. Her funeral is scheduled to take place at a hospital in Ganghwa on Thursday.