"2.5 Million Won" Late Hyunmi's Piano Listed on Danggeun Then Disappeared

Family Members Listing Heirlooms for Sale
"Believe Keeping Them for Life Is Better Than Selling"

The piano that belonged to the late singer Hyunmi was listed on a secondhand trading platform last month. However, Hyunmi's family later decided that it was right to keep the piano and withdrew it from sale.

On the 16th of last month, a listing appeared on the secondhand goods trading app "Danggeun Market" stating, "Transferring the piano that Teacher Hyunmi cherished and kept to someone who will treasure it. Price is 2.5 million won." The listing was about selling the piano that singer Hyunmi, who passed away at the age of 85 in April, used to play.

Singer Hyunmi is singing along with piano accompaniment.
[Photo by YouTube channel 'Yonhap News']

According to a Yonhap News report, the post was confirmed to have been uploaded by Hyunmi's nephew, Lee Jeong-min. Lee, who is in charge of organizing the belongings on behalf of Hyunmi's two sons living in the United States, put the piano up for sale along with other belongings.

However, after the post spread online and many inquiries about the piano came in, nephew Lee Jeong-min suddenly decided not to sell Hyunmi's piano. He stated, "I received messages like 'How can I take it?' At that moment, I felt it was being treated too much like an object, so the family decided to keep it for life."

On the 16th of last month, a sales post appeared on the secondhand goods trading app 'Danggeun Market' stating, "I am transferring a piano that Teacher Hyunmi cherished and kept to someone who will take good care of it. The price is 2.5 million won."
[Photo by YouTube channel 'Yonhap News']

According to Hyunmi's second son, Lee Young-jun, Hyunmi purchased this piano around 1979 while living with her two sons after separating from the late composer Lee Bong-jo. This piano is known to be the 'U1' model produced by Yamaha Japan since the 1960s. The new price varies between 8 million and 14 million won depending on the lower model.

Unlike Lee Bong-jo, who disliked his sons pursuing music, Hyunmi often called her eldest son Young-gon and Young-jun to the piano to enjoy playing together.

In an interview with Yonhap News, Hyunmi's second son Lee Young-jun recalled, "Mother played the piano almost every day. At home, she would suddenly play the piano and say, 'Young-gon, bring out the guitar,' and then say, 'You add some harmony.'

Meanwhile, Hyunmi, a leading female diva representing Korea, was a pioneer of Korean-style pop through jazz-style vocals. She debuted in 1957 as part of the Hyun Sisters and gained much popularity with her first album released in 1962, which included the song 'Baman-gae' (Night Mist).