Kim Jong Un said he felt sorry that Im died in harness after singing revolutionary songs for decades.

Born as a son of a mine worker, Im enlisted in the Korean People's Army in Juche 52 (1963).

During his military service, he took part in servicepersons' art festival.

After joining the Korean People's Army Song and Dance Ensemble in 1971, he played the part of a botanist in the revolutionary opera "The Story of a Nurse", a winner of the People's Prize.

Under the guidance of Kim Jong Il, he successfully performed his part as a veteran member of the Workers' Party of Korea in the opera.

In December that year the song and dance ensemble performed the opera in honor of President Kim Il Sung. After the performance general secretary Kim Jong Il highly appreciated Im's acting, saying the actor in his twenties performed well just like an old botanist.

Since then, he took part in some 1 000 performances of the opera.

Afterwards, Im took the part of the hero in another revolutionary opera "Under the Bright Sun".

After enjoying the opera, Kim Jong Il introduced Im to the President, saying he performed a feat as a botanist in the opera "The Story of a Nurse".

Im was honored with the title of Merited Artiste in September 1978.

He visited many army units and industrial establishments to sing solo or in chorus. He also made performance tours of some Asian and European nations.

He was active as deputy head of the song and dance ensemble and a section chief of the State Merited Chorus, training a lot of singers.

He, honored again with the title of People's Artiste, took part in more than 100 performances of the State Merited Chorus from the first one in December 1995.

He died of a sudden illness in December 30 last year while energetically conducting artistic activities for inspiring with strength and courage the Korean servicepersons and civilians who were overwhelmed with grief at the demise of general secretary Kim Jong Il.

Though he passed away, he still remains in the memory of the Korean people.