Kang: Yes, I agree that those are complicated feelings, when combined together. I am not only a performer, who became a target of envy in Korea, but also a disabled person, who received a stream of pity. So, I have experienced the feelings of walking on air, and the free-fall down into hell. Do you think these feelings are a joke? Yet, it is a singer’s life. A singer’s life follows the path of the words. I believe this is true. Let us take a supposition. One singer sang about the sorrow of parting, and would experience the sorrow of love. Likewise, I also walk the same path way. Do you know my hit song ‘Keoung Tta-ri Ssa ba-ra’ (쿵따리샤바라, easily pronounced the sound of language)? My life follows the words of the song. “Happiness and sorrow are crossed; frustration and courage alternate in my breast…. Take the world as it is. Happiness and sorrow have always existed and we rise to meet them. We are alive, because tomorrow is coming, and thanks to that, we live with hope.”

CAH: You are working on two programs, the Kang, Won-rae’ s gift of songs( ) by radio, and the Family in Love( ) by television. Would you tell us about the story lines?

Kang: There are many story lines. I could not pick just one. So, I will tell you the general line of the whole story. In radio, I can empathize with the stories of those, who become disable in the middle of their careers.

CAH: You might have experience complicate feelings, which is the combined emotions of joy and anger coming together with sorrow and pleasure. What do you think about this?

Kang: Yes, I agree that those are complicated feelings, when combined together. I am not only a performer, who became a target of envy in Korea, but also a disabled person, who received a stream of pity. So, I have experienced the feelings of walking on air, and the free-fall down into hell. Do you think these feelings are a joke? Yet, it is a singer’s life. A singer’s life follows the path of the words. I believe this is true. Let us take a supposition. One singer sang about the sorrow of parting, and would experience the sorrow of love. Likewise, I also walk the same path way. Do you know my hit song ‘Keoung Tta-ri Ssa ba-ra’ (쿵따리샤바라, easily pronounced the sound of language)? My life follows the words of the song. “Happiness and sorrow are crossed; frustration and courage alternate in my breast…. Take the world as it is. Happiness and sorrow have always existed and we rise to meet them. We are alive, because tomorrow is coming, and thanks to that, we live with hope.”

CAH: You are working on two programs, the Kang, Won-rae’ s gift of songs( ) by radio, and the Family in Love( ) by television. Would you tell us about the story lines?

Kang: There are many story lines. I could not pick just one. So, I will tell you the general line of the whole story. In radio, I can empathize with the stories of those, who become disable in the middle of their careers.
This type of disability is in the majority of the disabled. They occupy about 90% out of 100%. For example, you could not to be a black person. But, it is possible for you to be disabled on the way home today. I am so sorry to say that, but it is life.
In these cases of disability, their life is suddenly changed. In addition, the way people gaze at them, and their treatment by others also changes. So, they are hurt in mind, because of their frustration. So, they look to my program to receive comfort.
Next, is the ‘congenital disability’ story, which was introduced in ‘Family in love’. When I finished recording the program as broadcaster, I felt such a sense of thanksgiving, because of my situation. As I do this interview, I can see everything and can hear any sound. I can touch and feel each tactile sensation, but those with congenital disabilities can’t do these things or feel them. So, their story made me stop and reflect on myself. Actually, it is thanks to them that I regained my confidence. They can feel comfort for a moment through my program, they made me realize the importance of much bigger things.

CAH: You joined the association of the disabled ‘Skywheel’. How did you come to join this association? What are you doing in this club?

Kang:  Six years ago, I had a traffic accident in 2000. I collided with a car. I was riding a bike at the time. From that time, I had to depend on a wheel chair. After I was diagnosed as being paralyzed from the waist down by the doctor, my brother advised me. He said, “If you must live in a wheelchair, who will teach you how to use it? Will the doctor do that? No! You must learn the way to live from the disabled.” I got a lot of information from the club’s members, such as the way to separate body wastes and how to keep intimate terms with my wife.
The Club also helped me to met many companies, and I hear lots of relevant news to my situation. I would like to live a humdrum life just as my club’s members do. So, I support them.

CAH: CAH heard the surprising news that you became a Professor at Korea Nazarene University this year. How about your classes?

Kang: I teach six hours every week. The subject of my lecture is “dancing and popular culture”. This is normal. I wanted to start with a few students and progress more over time, because I wish to form close connections with my students by talking with each other. But the number of students attending my classes is around 170. Eighty students are attending a lecture before noon and ninety belong to an afternoon class. With my pupils, I would like to dance by setting a stage in the middle of the playground. Of course, it is only my desire.
I have conversations with pupils about human existence above our fixed subject.
In the class, I have to say, “I have a favor to ask of you, please do not treat me as an entertainer or the disabled. I am just a human called Kang, won-rae. I advise them to take off their tainted glasses about entertainers and the disabled.
CAH: Did you have an influential teacher in your life? If you had, who was he or she?

When I was graduating from high school, I met him. At that time, I was a boy who needed special care. I was not good at fighting, but I caused many quarrels. I always provoked wars. Worse I drank liquor, and started smoking on the sly from about twelve years old. Every teacher pulled away from me. Yang, Chang-soon was my Korean language teacher.
One day, my friend and I were being chewed out by him, same as other days, when he said to us, “If you have an aptitude for merriness, you should regard merriness as the tools you use to earn money. But if you do not become best at it, then you might as well throw up your hands!” This phrase became my article and my faith. There were four members in that problem group, who made an effort to be the best people, who enjoy entertainment. After 10 years, I stand up to this position. The others enjoy a fairly high reputation in Korean society as well.

CAH: Would you give us your advice?

Kang: First, you should try many things. Experience is the most important. A person, whose love life is varied and colorful, will meet a real lover after all.
Second, prepare yourself for the ups and downs. Even though a singer has had extensive preparation for three years, the singer can lose his success after only a few months. That is the state of worldly affairs.
Lastly, make a racket, when you make merry. It is as necessary, as studying hard.

 It took one hour to interview him.
However, after it was over, there was extra time to talk. At that time, CAH could listen to the many love stories and experiences he has to tell. He and his wife seem like such a common couple. During their courtship, they corresponded with each other through about 700 letters, and they make domestic scenes as normal married couples. CAH does not feel “He is a entertainer.” or “He is a disabled.” He is only a person called Kang, won-rae.