发布时间: 12/18/2025
It's hard to believe a full year has passed since Seo Dong-wook, the talented musician from the band Exhibition and Morgan Stanley private equity vice president, left us forever. He battled a chronic illness and passed away on December 18, 2024, at just 50 years old—way too young, right? Fans and colleagues alike still feel that punch to the gut thinking about his vibrant life cut short.
Back in 1993, Seo Dong-wook burst onto the scene with Exhibition at the MBC College Song Festival, snagging the grand prize and launching his music career. Teamed up with main vocalist and pianist Kim Dong-ryul, who was also his high school buddy from Whimoon High and college mate at Yonsei University, they formed this dynamic duo—Kim on lead vocals and keys, Seo handling sub-vocals and bass. Together, they dropped three albums from their 1994 debut right up until the band's breakup in 1997, churning out timeless hits like "Draft of Memories," "Stranger," and "Drunkard's True Words" that fans belt out even today.
Even after Exhibition called it quits, Seo and Kim Dong-ryul kept that brotherly bond alive—Seo jumped in on Kim's solo albums and joined him for live concert stages. But music wasn't his only chapter; he hung up the mic, headed to the US, and earned an MBA from prestigious Stanford University. From there, he climbed the corporate ladder at McKinsey & Company and Doosan Group, landing as vice president at Morgan Stanley's private equity division until the end, proving his cross-industry legend from K-pop stardom to Wall Street savvy.