For 34 years, the South Korean television presenter Song Hae hosted the popular music talent show “National Singing Contest (전국노래자랑),” traveling each week from town to town to film new episodes that aired every Sunday at noon, and becoming a cultural icon in the process.

But when the beloved emcee died on Wednesday at the age of 95, he left behind a dream to take his show to the one place he never had the chance — his hometown in North Korea.

As South Koreans have mourned Song’s passing this week, obituaries and memorials for the jovial performer