Lim Jae Wook of The Stray Dies at 37 After a Long Illness

Fans and fellow musicians are mourning Lim Jae Wook, the keyboardist of the Korean band The Stray, who has died at 37 after a long illness.

The group shared the news through its official channels, asking fans to pray for his peaceful rest and remembering him as a warm presence who supported the band through music. Reports state that the band disclosed the news on September 7, while Korean media note that he passed away on September 5.

The Stray told fans their “beloved keyboardist” had left after a long battle with illness. The members said all five who started the band gathered to walk with him on his final path.

They remembered his cheerfulness during treatment and thanked him for the melodies he left behind. The group did not specify the illness. These details come from the band’s public notice and Korean outlets that translated the statement.

Korean coverage indicates Lim died on September 5. The group’s announcement was posted on September 7. International entertainment sites picked up the news on September 10 and September 11 in Asia.

This explains why some readers saw the headline a few days after the actual date of death. It is common for families and bandmates to notify fans after private rites or internal arrangements.

Lim Jae Wook was a founding member and the band’s keyboardist. He helped shape The Stray’s sound on stage and in the studio. The group debuted in 2014 and is known among rock listeners for emotive melodies and reflective lyrics.

The band’s catalog includes early singles that introduced their mellow pop-rock style to local audiences. Coverage in Korean and international media credits Lim for steady musicianship and quiet leadership within the lineup.

Articles referencing the group’s history highlight songs that built the band’s reputation across small venues and local festivals. Pieces mention early digital singles and later tracks that cemented their identity.

Listeners often describe The Stray’s mood as wistful and healing. Lim’s keys anchored that feeling with gentle textures and patient builds. Even casual fans could hear his touch in the intros and bridges that gave the band room to breathe.

Reports say the group’s concert planned for September 14 will proceed as scheduled. That is a hard call for any band, yet it can be a way to honor a member in front of people who care.

If the show goes on, expect a quiet moment in the set for Lim. Expect photos. Expect a keyboard on stage, even if no one sits there. The choice to play would echo the message in their statement about keeping his music alive.

Within hours of the news, comments on community posts shifted from surprise to remembrance. Listeners shared clips of live sessions where Lim’s keys guided the melody and steadied the band. Others wrote about meeting him after small shows and how kind he was.

This is how indie scenes remember their own. Not with grand narratives. With short notes about nights when a song helped someone get through the week. International headlines amplified the story, but the most personal tributes came from people who stood close to the stage.

Start with their early digital singles, then find the live clips that fans share most. Listen for the spaces between the chords and the way the keys open room for the vocal to land.

You will hear why people are grieving and grateful at the same time. Music becomes memory. The best moments sound like someone wrote them for you. That is how Lim played.

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