Singer-songwriter Taru. Photo: Capture from Taru’s SNS

Singer-songwriter Taru (real name Kim Min-Young) has shared news of her surgery.

On the 5th, Taru announced the surgery news via her social networking service (SNS). She wrote, “I received the most special Children’s Day gift of my life. I am being admitted to a university hospital today and will undergo surgery tomorrow.”

She added, “I decided to think of it as going in for an upgrade,” and “I will take a brief trip to a strange land. I will return safely.”

After posting a photo of the hospital room where she was admitted on the 5th, on the 6th she said she was heading into the operating room, leaving the greeting, “I will go to a strange land.”

Taru’s SNS announcing the surgery news. Photo: Capture from Taru’s SNS

A post written by Taru’s younger sibling was also uploaded to her SNS after the surgery ended. Taru’s younger sibling said, “Thanks to your concern, the surgery went well,” adding, “Visits and calls are prohibited for rest. After a swift recovery, Taru herself will post an update.”

The reason for Taru’s surgery has not been disclosed.

Taru, who uses a stage name from the Chinese characters for ‘to fall’ (ta) and ‘tear’ (ru), debuted in 2006 as the vocalist of the band The Melody and began solo activities in 2008. In the early 2010s, when artists associated with the ‘Hongdae goddess’ scene were emerging in numbers, she stood as one of the two leading figures alongside Yozoh, helping to lead the scene.

Many of her songs have been used in advertisements and OSTs, and she is also the voice behind the “Text Has Arrived” alert in the drama ‘Secret Garden’ starring Ha Ji-won and Hyun Bin.

On television, she appeared on ‘I Am a Singer 2’ and ‘King of Mask Singer’, and in April last year she also held a solo concert at Hongdae Space Brick.