Choi Sung bong

Early life

Sungbong Choi was born in Seoul, and was abandoned at an orphanage when he was three. He ran away from the orphanage to escape physical abuse, took a bus to Daejeon, and started living in the red light districts. His approach to Jeong-So Park for a music lesson was a life-changing event. Jeong-So Park agreed to teach him for free and got him more supports from church and the ChildFund Korea.

Education

After passing elementary school and middle school through qualification examinations, Choi graduated from Dae-Jeon Art High School, and he is currently studying at the Department of Cultural Art Management at Kyung-Hee Cyber University.

During his troubled youth, Choi claims he hid at a night school when he was 14 to escape area gang members. He learned how to read and write and applied for qualification examinations to pass elementary and middle school and enter high school. With hopes of learning music and spending his school years with friends, he entered Dae-Jeon Art High School. To earn school tuition fee and private lesson fees, he worked at a delivery service, but he suffered a grave injury while working the night shift. Choi seriously thought about dropping out of high school, and his music teacher testified that he was often absent because of the underprivileged surroundings. He gained admission to Hanyang University, but due to financial difficulties, was unable to pursue undergraduate education. Instead, he spent his days working as a day laborer.

Korea’s Got Talent

On 6 June 2011, Choi's performance of Ennio Morricone's "Nella Fantasia" on Korea's Got Talent moved judges and audience members to tears. He introduced himself as a manual laborer who had made a living selling gum and energy drinks for ten years. All three judges, Kolleen Park, Jang Jin and Song Yun-ah, were impressed with his vocal talent. Choi advanced to the finals of the competition, finishing second by only 280 votes.

YouTube sensation

Choi's performance clip was posted to YouTube and triggered a worldwide Internet sensation, receiving praise from pop stars Justin Bieber, BoA, Jung-Hwa Um, several hundred thousand fans on Facebook and also political figures including South Korea's former president Lee-Myung-Park. One version with English subtitles has triggered international press interest and a worldwide view that Choi was "the next Susan Boyle". The video itself has received over 161,187,117 views as of September 19, 2016, and the number is still rising.

Controversy

4 June 2011- After his first appearance on the show, some people accused him of concealing the fact that he had graduated from art high school although he was rarely able to attend classes due to his financial situation and was said to have received his diploma out of pity.

The KGT production team explained that “It was cut from the film during editing. He stated that he'd graduated from art high school at the second local tryout, and the judges, crews and hundreds of audience members heard that.” KGT later broadcast the re-edited version including the statement.

Entertainment

After his appearance on KGT, other major entertainment companies tried to persuade Choi to sign contracts with them and he signed up with Sony Music Korea Inc. but cancelled the contract in December 2011. He is currently with Bongbong Company.

Artistry – Crossover tenor

CNN commented that “His powerful baritone voice sounds as if it belongs to a man twice his age and build.” He is currently experimenting with different genres, including Crossover. His vocal tone is soft and emotionally appealing, drawing on his life experiences.

Performances

Album

Essay

Choi wrote an essay entitled “Singing is my life – Memoir of my journey from homelessness to fame.” (published by Mun Hak Dong Ne, Korea) about his life and career and which has now become a best seller. He said that he does not want to live his life shackled to his past and that he wrote the book in gratitude for the attention and love he has received, which has been a great comfort to him.

Outline

Choi has appeared on music shows, Documentary films and talk shows both Korea and overseas. He appeared with Justin Bieber on the Spanish TV programme El Hormiguero. CNN and ABC headlined the interview with him. Choi said that he wants to continue to overcome his experiences of the past 22 years. “It is a blessing that I can live my life without starving, being abused and freezing. I’ll keep taking on challenges and trying my best."

TV shows & Interviews

Korea's Got Talent season 1 [tvN 2011.06]

Magazine Article Features

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Honorary Ambassador

Choi is an honorary ambassador of ChildFund Korea, the organization which helped him to improve his own life. He said that he won’t just tell the children to ‘have hope and dream’, but he wants to help them practically by giving them a chance of a better life. He is currently assisting starving children, orphans and foster families and he is also an honorary ambassador of the Chang Dong Social Welfare Center.

Talent Donation

“People who suffer have feelings that can’t explain in language. And I hope my performance give consolation and uplifting to them.” He does performances and speeches for the neglected classes of people – multicultural families, single moms, Juvenile Hall, Hospice Centers etc.

Support Activity

He sends money or goods to those who need, with talent donation activity.

Award