Choi Sung-Bong

Choi Sung-Bong (최성봉; Hanja: 崔性鳳, born 1990 in South Korea) is a vocalist who became famous after his appearance on Korea's Got Talent was picked up by the worldwide news media. He finished second in the competition.

Background

Childhood

Abandoned in an orphanage at three years old, Choi ran away from the abusive orphanage when he was five years old. Choi sold chewing gum and energy drinks from age five years old. He delivered milk and newspapers in addition to working as a laborer to survive beginning at age eight. Choi later met a woman who ran the food cart outside of night clubs, who gave him the name Ji-Sung. Choi did not have a name prior to their encounter. She also encouraged Choi to take the Korean equivalent of a GED to complete his elementary and junior high curricula in order to enter high school. Choi tracked his official record with the name Sung-Bong Choi at the orphanage; however, this was not his given name by his parents. Instead, it was the name given to him at the orphanage; as a result, Choi preferred the name Ji-Sung over Sung-Bong.

He graduated from Daejeon Arts High School. Choi stated during the audition that he attended the high school. Choi also mentioned that there were not any teachers to give him vocal training at the school since he did not usually have the financial resources to pay for master classes.

He also had to work at a delivery service to earn tuition and lessons, but it resulted in a traumatic fall during his 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift. Choi subsequently received medical treatment at Kun Yang University Hospital. Prior to the fall, Choi also had two car accidents as a child without proper medical treatment for many years. When Choi got admitted at Kun Yang University Hospital due to other medical issues related to the earlier car accidents, he voluntarily performed a recital for four students who needed the financial aid for schools during his in-patient stay. Choi initially considered dropping out of high school, but he later found master classes and practiced on his own. Nonetheless, his high school music teacher noted that Choi was often absent from classes due to his difficult situation. At this time, Choi cannot continue with post-secondary education due to his limited financial resources.^[1] Instead, he works as a construction worker with the type of work similar to that of a day laborer. Due to his immense exposure and the popularity, Choi's background has been intensely searched and verified by Netizens and South Korean media.

Musical background

Choi was inspired to pursue a career in music when he was 12 years old after listening to a classical vocalist at the nightclub where he sold gum. Specifically, Choi mentioned during the audition that he was fascinated by the sincerity of the vocalist. He became a musical autodidact and later pursued classical vocal training at the musical department of Daejeon Arts High School.^[2][3] Choi stated that his favorite vocalist is Andrea Bocelli, Italian tenor.

Korea's Got Talent

Appearance and controversy

On June 6, 2011, Choi's outstanding performance of "Nella Fantasia" moved judges and audience members. Choi took the stage appearing unfit for the part. Sporting a bowl haircut and a flannel shirt, he introduced himself as a manual laborer who had made a living selling gum and energy drinks for ten years.^[1] Choi advanced to the final level of competition, finishing second by 280 votes.^[4]

During his first appearance, in replying to a judge's question on whether he had vocal training, Choi said he studied on his own but took master classes whenever he had opportunities. His full answer was edited to make his story more appealing for TV. His formal training and musical background was mentioned on the show, however. The facts were immediately pointed out in a story on the Internet version of Time Magazine.^[5] Time also noted that Paul Potts, who won Britain's Got Talent and was described as a mobile telephone salesman, had sung amateur opera, had performed with a small group connected with the Royal Philharmonic that toured Italy, and had paid for a master class with Luciano Pavarotti, but was still an amateur as he had never been paid for singing before his appearance on Britain's Got Talent. According to Time, Susan Boyle also recorded a charity CD before her appearance on Britain's Got Talent. In any event, Choi's performance is considered the first talent discovery of note from the Korean version of the show.^{[by whom?]}

YouTube sensation

Choi's performance clip made it to YouTube and triggered a worldwide Internet sensation. One version^[6] with English subtitles has triggered international press interest and a worldwide view that Choi was "the next Susan Boyle".^[7] The video itself has exceeded ten million views.^[8] The general public consensus was that Choi rendered a heartbreaking performance for his first performance.^[9]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "The Next Susan Boyle? South Korean Singer is Latest Internet Sensation". ABC News. June 7, 2011. http://abcnews.go.com/International/susan-boyle-south-korean-singer-latest-internet-sensation/story?id=13779754. Retrieved June 8, 2011. 
2. ^ "'Korea's Got Talent': orphan, Sung-bong Choi makes judges cry". International Business Times. 2011-05-31. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/158315/20110606/korea-s-got-talent-sung-bong-choi-brings-tears-to-judges-eyes-italian-opera.htm. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 
3. ^ "Choi Sung Bong’s moving rendition on Korea’s Got Talent induces tears and controversy". Allkpop. June 6, 2011. http://www.allkpop.com/2011/06/choi-sung-bongs-moving-rendition-on-koreas-got-talent-induces-tears-and-controversy. Retrieved June 9, 2011. 
4. ^ "Korea's 'Susan Boyle' Choi Sung-Bong's Overcomes Troubled Past". ABC. 2011-08-21. http://abcnews.go.com/International/koreas-susan-boyle-choi-sung-bongs-overcomes-troubled/story?id=14348183. Retrieved 2011-09-16. 
5. ^ "Korean Susan Boyle: 22-Year-Old Sung-Bong Choi Sings on Korea's Got Talent". TIME. 2011-05-27. http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/07/the-new-susan-boyle-koreas-got-talent-singer-puts-judges-in-tears/. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 
6. ^ "‪Korea's Got Talent. tvN 코리아 갓 탤런트 Ep.1 Sung-bong Choi!!!.avi‬‏". YouTube. 2011-06-04. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BewknNW2b8Y. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 
7. ^ Usigan, Ysolt (2011-06-07). "The next Susan Boyle? Sung-bong Choi on "Korea's Got Talent"". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-20069637-10391705.html. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 
8. ^ Anna Park (June 8, 2011). "Homeless Orphan Becomes Overnight Star of Korea's Got Talent". MTV Korea. http://mtvk.com/2011/06/08/homeless-orphan-becomes-overnight-star-of-koreas-got-talent/. Retrieved June 9, 2011. 
9. ^ "Sung-Bong Choi: Korea's Got Talent Audition Turns Into Incredible, Heartbreaking Performance (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. 2011-06-06. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/06/sung-bong-choi-koreas-got-talent_n_871880.html. Retrieved 2011-06-08. 

External links

• Korea's Got Talent (Official)
• Sung-bong Choi Fan Page
• [1] Fan Page
• [2] twitter

Persondata
Name	Sung-Bong, Choi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1990
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death