MC Mong

MC 몽
Birth name	Shin Dong-Hyun (신동현)
Also known as	Mong (몽)
Born	September 4, 1979 (1979-09-04) (age 32) Namsang-dong, South Korea
Origin	South Korea
Genres	Pop rap, K-Pop, alternative hip hop, dance-pop
Occupations	Rapper, Composer, Radio DJ, Actor, Comedian
Years active	1998–2010
Labels	IS Entermedia Group (2009–Current) M.A Wilddog Entertainment (2003-2005, 2009) Fantom Entertainment (2006-2008)
Associated acts	People Crew Dalmatian Crown J HaHa Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days HaHaMong Show
Website	Official Site

MC Mong
Hangul	신동현
Hanja	申東泫
Revised Romanization	Sin Dong-hyeon
McCune–Reischauer	Sin Tong-hyŏn
Stage name
Hangul	MC 몽
Hanja	MC 夢
Revised Romanization	MC Mong
McCune–Reischauer	MC Mong

MC Mong (Hangul: MC 몽) (September 4, 1979) is a South Korean hip hop artist who is known for his comic disposition and his upbeat songs. He graduated from Dong-Ah Broadcasting College. MC Mong has collaborated with many well known artists, including Kim Tae Woo from G.o.d., Ock Ju-hyun, Ivy, Crown J, Lena Park, Park Hyo Shin, SG Wannabe and Jo Sungmo. He was a member of KBS2's 1 Night 2 Days (1박 2일), a part of the network's Happy Sunday line-up. MC Mong released his fifth album, Humanimal in July 2009 after 1 year and 3 months. Allegations of military draft dodging resulted in a criminal investigation in late 2010.

Music career

Debut

MC Mong first debuted as a member of hip hop band People Crew, which debuted in 1998. Because he was overshadowed by other members in his group, he was not noticed until 2003, when he acted in MBC's Non-Stop 4.^[1] In 2004, he started his solo career debuting with the single "180°". He gained much more attention with the release of his third album, The Way I Am with the first single off this album "Ice Cream" ("아이스크림"). His albums are known mostly for their comedic styles (aided by humorous music videos), although his third album, The Way I Am has taken on a slightly more serious tone.^[2] His nickname is "monkey", due to his resemblance to the animal; most Korean variety shows reference this. On a fall of 2006 episode of SBS's Ya Shim Man Man, he and his good friend Haha talked about their struggles when they were first trying to break into the industry. His parents had fought with him, telling him that he should not try to become an entertainer.

MC Mong's style falls into both the k-pop and Hip hop genre. On top of his own rapping, MC Mong's songs frequently feature guest vocalists. For his third album, MC Mong flew to Tokyo, Japan to record a duet with Lisa, a former member of M-Flo. MC Mong wanted a female vocalist to continue the sequel from his first album's song "A Letter to You" (Korean: 너에게 쓰는 편지) which featured Lyn.^[3] Other vocalists featured in his album are Park Hyo Shin, Ivy, and MayBee.

Greater recognition in k-pop music

In 2006, he proved his talents as a solo artist with his album The Way I Am. This album topped the charts on November 19, 2006, beating out "big names" like Rain and Se7en.^[4]

In 2007, he started an online shopping mall called, Mong the Shop, and became a DJ on SBS Power FM radio program, hosting "MC 몽의 동고동락". He made another collaboration with Kim Tae Woo, making the single "So Fresh". At the end of 2007, MC Mong joined KBS's 1 Night 2 Days, a part of the network's Happy Sunday line-up, as the replacement for Kim Jong Min.

In April 2008, he released his fourth studio album, entitled Circus: Show's Just Begun. The first single and accompanying music video to the album was "Circus" ("서커스"), which proved to be immensely popular winning five No.1's on KBS's Music Bank. After he ended the promotions for "Circus", he moved on to promote the next single of his fourth album "Feel Crazy" ("미치겠어").

After 1 year and 3 months, MC Mong released his fifth album, Humanimal. The word comes from "human" and "animal". The first single of his fifth album is "Indian Boy" which features Park Jang Geun (a.k.a. Jang Geun-ee), who also rapped in his fourth album single, "Circus", and 13-year-old singer, B.I., who has gained a lot of attention for his rapping skills at a young age. Pre-order sales of Humanimal reached over 55,000 copies and the album is expected to do well like his past four albums, which all have passed the 100,000 sales mark. Like his past albums, many other singles from his fifth album are also doing quite well on the music charts.^[5] The fourth track, "Jin Shil, Even If You're in Heaven" ("진실은 천국에서라도"), was written by MC Mong and dedicated to the late actress Choi Jin Shil. He was unable to attend her funeral due to the filming of Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days. Also, MC Mong said that it was a promise that he had made to Choi Jin Shil. He once said, "Nuna had all of my albums and knew all the track listings. She really cared for me. We got really close after skiing together once. She even joked to me once that if I should write her a song, then she will appear in the music video", and, "When the news of nuna's death broke, I wasn't able to go to her wake because I was filming "1 Night 2 Days". It was really agonizing. Even now, I feel like I owe her a big debt, but at least I managed to keep my promise of writing her a song. I hope to use this song as a form of condolence to my nuna who has now become a star in the sky. Not just Jin Shil nuna, I hope that others will not depart this world with hurt."^[6] MC Mong's management company, M.A. Wilddog Entertainment, stated that music sales for this single will be donated to charity.^[7] Track 10, "Love You 'Till Death " ("죽도록 사랑해 ") features veteran singer Jo Sung Mo, is the continuation of "Love You 'Till Death" ("죽도록 사랑해") from his fourth album which featured singer Lena Park. Track 11, "Little Sunshine" is a song he wrote dedicated to the fathers of his fellow members of 1 Night 2 Days - in particular, Kang Ho Dong, Lee Su Geun and Kim C.^[8] Track 13, "LUV D.N.A" featuring singer Navi, is a song MC Mong wrote dedicated to his classmate on the reality show "Mong Goes to Medical School". The passing of his classmate's mother inspired him to write this song.^[8]

Acting career

MC Mong made his first acting debut in the MBC TV sitcom Non-Stop 4 (논스톱 4) where he started to gain acknowledgment and later began his solo music career. In 2005, he starred in the TV mini-series, "Sad Love Song". Though the show was a grand production, the mini-series had low viewership ratings. In 2007, He was a leading actor on Cable chanel TVN drama program 'The Greatest Catsby' (Original work by a cartoonist Kang Do-Ha's cartoon The Greatest Catsby). In 2008, he did the Korean dubbing for Ham III, the main character from the American computer-animated science fiction comedy film, Space Chimps.

Controversies

Mandatory national service

In September, 2010, allegations regarding his mandatory national service prompted the South Korean Military Manpower Administration (병무청) to conduct an investigation. Due to the public outcry, he has stopped all public appearances, including TV programs. Originally, according to reporters one of his dentists publicly stated that he received money from Mong to remove two teeth instead of repairing them. Mong strongly denied these allegations. On October 10 Mong was officially charged with the violation of military service laws by the Seoul Central District Court. In Mong's second trial on 29 November 2010, after four of his dentists came forward to support his case, the fifth and the one previously stated who took out teeth number 46 and 47 changed his statement. He explained that tooth number 47 was acutely damaged, so he pulled it out. He pulled out tooth number 46 as there was a hole in the tooth, and explained that he could not know why the hole was there. He also explained that MC Mong had not taken good care of his teeth and most of his teeth needed either care or removal. He also explained that the police told him to write in words such as “forceful” and “intense” into his account, and that he was bothered about it constantly when he did not. He explained that he had never talked to MC Mong about enlistment evasion. He explained that unlike the reports suggested, he had never received any money from MC Mong for pulling the teeth out, and that the reason he took the teeth out was not from MC Mong’s request. His third has held on December 20. The 4th trial is scheduled on 24 January 2011, but is postponed until February 8.

On 11 April 2011, Mong was cleared of intentionally pulling out healthy teeth to be exempted from military duty but was sentenced to a suspended jail term of 6 months, probation for one year, and 120 hours of community service, for deliberately delaying enlistment on false grounds.^[9] The court acknowledged that there was a delay in his military enlistment, however, they were unable to determine whether he was guilty for extracting teeth for the purpose of avoiding his military draft.^[10]

In September 2011, it was reported that Mong has been banned by Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) from appearing in its TV shows, for draft dodging.^[11]

1 Night 2 Days

There were controversies over a smoking scene on an episode of KBS' Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days which aired on July 6, 2008. On their trip to Baekdusan, a scene of Mong smoking in the bus was not edited and was aired. In 2004, all 3 major broadcasting stations, KBS, MBC and SBS, agreed to prohibit smoking scenes being aired before midnight.^[12] The variety program's directors made an official apology on July 7 for not properly editing the scene before airing the program.^[13]

Discography

Main article: MC Mong discography

Albums 2004: 180 Degree 2005: His Story 2006: The Way I Am 2008: Show's Just Begun 2009: Humanimal 2009: Humanimal: Horror Show 2009: 블루브랜드 2집 Trauma Part 2 Singles 2006: 천하무적 이평강! (Invincible Lee Pyung Kang!) 2007: So Fresh 2008: 죽을만큼 아파서 (Sick Enough To Die) feat. Mellow People Crew discography 1999: Hiphop Spirit Forever 2000: 태산북두 (泰山北斗) 2002: We Believe We Can Fly!

Film and television career

Television 2003-2004: MBC Non-Stop 4 (논스톱 4) (TV Sitcom) 2005: MBC Sad Love Song (슬픈 연가) (TV mini-series) 2007: tvN The Great Catsby (위대한 캣츠비) (TV Mini-series) Variety 2008–2010: KBS2 Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days 2008-2009: SBS Ya Shim Man Man 2 2009: Mnet Dr. Mong Goes to School 2009-2010: KBS SNSD's Hello Baby Episode 1-2 (as Daily Dad) 2010: SBS HahaMong Show

Films 2003: Deus Machina (데우스 마키나) 2006: Riverbank Legends (뚝방 전설) 2007: Myodo Wild Flower (묘도야화) 2008: Space Chimps (스페이스 침스) (Dubbed for Ham III in the Korean version)

Radio DJ

• 2003-2004: SBS Haha & Mong's Young Street (하하 몽의 영 스트리트)
• 2007-2008: SBS MC Mong's Donggo Dongrak (MC 몽의 동고동락) (April 16 - October 26)

Awards

Year	Awards
2003	2003 Korea Entertainment Awards: New Artist Award 2003 MBC Entertainment Awards: Producer's Comedy-Sitcom Star Award 2003 MBC Entertainment Awards: Sitcom Artist Award
2004	2004 KBS Music Awards: Bonsang Award 2004 MBC Entertainment Awards :Producer's Comedy-Sitcom Star Award
2005	2005 M.net KM Music Festival: Popularity Award 22nd Korea Best Dresser: Best Dresser (Artist Category) 2005 MBC 10th Music Awards: Bonsang Award KBS Music Awards: Lyrics Award KBS Music Awards: Artist of the Year Award 20th Golden Disk Awards: Bonsang Award 2005 SBS Music Awards: Bonsang Award
2006	2006 M.net KM Music Festival: Best Hip Hop Award 16th Seoul Music Awards: Bonsang Award 21st Golden Disk Awards: Hip Hop Award 2006 MBC Entertainment Awards:Special Award 2006 SBS Music Awards: Bonsang Award
2007	Cyworld Digital Music Awards: Song Of The Month (July)(So Fresh)
2008	23rd Golden Disk Awards: Digital Bonsang Award
2010	2009 Cyworld Digital Music Awards:Bonsang Award

See also

• MC Mong discography
• KBS Happy Sunday: 1 Night 2 Days

References

1. ^ (English) KBS Artist Search - MC Mong
2. ^ (English) MC Mong: More Than a Joker Digital Chosunilbo. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
3. ^ (English) 1416434_11858.html MC Mong Sings Duet with Japanese Singer Lisa
4. ^ (English) MC Mong Tops the Charts
5. ^ (Korean) MC몽, 걸그룹 인기 제치고 1위, 전곡 100위권 진입 기염 Newsen. July 23, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
6. ^ (Korean) MC몽 "故최진실 누나와의 약속 지켰죠" Yonhap News. July 23, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
7. ^ (Korean) MC몽 '진실은 천국에서라도' 음원 수익금 모두 기부 Max Movie. July 26, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
8. ^ ^{a b} (Korean) 트랙별로 본 MC몽 5집, '연인-친구-'1박2일' 다 있다' MyDaily. July 23, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
9. ^ The Chosun Ilbo Rapper Gets Suspended Jail Term for Draft Dodging 12 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-14
10. ^ allkpop MC Mong's draft dodging case finally comes to a close
11. ^ Dong-A Ilbo KBS, MBC release list of 36 banned entertainers 28 Spetember 2011. 2011-10-14
12. ^ (Korean) 1박2일 MC몽 담배 ‘징계설 모락’ DongA. July 8, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
13. ^ (Korean) 방통심의위, '1박 2일' 흡연 장면 지도조치만 하기로 MyDaily. July 15, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2009.

External links

• (Korean) IS Entermedia - Official Site
• (Korean) Mong the Shop
• (Korean) Haha & Mong's Shop
• (Korean) MC Mong's Cyworld

Persondata
Name	MC Mong
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 4, 1979
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death