Choi Sung-bong was a South Korean singer known for his appearance on ‘Korea’s Got Talent’ in 2011. |
He passed away at the age of 33 in 2023 from suicide. |
At age three, he was abandoned at a Seoul orphanage where he endured abuse. |
At age five, he ran away to Daejeon's red-light districts to escape the abuse. |
At 14, he sought refuge in a night school to avoid gangs in his area. |
He used to sleep in public toilets during winters for warmth. |
He worked at a delivery service to pay for school fees and singing lessons. |
He received free music lessons from mentor Jeong-So Park. |
Despite getting into Hanyang University, financial troubles hindered his undergraduate studies. |
Choi Sung-bong rose to fame on 'Korea’s Got Talent’ in 2011 with his rendition of 'Nella Fantasia.' |
Following his performance going viral on YouTube, he garnered praise from various artists. |
He was the first runner-up on the show and signed with Sony Music Korea Inc. |
Choi Sung-bong featured on various music shows and talk shows worldwide. |
He was the honorary ambassador of ChildFund Korea and the Chang Dong Social Welfare Center. |
He performed for underprivileged groups such as single mothers and youths in custody. |
He did over 1000 performances globally. |
In 2016, he penned a best-selling book, ‘Singing is My Life: Memoir of My Journey from Homelessness to Fame.’ |
He released the single album ‘I Pray’ from ‘The First Story’ in April 2016. |
In 2021, he released a song titled ‘Tonight.’ |