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Yang Hyun-suk
Yang Hyun-suk in 2016
Born (1970-01-09) January 9, 1970 (age 54)
Seoul, South Korea
Other namesYG
Occupations
  • Entrepreneur
  • Record executive
  • rapper
  • dancer
  • record producer
Known forCo-founding YG Entertainment
SpouseLee Eun-ju (m. 2010)
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • drums
Years active
  • 1992–2019
  • 2023–present
LabelsYG Entertainment
Formerly ofSeo Taiji and Boys
Websiteyanggoon.com
Korean name
Hangul
양현석
Hanja
Revised RomanizationYang Hyeon-seok
McCune–ReischauerYang Hyŏnsŏk

Yang Hyun-suk (born January 9, 1970[1]) is a South Korean music executive, rapper, dancer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of Seo Taiji and Boys during the 1990s. After the group disbanded, he founded and became the executive producer and chairman of YG Entertainment, the fourth-largest record company in South Korea.

Career

1992–1996: Seo Taiji & Boys

Seo Taiji & Boys was formed in 1991 with Seo Taiji, Lee Juno and Yang Hyun-seok.[citation needed] Yang said he first met Seo when the musician came to him to learn how to dance when Yang was a dancer (Yang danced in the Korean dance crew "Spark"(which is considered the first Korean breaking dance group) and in the dancing group "Park Nam Jung [ko] and friends(박남정과 친구들)").[2] "Blown away" by his music, Yang offered to join the group and they later recruited Lee who was one of the top dancers in Korea.[3] The group was influential on the Korean music scene, famous for their single, "Nan Arayo" (Korean"난 알아요", "I Know").[citation needed] The group received criticism for some of their albums, most notably for the song, "Shidaeyugam" (Korean시대유감, "Regret of the Times"), to which fan backlash led to the abolition of the Pre-censorship law in 1996. The group disbanded in 1996 and each member went on to pursue solo careers.

1996–2019: YG Entertainment

In 1996, he established YG Entertainment and released his first solo album which featured a song composed by Seo Taiji.[citation needed] This was their first collaboration since the breakup.[citation needed] Yang Hyun-Suk has produced hugely successful artists through his company, most notably Jinusean, 1TYM, Wheesung, Gummy, Seven, Big Bang, 2NE1, Winner, iKon, Tablo, Epik High, Lee Hi, Blackpink, Treasure, BabyMonster and Psy.

Due to recent controversies involving the Burning Sun scandal and other allegations, Yang Hyun-suk announced his plans to step down from all of his positions at YG Entertainment, and his brother Yang Min-suk announced his decision to resign as CEO of YG Entertainment on June 14, 2019.[4][5]

2019–present: Conviction and YG return

On December 22, 2022, Yang was acquitted of a charge of threatening an informant.[6][unreliable source?] On November 8, 2023, his aquittal for threatening the informant was overturned by the Seoul High Court, finding that he had abused his status at the company to coerce trainees into reversing police testimonies.[7] He was sentenced to 6 months in prison, suspended for 1 year.[7] A previous aquittal for blackmail was upheld.[7]

In December 2023, Yang discussed his "deep involvement in every aspect of BABYMONSTER's production", and how the youth of the members resonated with him because he had a similarly-aged daughter.[8][unreliable source?] In May 2024, YG Entertainment released a video featuring Yang announcing upcoming plans for BabyMonster and Treasure.[9]

Personal life

Yang began dating former Swi.T member Lee Eun-ju in 2001, and they married in 2010.[10] They have two children together, born in 2010 and 2012.[11][12][unreliable source?]

Discography

Albums

Title Album details
Yang Hyun-suk[13]
  • Released: April 6, 1998
  • Label: YG Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, Digital download

Filmography

TV Series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009 Superstar K Himself Judge [14]
2011 K-pop Star 1 Judge for YG Entertainment [15]
2012 K-pop Star 2 [16]
2013 K-pop Star 3 [17]
Win: Who Is Next? YG Entertainment CEO, Director [citation needed]
2014 Mix & Match [citation needed]
K-pop Star 4 Judge for YG Entertainment [citation needed]
2015 K-pop Star 5 [citation needed]
2016 K-pop Star 6 [citation needed]
2017 Mix Nine Judge [18]
2018 YG Future Strategy Office Recurring character [citation needed]
2018 YG Treasure Box Judge [19]

Awards

State honors

Name of country, year given, and name of honor
Country Year Honor Ref.
South Korea[note 1] 2011 Presidential Commendation [23]

Notes

  1. ^ Honors are given at the Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards, arranged by the Korea Creative Content Agency and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[20][21] They are awarded to those who have contributed to the arts and South Korea's pop culture.[22]

References

  1. ^ "[캐리커처로 보는 이슈피플] 양현석, 될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다?" (in Korean). Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. April 21, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "양현석 "재결합 NO! 친구로 팬으로 '서태지' 듣고파"". Dong-a Ilbo. April 21, 2008.
  3. ^ Cho, Chung-un (March 23, 2012). "K-pop still feels impact of Seo Taiji & Boys". The Korea Herald. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  4. ^ Park, So-hyun (June 14, 2019). "'논란' 양현석, YG 떠난다 "모든 직책·업무 내려놓는다" [공식입장 전문]" ['Controversial' Yang Hyun-suk leaves YG and "All duties and tasks are laid down" [Official statement]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  5. ^ Park, So-hyun (June 14, 2019). "양현석 이어 양민석도 YG 떠난다 "대표이사직 사임" [공식입장 전문]" [Yang Hyun-suk's Brother, Yang Min-suk, leaves YG "Resign from his position as CEO" [Official statement]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Kim, Somin (December 22, 2022). "Court Rules Yang Hyun Suk Not Guilty At First Trial For Threatening Informant In Drug Case". Soompi. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Kim, Hyun-soo (November 8, 2023). "YG Entertainment founder gets suspended jail term for wielding coercion in attempt to conceal drug scandal". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Yang Hyun Suk opens up about his hands-on approach to BABYMONSTER, their upcoming song, and Ahyeon's situation". AllKPop. December 31, 2023.
  9. ^ Chin, Carmen (May 20, 2024). "YG Entertainment announces plans for new BABYMONSTER, TREASURE music this fall". NME.
  10. ^ "Yang Hyun-Seok and Lee Eun-ju Dating for Nine Years". KBS World. March 11, 2010. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  11. ^ "Yang Hyun-suk and Lee eun-joo Welcomes Baby Daughter". KBS World Radio. August 5, 2010.
  12. ^ "Yang Hyun Suk makes a big announcement on 'K-Pop Star'".
  13. ^ "Yang Hyun Suk" (in Korean). Melon.
  14. ^ Lee, Eun-jung (July 23, 2009). "국민 오디션 '슈퍼스타K' 24일 첫방송" (in Korean). Yonhap. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "보아, 양현석 박진영과 함께 'K팝스타' 심사위원 발탁" (in Korean). TV Report. August 25, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  16. ^ "더욱 강력해진 'K팝 스타 시즌2' 기대해주세요!" (in Korean). Wstar News. November 9, 2012. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  17. ^ "'K팝3' 새 키워드 '공정한 경쟁' 그리고 '변화'...오디션 홍수 속 빛 발할까(종합)" (in Korean). TV Report. October 8, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  18. ^ Kang, Seo-jung (September 18, 2017). "[Oh!쎈 톡] '믹스나인' 측 "양현석 촬영? 'K팝'보다 3배 힘들 것"". Osen (in Korean). Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  19. ^ 이, 은정 (October 29, 2018). "양현석 "男그룹 선발 'YG보석함' 제작...연습생 29명 공개"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  20. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (October 18, 2018). "BTS, Red Velvet win at Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  21. ^ Yeo, Yer-im (October 25, 2018). "BTS gets award upon their return home". Yonhap News AgencyU007CpaperU007Curl-status=live. Archived from the original on November 7, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via Korea JoongAng Daily.
  22. ^ Lee, Sang-won (October 25, 2016). "Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards announces winners". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  23. ^ 대중문화예술상 2011년 [2011 Popular Culture and Arts Awards]. Korea Creative Content Agency (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2021.