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Choi Sung-bong Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth18 February 1990

Age33 (at time of death)

BirthplaceSeoul, South Korea

ProfessionSinger

NationalitySouth Korean

Marital statusUnmarried

Choi Sung-bong Biography

Choi Sung-bong was a South Korean singer who rose to international attention after his 2011 appearance on Korea's Got Talent. Born in Seoul in 1990, he had

Early life and background

Choi Sung-bong was born on 18 February 1990 in Seoul, South Korea. His early years were marked by extreme hardship. As a young child he spent time in an orphanage in Seoul, and when he ran away at a very young age he lived in difficult circumstances, including time spent in red-light districts and periods of homelessness. He has spoken about sleeping in public facilities and taking night classes to avoid threats in his neighbourhood. While still a student he worked to pay for school fees and lessons.

Choi received vocal guidance from Jeong-So Park, who agreed to teach him without charge. Support from that mentorship, as well as aid arranged through a church and ChildFund Korea, helped him continue pursuing music. He attended Dae-Jeon Art High School and later studied at Kyung-Hee Cyber University in the Department of Cultural Art Management. He was also accepted to Hanyang University but financial constraints prevented him from taking up that opportunity.

Career

Choi came to public attention in 2011 when he appeared as a contestant on the television competition Korea's Got Talent on tvN. His performance of Nella Fantasia gained widespread recognition and was shared online, attracting praise from international musicians and commentators. He advanced to the finals of the show and finished as first runner-up.

Following Korea's Got Talent, Choi performed widely. He took part in concerts and events across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and completed more than a thousand performances during his career. In 2012 he performed at events such as the You Fest Main Final Concert in Madrid and concerts in Seoul and Los Angeles. He also made television and radio appearances at home and abroad, including interviews with international news outlets and appearances on programmes such as Spain's El Hormiguero.

Choi received industry recognition, including the 9th Candle Award from a college union's pop culture critics and a New Artist award from the Foreign Correspondents Club. He had offers from multiple entertainment companies after his television breakthrough and signed with Sony Music Korea Inc.; that contract was ended in December 2011. At the time before his death he was managed by Bongbong Company.

Outside of concerts and broadcast appearances, Choi engaged in public-facing activities such as charity performances and ambassadorships. He served as an honorary ambassador for ChildFund Korea and the Chang Dong Social Welfare Center, and he performed for disadvantaged groups including single mothers, youths in juvenile custody, and hospice centres. He also appeared in magazines and participated in public-service events, including an advertisement for South Korea's Election Committee.

His recorded output included a 2016 mini-album titled The First Story, from which the single I Pray was released in April 2016, and a 2021 single titled Tonight. In 2016 he published a memoir, Singing is My Life: Memoir of My Journey from Homelessness to Fame, which recounted his personal history and musical journey and became a best-seller.

Public profile

Choi's personal history and his dramatic rise to attention drew strong public interest. Early coverage of his life prompted questions about aspects of his background, including discussion about his educational record after his initial television appearance; the show later broadcast an edited segment in which he addressed his graduation from art high school. He also took part in numerous charitable and promotional activities and was invited to perform at events attended by public figures.

In 2021 Choi acknowledged and apologised after stating publicly that he had been battling multiple cancers; he later clarified that those cancer diagnoses were not accurate, while noting that he had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Latest updates

Choi Sung-bong died on 20 June 2023 at his home in Seoul. He was 33 years old at the time of his death. The Korea Times reported that his cause of death was suicide.

Quick personal and physical details

Choi was South Korean and spent much of his life based in Seoul. He stood approximately 173 cm (about 5 feet 8 inches) tall and had black hair and black eyes. He was unmarried at the time of his death.

He left behind a body of recorded work, a best-selling memoir, and a public legacy tied to his performances, ambassadorships, and extensive live appearances around the world.
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Recent Work

The First Story (mini-album) – single 'I Pray'

Released in April 2016; part of a mini-album that featured the single 'I Pray'.

2016
Tonight (single)

A single released in 2021.

2021
Singing is My Life: Memoir of My Journey from Homelessness to Fame

A best-selling memoir published in 2016 recounting his life and career.

2016
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Career Highlights

  1. First runner-up on Korea's Got Talent (2011)
  2. Performed internationally at festivals and televised programmes, including appearances in Spain and the United States
  3. Honorary ambassador for ChildFund Korea and Chang Dong Social Welfare Center
  4. Author of a best-selling memoir
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Choi Sung-bong born?

18 February 1990

What is Choi Sung-bong known for?

Singer

What is Choi Sung-bong’s marital status?

Unmarried