Yang Hyun-suk
Photo: K-POPIT 케이팝잇, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons16

Yang Hyun-suk

South Korean rapper and record executive (born 1970)

Yang Hyun-suk (Korean: 양현석; born January 9, 1970) is a South Korean music executive, rapper, singer, dancer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of Seo Taiji and Boys during the 1990s.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Yang Hyun-suk (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Jan 9, 1970.1

About

After the group disbanded, he founded and became the executive producer and chairman of YG Entertainment, the fourth-largest record company in South Korea.

From Wikipedia’s article on Yang Hyun-suk, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedSeoul Kyodong Elementary School3

Career

Occupation: singer, rapper, record producer, director, composer, film director.8

  • Date not recordedFounded YGEX4
  • Date not recordedFounded YG Entertainment5
  • Date not recordedFounded YGX6
  • Date not recordedChief executive officer7

1992–1996: Seo Taiji & Boys

Seo Taiji & Boys was formed in 1991 with Seo Taiji, Lee Juno and Yang Hyun-seok. 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 and friends(박남정과 친구들)"). "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. The group was influential on the Korean music scene, famous for their single, "Nan Arayo" (Korean: "난 알아요", "I Know"). The group received criticism for some of their albums, most notably for the song, "Shidaeyugam" (Korean: 시대유감, "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. This was their first collaboration since the breakup. Yang Hyun-Suk has produced 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.

From Wikipedia’s article on Yang Hyun-suk (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornJan 9, 1970, Seoul9
  • CitizenshipSouth Korea10
  • SpouseLee Eun Joo11

Yang began dating former Swi.T and Moogadang member Lee Eun-ju in 2001, and they married in 2010. They have two children together, born in 2010 and 2012.

From Wikipedia’s article on Yang Hyun-suk (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.