The History of Yang Hyun Suk and YG: From ′Boy′ to ′CEO′ (Pt. 1)

If you had to choose the three biggest agencies that took over K-Pop in 2012, one of them would definitely be YG Entertainment.

Yang Hyun Suk, head of YG Entertainment, first started off in the business with Seo Taiji and Boys in 1995. Now, he is the producer of many groups leading the K-Pop boom, such as Big Bang or 2NE1, and is said to be one of the biggest icons of success.

Who would’ve imagined that he would be this successful 20 years after his debut? Most singers jump into the world of production when their popularity wanes, but there are few who have produced as many singers that represent K-Pop as Yang Hyun Suk, and there are even less that have found such a successful business.

We put together the life story of Yang Hyun Suk, the singer-turned-agency-rep that has recently brought the spotlight to himself with his television appearances.

A burning youth with the ′Boys′

Seo Taiji and Boys debuted with its first album Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 and scored an immediate hit with its single I Know. It then left the scene in 1996.

The reason Seo Taiji and Boys is still in the books as a legend despite its short history is because it shook up the ballad-filled scene of the early 90s. Some even say, which may be a bit of an exaggeration, that the appearance of Seo Taiji and Boys opened a new age of K-Pop. That′s how important its existance is said to be.

This is why even after 20 years, I Know, Class Idea, Dreaming of Balhae, You, In Fantasy and Certain Victory are still beloved hits.

Seo Taiji and Boys led a cultural revolution, wielding influence not only over K-Pop, but Korean culture in general, and Yang Hyun Suk was a member of that group.

He was actually a dancer. Because the album had been produced by member Seo Taiji, Yang Hyun Suk′s role was fairly limited, according to a previous statement he made that if Seo Taiji took 10 [percent] of their profits, Yang Hyun Suk and Lee Juno took two [percent] each.

Although their roles weren′t huge, we can′t say that the ′Boys′ didn′t help Seo Taiji and Boys at all. The honor was there for theirs for the taking as well because they were together.

Continued in ′The History of Yang Hyun Suk and YG: From "Boy" to "CEO" (Pt. 2)′

Photo credit: YG Entertainment

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YG Entertainment 20120519 Yang Hyun Suk 20120519