Lee Yoon-sang (; born 11 May 1968), known professionally as Yoon Sang, is a South Korean composer, record producer, singer and songwriter. He currently serves as a contemporary music professor at Sungshin Women's University.
Music career Lee began his musical career as a bassist in a band supporting pop singer Kim Wan-sun. He received an offer for a solo debut from Kim Kwangsoo, now head of MBK Entertainment, in 1990 and released an album incorporating synthpop elements entitled Vol.1 to commercial success.Vol.1 was followed with Vol.2 Part 1 in 1992 and Vol.2 Part 2 in 1993. Vol.2 was the more avant-garde and experimental of the two albums but still found commercial success. The title song, "가려진 시간 사이로 (Between The Hidden Time / Between the Veiled Times)" was especially popular.
Lee's third album release, Renacimiento in 1996, consists of remakes of songs from his previous albums sung by French, Italian and American vocals with redone lyrics. Renacimiento was one of the first mainstream albums in Korea incorporating the world music genre and was also popular. Yoon Sang also released a techno album entitled Golden Hits as part of the music collaborative project "NoDance" with rock artist Shin Hae-chul.
After releasing 移徙 이사 (Migration) in 2002 Yoon Sang worked on composing and lyric-writing for SM Entertainment, penning songs for BoA and TVXQ, among other artists. In 2003 he released There Is A Man..., his fifth album, which incorporated rap, Latin, and electronic dance music. A track from that album entitled "길은 계속된다 (The road continues)" also incorporated glitch music. In 2008, Lee released a tribute album called YOONSANG SONGBOOK : Play With Him! with covers by many Korean groups, including electronic duo Peppertones and rock band My Aunt Mary.
In 2009 Lee released an eponymous glitch-focused album as part of project group called "" with fellow Korean musicians Kayip and Superdrive. The group was formed while Lee spent two semesters at the NYU School of Music Technology. Both Kayip () and Superdrive () were experienced with electronic and IDM-focused music and Lee wanted to expand awareness of these types of music domestically. They finished producing the record by sending files over email and MySpace and held a showcase for the album at Hongik University.
In 2015 Yoon Sang participated in the Infinite Challenge Music Festival and was partnered with cast member Jeong Jun-ha.
In 2019 he was a judge in the JTBC talent show Superband.
In 2022 Yoon made his debut as a music director with the Film Twisted House. Later in July, Yoon has been confirmed to join the music program Sing in the Green.
Personal life Yoon graduated from Kung Hee University in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in ceramics and crafts. He later studied in the United States, graduating from the Berklee College of Music in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in music synthesis, and graduating from New York University in 2010 with a master's degree in music technology.
Yoon married actress Shim Hye-jin in 2002. The couple met in 1998 when Shim was cast in the music video for Yoon's song, "As Always". They have two sons: Lee Chan-young (born 2004) and Lee Jun-young (born 2009). His eldest son, Chan-young, made his debut with boy group Riize, under SM Entertainment, in September 2023, using his English name, Anton, as his stage name.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORMusic Industry Association of Korea monthly chart positions:
Cliche: Migration: There Is A Man...: Yoon Sang Best: Yoon SangReleased: 30 November 1990 Label: Jigu Records rowspan="3" KOR: 900,000Yoon Sang 2 Part 1Released: 15 October 1992 Label: Jigu Records KOR: 1,000,000Yoon Sang 2 Part 2Released: 1 September 1993 Label: Jigu Records KOR: 300,000ClicheReleased: 11 June 2000 Label: ode music20 KOR: 64,720Migration ()Released: April 12, 2002 Label: SM Entertainment29 KOR: 21,478There Is A Man...Released: April 15, 2003 Label: SM Entertainment22 KOR: 14,923I Didn't Know Yet ()Released: July 3, 2009 Label: ode music
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR KORCircle (formerly Gaon) Album Chart positions:
Yoon Sang 20th Anniversary: The Duets: Yoon Sang Golden Best ()Released: 1996 Label: Jigu Recordsrowspan="2" Yoon Sang BestReleased: 11 April 2001 Label: Dong-A Planning39 KOR: 11,518Yoon Sang 20th AnniversaryReleased: 14 April 2011 Label: ode music8 KOR: 2,640
Extended plays Title Album detailsPeak chart positions Sales KORRenacimientoReleased: 1996 Label: Jigu Records rowspan="2" InsensibleReleased: 1 April 1998 Label: DMR KOR: 30,344 The DuetsReleased: 11 December 2014 Label: ode music10 KOR: 1,968
Filmography
Television Title Year(s) Notes Youth Over Flowers2014Cast memberFantastic Duo2016PanelistPhantom Singer2016–2020JudgeKing of Mask Singer2018–presentPanelistSuperband2019Judge
Awards and nominations Award Year Category Nominated work / nominee Result Golden Disc Awards1991Rookie of the YearYoon Sang1992Album BonsangYoon Sang 2 Part 1Korean Music Awards2010Musician of the YearYoon SangBest Dance & Electronic AlbumI Didn't Know YetBest Dance & Electronic Song"Hit the Road"Best Movie/TV Album SoundtrackNoodle Road OST2015Best Dance & Electronic Song"If You Wanna Console Me"Song of the YearMBC Broadcasting Awards1992Excellence Award in RadioYoon Sang's Disc ShowMBC Entertainment Awards2019Achievement AwardKing of Mask SingerMBC Gayo Daejejeon1991Top 10 Singer AwardYoon SangSeoul Music Awards1991Composition Award
State honors Country Ceremony Year Honor South KoreaKorean Popular Culture and Arts Awards2018Presidential Commendation
References
External links Official Website (Archive.org)