Phillip Jeong (Korean: 정필립; born August 9, 1989) is a South Korean tenor, crossover artist, and musical theatre actor. He studied vocal performance at the Korea National University of Arts, and became known to the Korean public after appearing on JTBC's television program Phantom Singer 2 in 2017. Jeong is a member of the crossover quartet Miraclass and has performed as part of the duo Feel in with fellow Miraclass member Tain Han. In 2023, Jeong released an album featuring classical vocal pieces and held a concert. Since 2019, he has also been involved in Korean musical theater.
Early life and education Phillip Jeong attended Peniel Arts High School with the aim of becoming a classical tenor. While at high school, he went to Italy to study, completing courses at Accademia Arena and Accademia Di Roma under Claudio Di Segni. Jeong returned to Korea to study under WoongGyun Lim at the Department of Vocal Music, School of Music, at the Korea National University of Arts.
Due to a lack of opportunities as a tenor in South Korea, Jeong moved to Italy, hoping for better prospects, but he found limited chances to perform or participate in competitions, and eventually returned to South Korea. He became a non-regular member of Busan Metropolitan Chorus.
Phantom Singer In 2017, Jeong took part in the JTBC audition television program Phantom Singer 2, which aimed to form a male crossover quartet. Jeong proceeded to the finals with the crossover team Miraclass, which consisted of Julian Jootaek Kim, Kang-hyun Park, and , and finished as the runner-up.
Jeong's first audition song for Season 2 of Phantom Singer was "Mattinata". The quartet he belonged to in the semi-final round achieved the highest score with their performance of "La Vita". In the final rounds, the judges formed three quartet teams: Forestella, Miraclass, and Edel Reinklang.
Early in the competition, Jeong was criticized for his rigid sense of rhythm but as the competition progressed, he developed a more-flexible phrasing and rhythm. His voice earned him praise from judge Yoon Sang, who complimented his growth and stated Jeong had become one of his favorite voices.
Miraclass
The crossover group Miraclass consists of Julian Jootaek Kim, Phillip Jeong, Kang-hyun Park, and . Before the final rounds of Phantom Singer 2, they had to think of a team name within a limited time. Jeong coined the name Miraclass by combining the words miracle and class. After the conclusion of Phantom Singer 2, Miraclass secured a fan base and has been performing in concerts related to Phantom Singer, as well as holding their own team concerts. They also appear on broadcasts and release albums.
During the period when offline concerts were halted due to COVID-19, the JTBC program Phantom Singer All Stars was aired in 2021. Miraclass performed well in this show, securing numerous wins, including one MVP award, in the competitions among the nine participating groups. In the program, Jeong performed with the Miraclass members and with Se-kwon Ahn, Dong Hyun Kim, Hyung Ho Kang (PITTA), Bae Doo Hoon, and Minseok Kim.
Feel in In 2019, Phillip Jeong and Tain Han formed the dup Feel in, promoting easy listening music. Tain Han is a classically trained singer with a diverse spectrum of music, including rock, jazz, and pop. The duo, consisting of a tenor and a bass vocalists, performs songs across different genres, including Korean pop songs, old pop, chansons, jazz, canzone, musical numbers, and country music.
Their first performance was an in-flight concert on Asiana Airlines' inaugural flight from Incheon to Venice. They performed at concerts, and appeared on television and radio in Korea. They also held concerts twice in Hong Kong.
Stage musicals and opera collage The Taming of Casanova, an opera collage that includes famous arias from operas, was created to modernize opera and attract a larger audience in Korea. Jeong participated in this project to draw more people to the classical music genre. In Korea, where opera staging is limited due to a lack of public interest, only 56 performances were held in 2023. Jeong made his debut as a musical actor in Jack the Ripper: The Musical, playing the role of Detective Anderson. In September 2024, he appeared in the premiere of the original musical Buchihanan (Korean: 부치하난), portraying the antagonist roles of Hamoon (하문) in the present life and Mandarantu (만다란투) in the past life. Dates Title Venue Role2018.06.24 to 2018.07.01Opera Collage, The Taming of Casanova, KoreaKBS HallJimin2019.01.25 to 2019.03.31Jack the Ripper: MusicalWoori Financial Art HallRobert Anderson2023.03.24 to 2023.03.25Vamonos! Don QuixoteKEPCO Art CenterSancho Panza2024.09.17 to 2024.11.17BuchihananHongik Daehangno Art Center Grand TheaterHamoon/Mandarantu
Concerts Phillip Jeong began performing in concerts, starting with an outdoor concert of the Changwon City Dance Company at the 2015 Midsummer Night's Outdoor Concert. In 2015, he collaborated in the solo recital of French soprano . After appearing in Phantom Singer 2 in 2017 and finishing as the runner-up with Miraclass, he started his career as a classical-and-crossover vocalist, individually and as part of the crossover group.
South Korea, with its highly concentrated metropolitan areas and declining populations in other regions, introduced the program "Cultural Empathy in Every Corner of Korea" ("방방곡곡 문화공감") through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Culture and Arts Centers Association to promote cultural empathy. This initiative aimed to take diverse cultural performances to smaller cities and rural areas, including at least 30% of underprivileged individuals in the audience. Jeong, Miraclass teammate Baritone Julian Jootaek Kim, and the BeHa Philharmonic Orchestra participated in this program. Traveling to nine cities in 2022 and 2023, they performed opera arias, Korean lyric songs, Spanish and Italian melodies, and musical numbers.
Jeong has primarily been active with groups like Miraclass and Feel in. In June 2023, he held his first solo recital, performing pieces including "Mattinata," which he first introduced to the public, arias by Tosti and Bellini, and pop and Korean lyrical songs. Accompanied by pianist Terry Jun-min Kang, the performance featured piano melodies and Jeong's voice without the aid of a microphone.
In a statement, Jeong said: "I aimed to deliver vivid emotions to the audience using just the piano and my vocal strength, without any amplification. I look forward to presenting even larger and more refined performances for my fans in the future." He has continued his vocal studies, and in November 2023, he released the album Esòrdio and held his second solo recital.
He has performed in Hong Kong at the HKAPA Academy Concert Hall (2024) and appeared at the HKGNA Music Festival alongside Sumi Jo and Warren Lee (2025).프리마돈나 조수미, 홍콩의 가을밤을 사랑으로 노래해... 앵콜 4곡에도 기립박수 여전 The following is a curated selection of his concerts. Dates Title Venue Featuring2015.07.252015 Midsummer Night's Outdoor ConcertJinhae Outdoor Theater 2015.11.13Recital by French Soprano Isabelle VernetBusan Cultural Center Concert Hall 2015.12.212015 Year-End Concert by Busan Culture: Korea-Paraguay International Cultural Exchange ConcertBusan Cultural Center Concert HallVakh jongwhi2017.11.16Bernstein Memorial ConcertSejong Center for the Performing Arts 2018.01.12Opera CarnivalLotte Concert HallDoc-Ki Kim2019.05.19Gala Concert for The Taming of CasanovaSeoul Arts Center Concert HallDoc-Ki Kim2020.07.11Opera Carnival 2020Seoul Arts Center Concert HallPf. James Jae-Won Moon2022.03.24Phantom & Queen The MagicSuncheon Culture ＆ Arts Center Grand TheaterBong-Mi Kim2022.08.05KF World Cinema Week Opening Ceremony Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of Korea-China-Latin America Diplomatic RelationsJeongdong1928 Art Center 2022.09.17The Magic Phantom and QueenChangwon Seongsan Art Hall Grand TheaterBong-Mi Kim2023.06.15Celebration Concert for the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' Promotion and the 70th Armistice AnniversarySeoul National CemeteryChi Yong Chung2023.06.25Tenor Phillip Jeong RecitalKukje Art HallPf. Terry Kang2023.07.06The Magic Phantom and QueenNonsan Art Center Grand Performance HallBong-Mi Kim2023.09.10Phantom 3 Tenors Concert: Minseok Kim, Phillip Jeong, and John NohLotte Concert HallKwang Hyun Kim2023.11.10The Magic Phantom and QueenHaman Culture and Arts Center Grand Performance HallBong-Mi Kim2023.11.11Tenor Phillip Jeong RecitalJCC Art CenterPf. Terry Kang2024.05.01Jinju City Symphony Orchestra 106th Regular Concert: May Music Journey with FamilyGyeongnam Culture & Art CenterIn-Hyeok Jeong2024.09.29Phillip Jeong Recital ESÒRDIOHKAPA Academy Concert Hall, Hong KongTain Han, Pf. Terry Kang2025.11.11HKGNA Music Festival 2025, Virtuoso SeriesHong Kong Jockey Club AmphitheatreSumi Jo, Warren Lee (pianist)
Television and media Philip Jeong often sings solo or with other vocalists on Open Concert, a Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) television program. When he was a freshman at Korea National University of Arts (K-ARTS), a scene of him singing was aired on Documentary Three Days, on which a professor who listened to his song praised him, saying he "sparkles". When he appeared with Miraclass on KBS's show Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend, his unexpected sense of humor was displayed, leading KBS to create YouTube videos showing his backstage moments. He has also performed on major network television shows such as Art Stage on MBC and on Christian networks. Jeong also appears on radio programs. Year TV Networks Title of the show Role Notes2017JTBCPhantom Singer 2ParticipantEntire show2018MBCTV Art Stage: Opera CarnivalPerformerWith Julian Jootaek Kim2019KBS 1TVOpen ConcertPerformerAs Feel in with Jeon Jeduk BandKBS2KBS Immortal songsGuest, PerformerAs Miraclass2020KBS 1TVOpen ConcertPerformerWith Seung Jick Kim, Hyunsoo Kim, Scala Opera Choir2021JTBCPhantom Singer All StarsHimselfMain role, as MiraclassKBS2KBS Immortal songsGuest, PerformerAs MiraclassKBS2Documentary Three DaysHimselfProf. WoongGyun Lim mentioning that Jeong ShinesKBS 1TVOpen ConcertGuest, PerformerSolo and duet with Jisoo Sohn2022Busan Far East Broadcasting CompanyCelebration Concert of the Busan Far East Broadcasting CompanyPerformerWith Julian Jootaek Kim, Hyunsoo Park, Song Eun Hye, Piano Eunchan Kim, Ha Juri BandEBS, Audio-e KnowledgeJulian Jootaek Kim and Taeyang Jeong's Opera OperaGuest, PerformerE48-49, "Cavalleria Rusticana with Phillip Jeong"KBS 1TVOpen ConcertPerformerAs Feel inGwangju Far East Broadcasting CompanyGratitude Concert of the Gwangju Far East Broadcasting CompanyGuest, PerformerWith Julian Jootaek Kim, John Noh, Haeun2023KBS 1TVOpen Concert: The 30th AnniversaryPerformerSolo and trio with John Noh, You Chaehoon2024KBS 1TVOpen Concert, Ep 1491PerformerSolo and duet with Julian Jootaek Kim
Discography Since his first recording in a participation release, Jeong has released six albums, including three from Universal Music (Decca Records) as a solo artist and as a member of Feel in.
Album (as Feel in) Title Details Feelin Release date: June 5, 2019 Label: Universal Music Format: CD, Digital download
Extended Release Title Details Far East Broadcasting Company A:MUHymn＆Song Project: Love and Family 1 Release Date: June 1, 2021 Label: CCMHUB, Far East Broadcasting Company A:MU Format: Digital download Esòrdio Release Date: October 14, 2023 Label: Library Company, Danal Entertainment Format: Digital download
Participation releases Title Year Details "La Donna è Mobile" from Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi 2019 The Taming Of Casanova Label: Universal Music Artists: Hyunsoo Kim, Phillip Jeong, Julian Jootaek Kim, Benjamin Cho, Woorim Ko, , Korea Coop Orchestra & Duk-ki Kim "E Lucevan le Stelle" from Tosca by Giacomo Puccini"Because We Believe"2021JTBC's Phantom Singer All Stars, Episode 7