profile

Born in Seoul, he received his master's degree from Manhattan School of Music. He has won many awards, including the Belvedere International Singing Competition (Austria), the Puccini Aranese International Competition, and the DiCapo Opera Competition (all in the United States). In 1999, he made his opera debut in the title role of Don Giovanni at the San Francisco Opera. In 2001, he made his European debut as Ping in Turandot at the Rhein State Opera. Since then, he has performed widely around the world, including as Figaro in Il Barbiere d'Habita di Siviglia at the Bordeaux Opera House, the Dutchman in The Flying Dutchman at the Bangkok Opera, and Escamillo in Carmen at the Nevada Opera.
In Japan, he made his debut in 2001 as Papageno in The Magic Flute at the New National Theatre. He has appeared in opera productions at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center, including Sharpless and Yamadori in Madame Butterfly, Angelotti in Tosca, and Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte. He has also performed with many Japanese orchestras, including the German Requiem and Carmina Burana at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra subscription concert conducted by Yutaka Sado, Frank in Die Fledermaus at New Japan Philharmonic subscription concert conducted by Arming, Missa Solemnis at the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra conducted by Junichi Hirokami, and the HTB Asahi New Year's Eve Concert at the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Shigeo Genda. He has also frequently appeared in the Suntory 10,000 Symphony No. 9 and TV Asahi's Untitled Concert.
He has released the CD "Questo Amor~This Love" through Avex Classics.
In his native South Korea, he has gained immense popularity through his frequent appearances in programs such as the theme song for the national broadcaster KBS's historical drama "King Sejong the Great" and "Open Concert."