Seo Taiji

In this Korean name, the family name is Jeong. In the stage name or pen-name, the surname is Seo.
Seo Taiji
서태지
Seo Taiji on October 20, 2014
Born
Jeong Hyeon-cheol

(1972-02-21) February 21, 1972 (age 52)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
Years active
  • 1989–1996
  • 1998–present
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1997; div. 2006)​
  • ​
    (m. 2013)​
Children1
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass guitar
Labels
Bando Eumban
Formerly of
Korean name
Hangul
정현철
Hanja
鄭鉉哲
Revised RomanizationJeong Hyeoncheol
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Hyŏnch'ŏl
Stage name
Hangul
서태지
Hanja
徐太志
Revised RomanizationSeo Taeji
McCune–ReischauerSŏ T'aeji
Websitehttp://www.seotaiji.com/

Jeong Hyeon-cheol (Korean: 정현철; born February 21, 1972), better known as Seo Taiji or Seo Tae-ji (서태지), is a South Korean singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. After dropping out of high school to pursue a music career, he rose to become one of the most prominent and influential cultural icons in South Korea, with many referring to him as "the President of Culture".[2][3]

Following a brief stint in the heavy metal band Sinawe, Taiji formed Seo Taiji and Boys in 1991 with whom he found immediate success. Their style of music, dance, fashion, and self-presentation resonated with the young generation—termed the sinsedae, "new generation." They incorporated elements of popular musical genres from the West and contributed considerably larger to Korean pop culture and Korean pop's development in the 1990s. His songs addressed social and political concerns of the youth including the stressful and stifling system of education in Korea, and the rage of youth in the face of poor social and economic outlook.[4] Widespread youth backlash to government suppression of the social commentary in his music became a catalyst for the abolishment of censorship of Korean popular music lyrics.[5] His career paved the way for free expression in Korean pop music.[6] Although he initially announced retirement upon disbanding the group in 1996, Taiji released his first solo album two years later and continued his successful career.

  1. ^ Jeffries, Stan (2003). Encyclopedia of World Pop Music. Greenwood Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-313-31547-3.
  2. ^ Cho, Chung-un (March 23, 2012). "K-pop still feels impact of Seo Taiji & Boys". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  3. ^ Cho, Chung-un (March 23, 2012). "K-pop before and after Seo Taiji & Boys". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  4. ^ "K-Pop's Record of Youth, From Seo Taiji to TXT". Teen Vogue. November 10, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  5. ^ The Most Influential KPOP Artist in History, May 28, 2020, retrieved February 23, 2022
  6. ^ "Seo Taiji & Boys Pioneered Socially Conscious K-Pop for Groups Like BTS". www.vice.com. August 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2022.