Seo Taiji

Seo Taiji
Seo Taiji
서태지
	Seo Taiji on October 20, 2014
Born	Jeong Hyeon-cheol; February 21, 1972 (age 52); Seoul, South Korea
Occupations	Singer-songwriter; musician; record producer;
Years active	1989–1996; 1998–present;
Spouses	Lee Ji-ah (m. 1997; div. 2006); Lee Eun-sung (m. 2013);
Children	1
	Musical career
Genres	Pop; nu metal; alternative rock; rap rock; hip hop; new jack swing;
Instruments	Vocals; guitar; bass guitar;
Labels	Seo Taiji Company;
Formerly of	Sinawe; Seo Taiji and Boys;
Korean name
Hangul	정현철
Hanja	鄭鉉哲
Revised Romanization	Jeong Hyeoncheol
McCune–Reischauer	Chŏng Hyŏnch'ŏl
Stage name
Hangul	서태지
Hanja	徐太志
Revised Romanization	Seo Taeji
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏ T'aeji
Website	http://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.

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

[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, 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.

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