Choi Sung-bong was the first runner-up of the talent show.
20 Facts About Choi Sung-bong
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Sungbong Choi Sung-bong was born in Seoul and was abandoned at an orphanage when he was three.
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Choi Sung-bong ran away from the orphanage to escape physical abuse, took a bus to Daejeon, and started living in the red-light districts.
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Choi Sung-bong approached Jeong-So Park for music lessons; Park agreed to teach him for free and helped get him support from the church and ChildFund Korea.
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Choi Sung-bong learned how to read and write and applied for qualification examinations to pass elementary and middle school and enter high school.
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Choi Sung-bong thought about dropping out of high school, and his music teacher testified that he was often absent because of the underprivileged surroundings.
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Choi Sung-bong gained admission to Hanyang University, but due to financial difficulties, was unable to pursue undergraduate education.
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Choi Sung-bong introduced himself as a manual laborer who had made a living selling gum and energy drinks for ten years.
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All three judges, Kolleen Park, Jang Jin and Song Yun-ah, were impressed enough with his vocal talent that Choi Sung-bong was advanced to the finals of the competition, finishing second by only 280 votes.
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One version with English subtitles had triggered international press interest, with claims that Choi Sung-bong was "the next Susan Boyle".
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Choi Sung-bong stated that he'd graduated from art high school at the second local try-out, and the judges, crews and hundreds of audience members heard that.
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Choi Sung-bong claimed in January 2021 that he was suffering from cancer and raising funds to support his latest album.
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On 29 October 2021, Choi Sung-bong admitted to faking his cancer illness.
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Choi Sung-bong died by suicide on 20 June 2023, after having left a suicide note on his online channel, which has since been taken down.
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Choi Sung-bong appeared on music shows, documentary films, and talk shows both in South Korea and abroad.
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Choi Sung-bong appeared with Justin Bieber on the Spanish TV program El Hormiguero.
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Choi Sung-bong said that he wants to continue to overcome his experiences of the past 22 years.
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Choi Sung-bong was an honorary ambassador of ChildFund Korea, the organization which helped him to improve his own life.
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Choi Sung-bong said that he won't just tell the children to "have hope and dream", but he wants to help them practically by giving them a chance of a better life.
20.
Choi Sung-bong was an honorary ambassador of the Chang Dong Social Welfare Center.