최성봉 드디어 CNN 뉴스에 나오다

Meet South Korea's answer to Susan Boyle - CNN.com
Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- Move over Susan Boyle. Sung-bong Choi is the next global talent show sensation.

The 22-year-old has become an Internet sensation after his appearance on "Korea's Got Talent" with well over 10 million people so far watching him on YouTube.

His powerful baritone voice sounds as if it belongs to a man twice his age and build, but it is not just his singing that reduced the presenters and much of the audience to tears.

"I was left in the orphanage when I was 3," he told the judges at this first appearance, "and when I was 5, I ran away after being beaten by people there. I sold gum or energy drinks on the street. I had that life for about 10 years."

He told the judges he used to sleep in stairwells or public toilets and decided he wanted to sing after seeing a performer in a nightclub where he was selling gum. "I was fascinated by the singer who sang on the stage so sincerely," Choi said.

Choi admits he is both scared and excited by the sudden global attention he has received. A Facebook fan page has been set up in his name, and the praise-filled comments are from people from all corners of the world.

The onetime construction worker said before his first performance that he does not sing very well. The audience and panel disagreed. "It was the first thing that I liked after I ran away and was living on the streets, the first thing I was ever able to dream about. It was a small little wish I had."

His wish of being able to sing has come true. He's odds-on favorite to win "Korea's Got Talent," and even if he doesn't, one of the judges has already promised to help him with voice training.

Choi did attend an arts high school around the age of 16, graduating in 2009 -- it was the first time he went to school.

He said he finds it unbelievable that someone like him was able to be on a show like "Korea's Got Talent," and he says he is thankful "because now, I have a reason to live."

The finals take place on August 20.

Category:

Entertainment

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• 최성봉
• CNN 뉴스
• Songbong Choi

[3TNT3]

It breaks my heart to know that there are MILLIONS of others, like Sung, who have lived on the streets since they were children so young, they weren't even old enough for school yet. What a shitty world it is that we live in. And yet there r 'people' out there who will literally buy a piece of jewelry that costs MILLIONS of dollars. Personally, I would MUCH RATHER take that $ to help as many Sung Bong Choi's as possible. That would make me MUCH HAPPIER than having some shiny inanimate object.

[rararioo]

GOD BLESS YOU CHOI SUNG BONG. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATIONAL PERSON EVER.

[pipettes101]

Japanese people really love to say negative things about Korean people don't they. It's almost as if they don't remember being allied with nazis in WWII and having attacked Korea. I guess when you play down that part in teaching history in Japan, you grow kids with balls to say whatever they want.

[5k4e2n9]

実は身の上話がフェイクで国家ブランド委員会の策略でした！

なんてオチだったりして。、



[treeflamingo]

@albertolucas3 If you search around for the Engsubbed vid of his first audition, he says he took master classes when he had the chance, and that he went to high school, where I'm sure his interests and talent were nurtured. The story's out there, but don't blame sensationalist media too harshly for trying to drum up support for a man who's had a pretty lousy life thus far.

[rukawa540]

@Hiroaki1660002 i totally agree with you, he is the real boom :D

[Noscireish]

Hands Down Dude, You Really Killed Them!

[3TNT3]

@strangernp Why, thank you. : )

[strangernp]

@3TNT3 hats off

[Hiroaki1660002]

韓流ブームはフェイクだと思っているが、彼は本物だ。彼を出せば­本物のブームを起こせるかもしれない。

I think the boom of K-Pop in Japan is fake, but he can create the real boom. So moved.

[guhayu]

wow....amazing !

[stfumvs]

@albertolucas3 He worked on the streets near clubs and bars and he got inspired by a singer on those stages. He said he took lessons when he had the chance. I'm sure surviving was more important than taking lessons. Why is it so hard to believe that he could have done that on his own? Why can't the man sing in the park? In the restroom? Under the bridge? Maybe it's illegal in your country to sing outl oud.