Sohyang

Kim So-hyang (Korean: 김소향; Hanja: 金昭享, born April 5, 1978), known mononymously as Sohyang, is a South Korean singer-songwriter.

According to Sohyang, her goal is to use her voice to comfort people who are going through difficult times.^[2] Sohyang is also an author of fiction, having published multiple fantasy novels since 2013,^[3] the most well-known of them being Crystal Castle and Anaxion.^[3] She has been dubbed by some journalists in the international media as the "Korean Mariah Carey".^[3]

Career

Sohyang made her debut in 1996 with the song "Mr."(선생님). She was practicing in a recording studio and composer Jo Hwan-gon heard her singing and asked her to record a song with him. After being tested by him, Sohyang released her first single and then went on a tour with Jo Hwan-gon and participated in many concerts and musical performances.^[4] She joined her husband's family band "POS" and released several Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) albums. Sohyang became one of the most popular and influencing CCM singers of Korea. She held concerts in around 50 countries until now.^[5] In 2014, she became the first non-American artist to sing the American national anthem at an NBA game.^[6] She achieved further fame when she sang with Kirk Franklin.^[7]

Since 2012, Sohyang has participated multiple times on various television music competition programs Immortal Songs 2, King of Mask Singer, and I Am a Singer 2, winning three times on Immortal Songs 2 with songs "Lean on Me", "Bridge over Troubled Water" and in 2023, "One Million Roses". She had also set a record on King of Mask Singer in 2017, before it was broken by Son Seung-Yeon.

After winning the Michael Bolton special episode on Immortal Songs 2 with a score of 442 points (fifth-highest ever), Michael Bolton—who described Sohyang as a "virtuoso"^[8][9]—asked Sohyang to tour South Korea with him, and they performed many concerts together throughout the country.^[10] Furthermore, her performance of "Lean on Me" won an award at the 2015 Banff World Media Festival.^[11]

In 2016 Sohyang was awarded the Grand Prize of the Seoul Success Award in the Culture category.^[12][13] In Disney's movie Moana, Sohyang provided the singing voice of the protagonist in the Korean-dubbed version.^[14][15] Sohyang also gives lectures about singing and vocal technique at Baekseok University in Cheonan City.^[16]

In the first half of 2017, Sohyang appeared on MBC's King of Mask Singer as "Spirited Lady" for the show's 2nd anniversary and became the winner six consecutive times (Generation 53–58), making her the female singer with the highest number of consecutive wins ever achieved to that time (second highest overall) before losing her crown in July 2017 and departing from the show after appearing for 14 consecutive weeks.^[17] Sohyang sang the main OST, "Wind Song" (바람의 노래), which is a remake of Cho Yong-pil's original song, for the Drama Confession Couple (고백부부). This OST was at No. 1 on the charts on Melon (online music service) for several weeks and additionally won the 1st place on Music Bank on November 24, 2017.^[18] She was given a special stage on which to perform the main OST "Wind Song" at the KBS Drama Awards on the last day of 2017.^[19] Sohyang performed at the MBC Entertainment Awards 2017 and was awarded the Special Prize in the Music Show category for her participation in King of Mask Singer.^[20][21] She became the King of the show with the highest number of consecutive wins ever achieved as a female contestant at that time.

During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, ice dancer Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin performed to Sohyang's rendition of "Arirang Alone".^[22] Furthermore, during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang Sohyang performed, together with Sumi Jo, the song "Here as One", which they both recorded specifically for this occasion.^[23]

Personal life

Sohyang is a devout Christian. She first began singing in her local community, with no aspirations of pursuing a career as a professional singer.^[3] Sohyang's parents divorced when she was in her third year of high school. Due to this, Sohyang experienced great financial difficulties, and, according to her, was often very sad as a result. She has said that she used to listen to artists Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion often, whose music helped her to get through these difficult times.^[24] In 2017 she was quoted as having said that her favorite album is still Carey's Music Box.^[25][26]

In 1998, at the age of twenty, Sohyang married Kim Hee-jun, the drummer of her band POS. Soon afterwards she was diagnosed with uterine cancer; due to the early detection, she was able to survive the cancer, but was rendered infertile.^[2][27] Her sister-in-law is the guitarist JinJoo Lee from DNCE.^[28] In September 2025, KQ Entertainment confirmed that Sohyang and Kim divorced two years ago on amicable terms.^[29]

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

As lead artist

Collaborations

Soundtrack appearances

Other charted songs

Filmography

Variety shows

I Am a Singer 2

Sohyang achieved the highest average rank of every contestant on I Am a Singer 2 ever.^[34] Furthermore, she never placed outside of the Top 3 during the whole time she was present in the show.

Records and statistics

Immortal Songs 2

(If the number of rounds won is written in bold, this means that she won the most rounds in that episode.)

King of Mask Singer

Records and statistics

Sohyang was the first female singer to ever achieve 6 consecutive victories at that time and therefore set a new record, which was later broken by Son Seung-yeon ("The East Invincibility"). Sohyang received an average of 65.96 votes out of 99 every round, which was ranked in Top 10 of highest average scores of all Mask Kings and Top 3 highest average score of all female Mask Kings for a period of time.

Begin Again - Season 4 "Begin Again Korea"

In 2020, Sohyang was a cast member of Begin Again Korea for a total of 5 episodes (Ep. 6 - 10 of Season 4), and sang a total of 20 songs as the lead artist.

Awards

KBS's Music Bank

Notes

1. ^ "Someday" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 92 on the component Download Chart.^[42]
2. ^ "Letter" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 81 on the component Download Chart.^[43]
3. ^ "Surrender" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 138 on the component Download Chart.^[44]
4. ^ "Beautiful Words" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 95 on the component Download Chart.^[45]
5. ^ "I Hope So" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 74 on the component Download Chart.^[46]
6. ^ "Sweet Dreams, My Dear" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but the Korean and English versions peaked at numbers 18 and 14, respectively, on the component Download Chart.^[47]
7. ^ "Vincent" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 36 on the component Download Chart.^[48]
8. ^ "Luminous" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 81 on the component Download Chart.^[49]
9. ^ "Hello" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 34 on the component Download Chart.^[50]
10. ^ "Beneath The Moonlight" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but it peaked at number 97 on the component Download Chart.^[51]
11. ^ The original song with lyrics in French was composed by Adolphe Adam, he composed the song to the lyrics in English.

References

1. ^ "소향, 에이티즈와 한솥밥 의외네…KQ엔터테인먼트와 전속계약 체결" (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived January 26, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
2. ^ ""I Am a Singer 2" Sohyang is a Cancer Survivor". July 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
3. ^ Hong Dam-young (July 4, 2017). "[Herald Interview] Gospel singer Sohyang of 'King of Mask Singer' breaks out of shell". The Korea Herald. Archived July 18, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
4. ^ "ko:CCM 디바 소향 "스무살에 걸린 자궁암, 기도로 이겨냈죠"" [CCM Diva "It was a 20 years old uterine cancer"]. August 8, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
5. ^ "(Youtube) [CC] Sohyang talks about Dream and Love / CGNTV "Healing You" 2014.2.16". YouTube
6. ^ "- YouTube". YouTube. March 29, 2014. Archived March 7, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
7. ^ "SoHyang(소향) – Lean on Me(with Kirk Franklin)". YouTube. November 2, 2014. Archived March 8, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
8. ^ "Immortal Songs 2 | 불후의 명곡 2: Michael Bolton Special (2014.11.08)". YouTube. November 8, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
9. ^ "Michael Bolton amazed by Korean singer's performance". The Korea Times. October 20, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.^{[dead link]}
10. ^ "소향(Sohyang) – Lean on Me (2014.11.22. 올림픽 체조경기장 Michael Bolton Conert in Seoul 앵콜송)". YouTube. November 24, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
11. ^ "KBS Programs Honored at Banff Media Festival". June 9, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
12. ^ "제8회 2016 서울 석세스 대상" (in Korean). Seoul Shinmun STV. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
13. ^ Park Je-cheol (November 29, 2016). "국악예술단 '고창'…2016 서울 석세스 국악 대상 수상" (in Korean). News1 Korea. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
14. ^ "Moana". Charguigou. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
15. ^ "YESASIA: Moana OST (Mark Mancina) (Korean Version) CD". www.yesasia.com. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
16. ^ "소향 (Sohyang) 백석예술 대학교 (Special lecture in Baekseok Art College Full Version) 특강 풀영상 2016/10/26" (in Korean). YouTube. December 27, 2017.
17. ^ Im Joo-hyun (July 2, 2017). "[★밤TView]'복면가왕' 흥부자댁은 소향..新가왕 MC햄버거" (in Korean). Star News. Archived October 14, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
18. ^ "소향, '고백부부' OST 참여…조용필 '바람의노래' 리메이크". The Chosun Ilbo. October 18, 2017. Archived July 6, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
19. ^ "소향, 'MBC 연예대상-KBS 연기대상' 특별 축하무대 참여". December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
20. ^ "2017 MBC Entertainment Awards Sohyang – Atlantis Princess" (in Korean). MBC Entertainment. YouTube. December 29, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
21. ^ "Winners of the 2017 MBC Entertainment Awards". Soompi. December 29, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
22. ^ "Korea's ice dancers hail from distant shores". December 26, 2017. Archived July 18, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
23. ^ Hong Dam-young (March 8, 2018). "Soprano Sumi Jo, gospel singer Sohyang to perform at Winter Paralympics opening". The Korea Herald. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
24. ^ "ko:소향 “부모님 이혼, 자궁암 투병..노래로 이겨냈죠”" [My parents divorced, I had a uterine cancer ... I got through the song.] (in Korean). July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
25. ^ "SoHyang praises Mariah Carey, sings Hero and explains why Hero is her jam (LEGENDAS PT)". Thi Hills Music. YouTube. June 22, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
26. ^ "[Vietsub] 소향 Sohyang – Star English Talk Fullshow (2009)" (in Korean). YouTube. August 10, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
27. ^ "'암 수술' 소향, 아픔견디지 못해 결국…충격!" (in Korean). December 30, 2012. Archived June 12, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
28. ^ "美 록밴드 'DNCE' 이진주 "코리안 파워 포에버!"" (in Korean). May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
29. ^ "소향, '2년전 이혼' 뒤늦게 전했다..."어느 한쪽의 귀책사유 NO"[공식입장 전문]" (in Korean). m.entertain.naver.com. Retrieved 2025-09-04.
30. ^ Circle Digital Chart positions: * "Love You, I Love You": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 38" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Rhapsody of Sorrow": "Digital Chart, 2014 Weeks 23" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
31. ^ Circle Digital Chart positions: * "Mermaid": "Digital Chart, 2011 Weeks 36" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Beside You": "Digital Chart, 2015 Weeks 02" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Lying": "Digital Chart, 2022 Weeks 07" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived July 7, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
32. ^ Circle Digital Chart positions: *"Only One Thing": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 45" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. *"Don't Forget Me": "Digital Chart, 2013 Weeks 11" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. *"Wind Song": "Digital Chart, 2017 Weeks 47" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived January 2, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024. *"Did You Forget?": "Digital Chart, 2021 Weeks 05" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
33. ^ Circle Digital Chart positions: * "I Have Nothing": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 29" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Running in the Sky": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 33" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Never Ending Story": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 35" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived October 26, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Dream": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 48" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Where Are You?": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 49" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived December 10, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "Saldaga": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 50" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024. * "For a Thousand Days" and "Fate": "Digital Chart, 2012 Weeks 52" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
34. ^ "I Am A Singer 2: Super December Top 4". December 2, 2013. Archived June 25, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
35. ^ Immortal songs broadcast of December 2015 episode 230
36. ^ Ha Soo-jeong (December 29, 2017). "[MBC 연예대상 종합] 전현무 생애 첫 대상-올해의예능상 '나혼자산다'" (in Korean). OSEN. Archived December 29, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
37. ^ Lee Eun-jin (December 29, 2017). "[2017 MBC 연예대상]전현무, 생애 첫 대상… '나 혼자 산다' 8관왕 (종합)" (in Korean). TenAsia. Archived December 28, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
38. ^ "'제8회 도전한국인 10인 대상 시상식' 3월 16일 국회서개최". m.kns.tv. February 24, 2019. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
39. ^ "2020 Korea Day Awards 특별가수상 수상자 소향". YouTube. Archived 2021-12-06 at the Wayback Machine.
40. ^ "가수 소향, 단아한 모습이 인상적 (2021 K-Model Awards)". June 29, 2021.
41. ^ "'2022 올해를 빛낸 인물&브랜드 대상' 시상식 성료". November 3, 2022.
42. ^ "Download Chart, 2013 Weeks 42" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
43. ^ "Download Chart, 2022 Weeks 37" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived September 20, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
44. ^ "Download Chart, 2024 Weeks 46" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived November 25, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
45. ^ "Download Chart, 2021 Weeks 16" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
46. ^ "Download Chart, 2022 Weeks 21" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived March 19, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
47. ^ "Download Chart, 2022 Weeks 21" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived March 19, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
48. ^ "Download Chart, 2022 Weeks 24" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
49. ^ "Download Chart, 2022 Weeks 35" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived September 1, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
50. ^ "Download Chart, 2023 Weeks 03" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived January 26, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
51. ^ "Download Chart, 2024 Weeks 02" (in Korean). Circle Chart. Archived January 18, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 16, 2024.