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Choi Sung-bong (최성봉; Hanja: 崔聖奉, born 18 February 1990) is a South Korean vocalist who became famous after his appearance on Korea's Got Talent was picked up by the worldwide news media. He finished second in the competition.

Korea's Got Talent Appearance and performance 

On 6 June 2011, Choi's performance of "Nella Fantasia" moved judges and audience members to tears. He introduced himself as a manual laborer who had made a living selling gum and energy drinks for ten years. All the judges, Kolleen Park, Jang Jin and Song Yun-ah, were impressed with his vocal talent. Choi advanced to the finals of the competition, finishing second by 280 votes. 

During his first appearance in replying to a judge's question on whether he had vocal training, Choi said that he studied on his own, but he would have taken master classes if he only had an opportunity. [For the competition], he just listened [to the recording of the song that he performed] and learned it on his own.". 

YouTube sensation 

Choi's performance clip made it to YouTube and triggered a worldwide Internet sensation. One version with English subtitles has triggered international press interest and a worldwide view that Choi was "the next Susan Boyle".The video itself has over 90 million views as of July 2013.

Background Childhood 

Abandoned in an orphanage at the age of 3, Choi said that he ran away from the institution when he was 5 years old because of having been beaten often. He lived in stairwells and public washrooms and sold chewing gum and energy drinks to survive. He also delivered milk and newspapers in addition to working as a laborer, beginning at age eight. Choi said that very bad things happened to him as a child and that he was sold to someone. 

However, he met a woman who ran a food cart outside a night club. She gave him the name "Ji-Sung". She also encouraged Choi to take the Korean equivalent of a GED (General Educational Development) exam so that he could complete his elementary and junior high curricula in order to enter high school. He graduated from Daejeon Arts High School. Choi stated during the audition that he had attended the high school. He also mentioned that there were no teachers to give him vocal training at the school since he did not have the financial resources to pay for master classes. He worked at a delivery service to earn tuition and money for lessons, but it resulted in a traumatic fall during his 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift. Choi subsequently received medical treatment at Kun Yang University Hospital. Prior to the fall, as a child, Choi had two car accidents for which he did not receive proper medical treatment for many years. When Choi got admitted at Kun Yang University Hospital due to other medical issues related to the earlier car accidents, he voluntarily performed a recital for four students who needed the financial aid for schools during his in-patient stay. He initially considered dropping out of high school, and his high school music teacher noted that Choi was often absent from classes due to his difficult situation. 

Choi could not continue with post-secondary education due to his limited financial resources. Instead, he worked as a construction worker with the type of work similar to that of a day laborer. Choi was able to track his official record with the name Sungbong Choi at the orphanage. However, this was not the name given to him by his parents. It was the name he was given by the orphanage; as a result, Choi preferred the name Ji-Sung over Sungbong. 

Musical background 

Choi was inspired to pursue a career in music when he was 14 years old, after listening to a classical vocalist at the nightclub where he sold chewing gum. He later found a teacher, Park Jung-So, who agreed to teach him without charge and helped him get into an arts high school at age 16. Choi mentioned during the Korea's Got Talent audition that he was particularly fascinated by the sincerity of the vocalist in contrast to the usual type of music heard at the club. He became a musical autodidact and later pursued classical vocal training at the musical department of Daejeon Arts High School. Choi stated that his favorite vocalist is Andrea Bocelli 2011 and on Sung Bong Choi sang the Korean national anthem for Korea's athletes ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, UK. He has inspired We Hear Your Voice and performed at the Live at the Greek show with Shani Rigsbee and others.