MC Mong

Shin Dong-hyun (; born September 4, 1979), better known by his stage name MC Mong, is a South Korean hip hop recording artist, record producer, radio personality, actor and television personality who is known for his comic disposition and his upbeat songs. He is one of the most commercially successful hip hop artists in Korea. He gained popularity in the early 2000s as an actor on the sitcom, Nonstop, before releasing his debut album, 180 Degree, in 2004. He was also a cast member of the variety show, 2 Days & 1 Night from 2007 to 2010. He was charged in 2010 with draft dodging, after which he was banned from appearing on major Korean broadcast networks. His 2014 comeback album, Miss Me Or Diss Me, topped music charts upon its release.

Career

Music and acting debuts MC Mong debuted in 1998 as a member of hip hop group People Crew.

In 2004, he made his solo debut as a rapper with the album, 180 Degree. The following year, he released his second album, titled, His Story. The album, which also features guest vocals from Japanese singer Lisa and Korean singers Park Hyo Shin and Ivy, topped the charts after it was released, beating out "big names" like Rain and Se7en.

In 2007, he starred in a live-action TV adaption of the Korean web comic, The Great Catsby. and he joined the cast of the popular TV variety show, 2 Days & 1 Night. He was the center of controversy in July 2008, when 2 Days & 1 Night aired a scene showing him smoking. The show publicly apologized for not editing out the scene, as all major Korean broadcasting stations had agreed in 2004 not to air smoking scenes before midnight.

MC Mong released his fourth album, Show's Just Begun, in 2008. The album's first single, "Circus," was immensely popular, winning the number one spot five weeks in a row on the TV music countdown show, Music Bank. He followed up "Circus," with the single, "Feel Crazy."

In 2009, he released his fifth album, Humanimal. Pre-order sales of the album reached over 55,000 copies, and the album's tracks topped numerous music charts shortly after they were released. MC Mong wrote the single, "Jin Shil, Even If You're in Heaven," for the late actress Choi Jin-sil, who had committed suicide the year before. MC Mong's management company said that sales for this single would be donated to charity.

Hiatus and comeback In 2010, MC Mong's career was put on hold when he was accused of evading South Korea's mandatory military service by having healthy teeth extracted to gain exemption. He was ultimately sentenced to a suspended six-month jail term for dodging conscription. Following his sentence, two major TV networks, the Korean Broadcasting System and Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, banned MC Mong from appearing on their programs.

In 2015, he held his first concert in six years. He also released the single, "Love Jumble," from EP Song For You, which topped music charts after its release. The court acknowledged that there was a delay in his military enlistment, however, they were unable to determine whether he was guilty for extracting teeth for the purpose of avoiding his military draft.

Homophobic comments In 2004, MC Mong attracted controversy for making homophobic comments during an interview on the television show Most Wanted. In the interview, he said that if gun ownership were legalised in South Korea, gay people should be shot dead, adding, "The Bible clearly states that [homosexuality] is a sin". The show's production team edited the remarks out. The incident drew widespread online backlash, and LGBT rights groups demanded Mong apologise. Mong's agency stated in response that Mong had been sexually assaulted by a gay person in the past, and that his comments were solely about the perpetrator.

Violation of foreign exchange laws In March 2022, MC Mong was caught trying to leave the country carrying $70,000 in cash, which he had not reported to customs. This was in violation of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, which states that amounts exceeding $10,000 must be reported to the relevant customs office when entering or leaving the country. MC Mong's agency responded that he had intended to report the money, but was distracted and forgot.

Ignoring court summons In February 2024, MC Mong was fined three million won for refusing to appear as a witness in a fraud case involving golfer Ahn Sung-hyun. Ahn had planned to acquire a 5% stake in Mong's company, BPM Entertainment, using investment provided by Kang Jong-hyun, another defendant in the case. Kang accused Ahn of failing to return the money when the investment was cancelled. Mong, described as a "key witness", was summoned by the court on three occasions, but refused to appear each time, changing his phone number to avoid being contacted. The judge threatened to issue a warrant for his arrest if he did not comply. Mong subsequently attended the trial, where he denied having any knowledge of the transactions between Ahn and Kang, and the court cancelled the fine.

Philanthropy On February 10, 2023, MC Mong donated 100 million won to help 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association.

Discography

180 Degree (2004) His Story (2005) The Way I Am (2006) Show's Just Begun (2008) Humanimal (2009) Miss Me Or Diss Me (2014) U.F.O (2016) Channel 8 (2019) Flower 9 (2021)

Filmography

Television series

Television variety

Film

Radio

Awards and nominations