Mowg

Mowg , born Lee Sung-hyun (, born in 1972), is a South Korean musician and composer of film scores. He adopted the name Mowg after his peers in New York nicknamed him due to his resemblance to Mowgli from The Jungle Book when he was in his 20s.

Mowg has received multiple awards for his contributions to various films, such as I Saw the Devil (2010), Masquerade (2012), Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016), The Age of Shadows (2016) and Burning (2018).

In addition to his film work, Mowg produced albums by other artists, including the debut album by Korean star Jang Yoon-ju titled Dream, and Jazz album of vocalist Malo.

Early life Lee Sung-hyun found his way into the music world quite naturally. His parents, who were often busy, enrolled him in a piano academy, which ultimately fostered his passion for music. He also discovered joy in films aired on Saturday Night Movie. He distinctly remembers two pieces: Joaquín Rodrigo's "Aranjuez Concerto," the signal music for The Masterpiece of Saturday, and Exodus, the theme music of the same program.

Career For Lee Sung-hyun, New York represented freedom. He enrolled in school to maintain legal residency in the U.S., though he had little interest in studying. He led a vibrant life and longed for freedom, but his difficulty communicating may have hindered his adjustment to school. Music in New York was not just a dream for him; it was a matter of survival. He collaborated with various artists across genres, including jazz, and participated in Broadway shows. He was nicknamed Mowg due to his resemblance to Mowgli from The Jungle Book. Upon returning to Korea, Lee was introduced to several directors by Yim Pil-sung, including director Kim Jee-woon, Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.

In 2009, Mowg was acclaimed as Korea's best bassist. To celebrate the release of his third album, Nite's Secret, which debuted in April, he held a concert as part of the "Space Sympathy" series. Set in a "modern lounge" atmosphere, Mowg opened with tracks such as "Agent W," "Old Brazilian Jam," and "Gaudi," creating a vibrant mood. He showcased lounge music through several pieces from his album, including "Rodrigo," "Lament," "Suffer," and "Together." A standout moment of the concert was "Can U Hear Me," a tribute to his late grandmother, Ian, who died the previous year. The performance began with her image displayed on a screen. The performance was noted for its lasting impression on the audience. This concert marked Mowg's first domestic performance in three years and was attended by directors Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung. Additionally, the concert was broadcast on EBS at 12:05 AM on Tuesday, June 16.

In 2015, Mowg work with director Yim Pil-sung and choreographer Choi Jin-wook. They adapted move the story of 'Red Shoes' to the late Joseon Dynasty. His role was to express the primitive energy of stirring desire through music. As it is a work by the National Dance Company, music with a Korean traditional music feel is inserted, but there is not a single piece of music using Korean traditional instruments. The play is divided into five acts, and the music also accompanies each act with its own breath. To achieve this, the plan is to present minimal music that slightly varies one theme. The music developed by repeating and combining simple motifs and chords, similar to the music of Steve Reich, a representative American minimalist composer.

Influences, collaborations, and musical philosophy Mowg expresses admiration for several composers, including David Shire, known for his work in Coppola's The Conversation (1974), Saturday Night Fever (1977), and Zodiac (2007). He also appreciates Lalo Shiffrin for his versatility and extensive filmography, as well as Cliff Martinez, a frequent collaborator of Steven Soderbergh. Additionally, Mowg holds Sakamoto Ryuichi and in high regard.

Mowg's initial interest in film music was sparked by Lee Byung-woo, a prominent guitarist and music director in the South Korean film industry. Lee, who was closely associated with director Kim Jee-woon since childhood, influenced Mowg significantly. Through this connection, Mowg learned about Lee's development as a composer, noting his deep knowledge of classical music and musicality. Mowg also admires Shin Byung-ha, a bassist active in many 1970s and 80s films, whom he met through a family friend when he was young.

Mowg leads Filmuziker, a music team specializing in film scores. The team's motto is: "We must work faster than any other team and produce a significant amount of music." This philosophy stems from Mowg's belief in the power of a strong team. He compares it to baseball: if the opposing team's closer can throw only 20 pitches, his team must be ready to throw 50, focusing on both speed and variety. This competitive approach has earned Mowg the reputation of being "a music director who approaches his work like an athlete." and Na-rae.

Other activity In 2011, Mowg was appointed as a full-time professor in the Department of Applied Music and Arts, specifically the Department of Instrumental Music, at the Seoul Institute of the Arts.

After becoming a film score director, he has been busy and rarely performs as a musician. However, he occasionally appears at film festivals. In 2010, he participated in the congratulatory performance for the Director's Cut Award. In 2015, he performed at the 3rd Muju Mountain Film Festival. In 2015, he performed at the 3rd Muju Mountain Film Festival. In 2019, Mowg's band played the original soundtrack for director Lee Chang-dong's Burning (2018) at the opening ceremony of the 20th Jeonju International Film Festival. In 2021, he took part in Incheon Film Week.

In April 2013, Mowg was appointed as the Public Relations Ambassador for the KT&G Sangsangmadang Music Film Festival. Mowg is also a faculty member of the Jecheon Film Music Academy, a talent development program where participants produce film music through a practical work process and receive one-on-one mentoring from leading music directors in South Korea. This program has been held at the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival since 2006. Alongside Mowg, the faculty includes music directors Shim Hyun-jung, Kim Jun-seong, Han Jae-kwon, Kim Bo-hyeon, Kim Tae-seong, Park Ki-heon, and Choi Won-seop. Director Yoo Young-min oversees the film music division at Netflix.

In 2024, Mowg became a composer evaluator for the open recruitment of film projects and composers at the 2024 Jecheon International Music & Film Festival's Music Film Market, celebrating its 20th anniversary. He was part of a judging panel consisting of six experts—three from the film sector and three from the music sector.

Mowg made his directorial debut with his first short film, Force of Love, using the alias Sung Yi-hyun. He also served as the music director for the film. The title is inspired by the love aria sung by the god of love and portrays a comical standoff between two men competing for one woman, with the famous aria "Habanera" from Bizet's opera Carmen as its motif. In a virtual café setting, the three characters in the love triangle are each immersed in their own illusions. Similar to the lyrics of "Habanera," which depict fickle love, the childish power struggle between the two men may reveal the true nature of desire, often disguised as love.

Filmography Feature film

Short films

Television series

Web series

Filmography Short film +Directing credit in short filmsYearTitleRole English Korean2024 The Power of Love 사랑의 힘Director

Awards and nominations