[Sportschosun Baek Ji-eun Reporter] Former DJ and producer Shin Cheol explained why he stopped producing music.
On the KBS1 program "Back to the Music Season 2" aired on the 28th, Shin Cheol shared the story of his music career. He recalled, "When I was a second-year high school student, I went to a nightclub for the first time with college students I knew, saw a DJ, and my heart started racing. That was when I decided I wanted to become a DJ. In my third year of high school, I left home with 500 won, lived in a guesthouse, and worked as an assistant to a famous DJ. In less than a year after leaving home, I became the main DJ."
Shin Cheol rose to fame after releasing a remix of "Indian Doll" under the name "Nami and Boom Boom" with DJ Lee Jeong-hyo and Nami. But the glory did not last long. Although the team had been formed based on his idea, Boom Boom was eventually seen as little more than Nami's backup dancers. The next major shock came from Seo Taiji and Boys. Sensing that a new wave was about to hit the music industry, Shin Cheol reached out to Miae, then a principal dancer at MBC, and after repeated attempts, formed Chuli and Miae. The duo quickly made a name for themselves with "Why Are You," Korea's first sampling song.
Shin Cheol later discovered and produced acts such as DJ DOC, Yoo Seung-jun, Goofy, J, and Baek Ji-young, establishing himself as a hitmaker. But in the end, he said he had no choice but to step away from producing. "I was deeply hurt when DJ DOC left and Yoo Seung-jun left as well. I was emotionally wounded, so I stopped producing," he said.
Shin Cheol discovered Yoo Seung-jun after seeing a demo tape he had sent to Korea and cast him. However, Yoo parted ways with Shin after his third album activities. Then, in 2002, he left the country saying he would go abroad for performances before his military enlistment, but he gave up his Korean citizenship and obtained U.S. citizenship. He has been barred from entering the country ever since.
In the case of DJ DOC, Shin Cheol formed the group in 1994 by bringing together Lee Haneul, who had been working as a club DJ in Jeonju since 1992, rapper Park Jeong-hwan, and Kim Chang-yeol, a well-known DJ in Seoul. DJ DOC became hugely popular with the release of its debut song "Superman's Sorrow." After Park's departure, the group brought in former DJ Jung Jae-yong and continued its success with songs such as "Murphy's Law," "Winter Story," and "Beauty and the Beast." However, after the third album cycle ended, they parted ways with Shin Cheol over differences in musical direction and revenue sharing.
Still, Shin Cheol could not leave music behind. He returned as a producer with Kim Yeon-ja's hit song "Amor Fati" and is now communicating with fans through his own livestreams.
Baek Ji-eun, silk781220@sportschosun.com
