Yohan Hwang

Yohan Hwang, also known as Yohan King, (born November 27, 1995) is a South Korean singer based in Manila, Philippines. He rose to fame after joining and eventually winning the first season of I Love OPM. Yohan later went on to perform a Korean-language cover of the Yeng Constantino single "Ikaw" for the Tagalog-language dub of Love in the Moonlight.

Yohan King
요한킹
Yohan King at a Meet and Greet event, 2016
Born
Yohan Hwang

(1995-11-27) November 27, 1995[1]
Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
OccupationSinger
Musical career
GenresK-pop, OPM, Ballad
Years active2016 (2016)–present
LabelsStar Music
Viva Entertainment
Korean name
Hangul
황요한
Hanja
黃耀漢
Revised RomanizationHwang Yohan
McCune–ReischauerHwang Yohan

Biography

Early life and education

Yohan Hwang was born in Gyeonggi-do Goyang-si Ilsan, South Korea to South Korean parents. He has an older brother named Joseph and a younger sister.[2] In 2014, his family moved to the Philippines,[3] during which he continued his studies at the De La Salle College Antipolo.

2016: I Love OPM

One time at a function in La Salle, he performed Side A's "Ako'y Sayo" after his friend recommended him to perform a Filipino song. The cheers he received gave him confidence and it marked the start of his love for singing.[4] Not long after, he joined ABS-CBN's new television format I Love OPM wherein non-Filipino and 100% foreigners competed against each other in a singing competition, performing only Filipino songs and most notably the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) genre.[5] During the first-season auditions of the said program, which aired on February 27, 2016, Hwang performed IAXE Band's "Ako'y Sa'Yo at Ika'y Akin", popularized by Daniel Padilla. He was given all three approved marks from the Himigration officers (or judges) Toni Gonzaga, Lani Misalucha, and Martin Nievera, stating that he sounded like a true Filipino and his rendition was beautiful.[6]

Hwang advanced to the semi-finals after consistently receiving high scores and praises from both the judges and the studio audience. Along with Harris Dio Smith, Hwang was the first finalist to advance to the finals after garnering one of the two highest votes from the studio audience. J Morning and Ryan Gallagher joined them later on after gaining the approval from the judges. Both Hwang and J Morning are South Korean finalists.[7]

During the grand finals held at the Resorts World Manila on April 23, he performed Sugarfree's "Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak" with the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble. It was the first time throughout the show that he showed his vocal range rather than his usual soft and sweet ballad performances. Hwang explained that he decided to sing a powerful ballad because he wanted to show and to prove to the critics that he is serious with his singing.[4] He eventually won against the other three finalists after receiving 32.82% of the combined votes from the judges and the public.[8] He was proclaimed the winner at the end of the competition, winning 2 million pesos, a one-year recording contract from Star Music, and vacation package to Cebu.[9] His winning song received praises from the judges. Gonzaga commented: "We were expecting that you were only going to serenade us..." while Misalucha added: "...you leveled up. You proved to us that you're more than just a heartthrob. You are a singing heartthrob."[10] I Love OPM host Anne Curtis also remarked in a separate interview: "He did such an amazing job and I think he really proved himself. His purpose was to show everyone that he can really sing and that he is not just there to bring kilig to the audience. It radiated well in his heartfelt performance and I think that made him the Grand Touristar."[4]

I Love OPM season 1 performances and results
Week Song Original Artist Date Result
Gate 1: The Audition "Ako'y Sa'Yo at Ika'y Akin"[11] I-Axe February 27, 2016 Three Approved marks
(Toni Gonzaga, Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha)
Gate 2: The Bump-Off "Nasa 'Yo Na Ang Lahat"[12] Daniel Padilla March 12, 2016 Judges' choice (92.3%)
Gate 3: The Kababayan Bump-off "Gusto Kita"[13] Gino Padilla April 2, 2016 Kababayan's Choice
Gate 4: The Take Off "I Believe"[14] Jimmy Bondoc April 17, 2016 Kababayan's Choice (with Harris Dio Smith)
Gate 5: The Grand Destination (live performance) "Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak"[15]
(with Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble)
Gary Valenciano April 23, 2016 Winner (32.82%)

Filmography

Television

YearProgram TitleRoleNetwork
2018WowowinHimself/ PerformerGMA Network
Tadhana: My Korean Fairy Tale
2016I Love OPMContestantABS-CBN
The Kababayan Playlist Reunion ConcertPerformer
ASAPPerformer/ Guest Artist

Discography

Awards and nominations

YearAward BodyCategoryResult
2016I Love OPMGrand TouristarWon
2017Push AwardsPush Performance Song Cover of the Year: Ikaw (Noege)Nominated

References

  1. "EXCLUSIVE: Fun facts you should know about Korean heartthrob Yohan Hwang". ABS-CBN Push. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  2. "I Love OPM Finale: Yohan Hwang Journey". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
  3. "TWBA: Why did Yohan Hwang follow his parents to the Philippines?". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
  4. Choa, Kane Errol. "Grand Touristar Yohan Hwang loves OPM". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  5. Salterio, Leah. "The OPM-loving foreigners". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  6. "Yohan Hwang – Ako'y Sa'Yo, Ika'y Sa Akin by I-Axe". ABS-CBN. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  7. Tuazon, Nikko. "Meet the Top 4 of I Love OPM, which will end this Sunday". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  8. Lastrilla, Gary Ann. "Korean student Yohan Hwang wins 'I Love OPM'". ABS-CBN Push. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  9. Salterio, Leah. "Korean is I Love OPM winner". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  10. "Korean heartthrob takes first 'I Love OPM' crown". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  11. "I Love OPM: Yohan Hwang – Ako'y Sa'Yo, Ika'y Sa Akin by I-Axe". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
  12. "The Bump Off: Yohan Hwang – Nasa Sayo Na Ang Lahat by Daniel Padilla". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
  13. "The Kababayan Bump Off: Yohan Hwang – "Gusto Kita" by Ronnie Liang". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
  14. "The Take Off: Yohan Hwang – "I Believe" by Jimmy Bondoc". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
  15. "I Love OPM Finale: Yohan Hwang – "Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak" by Gary Valenciano". ABS-CBN Entertainment. Retrieved May 18, 2016 via YouTube.
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