Beloved B-Boy and Hit Songwriter Oh Sung-hoon Passes Away

The K-pop industry is mourning the loss of Oh Sung-hoon, a talented songwriter and former B-boy, who tragically passed away. He was found dead in a recording studio early on February 3, 2025. Oh had been actively working on music projects until recently, leaving many in shock at the news of his untimely death.

A colleague expressed disbelief, stating, "We were just talking a few days ago about collaborating. I can't believe this is true." Another industry insider echoed this sentiment, questioning the validity of the news.

Oh's funeral is being held at the Kyowon Yeoum West Seoul Funeral Hall, with the burial site at the Seoul Municipal Cemetery. The funeral service is scheduled for February 5.

Born in 1979, Oh Sung-hoon debuted in 1998 as a member of the dance group People Crew, which included rapper MC Mong. Inspired by Seo Taiji and Boys, he began his career as a dancer and became one of Korea's top B-boys, training at the renowned Moonlight studio, which produced stars like Lee Joon and Kang Won-rae. However, after suffering a knee injury and contemplating his future, he transitioned into songwriting, where he flourished.

Three years ago, Oh appeared on the YouTube channel 'B-Boy Zilrat,' sharing his dedication to music: "I practiced piano for hours, just like I used to dance for 16 hours a day. I mastered all the chords in two months, but it felt like I invested a year into it."

Despite facing prejudice that his beats sounded too much like B-boying, he intentionally created ballads without beats, leading to numerous hit songs in that genre.

His songwriting credits include hits like K.Will's 'Love 119,' Gummy's 'Remember Me,' Jayc's 'Love Confession,' and many more. He collaborated with top artists such as Huh Gak, Chungha, Block B, and produced several popular drama OSTs, holding over 400 registered songs with the copyright association.

Additionally, he discovered and produced singer Park Hye-won (hynn) and served as a producer for 'Sing Again 2.' He also founded the label Kiya Music, representing artists like Song Ha-ye and others.