[매일경제 이기창기자]

2014 is a special year for YG Entertainment’s founder, YANG HYUN SUK, aged 44. It’s a year of challenge. The attention to K-Pop from the world is hotter than ever, thanks to the ‘PSY effect.’ Any competitive K-Pop contents can now be a global-hit. In a recent interview with Maeil Economy, YANG commented, “Now is the time with most opportunities for the Korean pop,” and added, “This year marks a watershed for YG.”

First, YG’s main singer BIGBANG and PSY are releasing albums in the first half of the year, while WINNER, AKDONG MUSICIAN, WIN’s B TEAM and a new girl group will all be making a debut. This is surely unprecedented. YG is even building two new training rooms for this. The lights at YG training rooms never dim. Last month, actor CHA SEUNG WON joined the agency, and YG plans to expand the company to actor management. YG will transform itself into a multi-entertainment agency that cuts across the two major pillars of the Korean Wave: K-Pop and K-Drama. YANG used to be an ‘owl,’ working throughout the night and going home in the morning. That’s all going to change. At the headquarters in Hapjeong, Seoul, the building holds a banner that reads ‘HAPPY 2014 YG YEAR.’ YG Family is determined. The interview was held at a filming site in Ilsan, Jang Hang-dong.

– What has changed in the Korean Pop, since the time you were ‘Seotaeji and Boys?’

▶ It’s completely changed. Wish I could be more descriptive. Seotaeji and Boys tried entering the Japanese market, but at the time it was culturally impossible. But the market’s absolutely changed. Park Jin Young made a bold attempt at entering Wonder Girls into the American market, while I did with Se7en, and SM did with Boa. And YouTube helped, too. It aided artists like BIGBANG and PSY become popular among Asian fans residing in the States.

– What if Seotaeji and Boys made a debut now? What would be different?

▶Different times require different artists. Our time back then needed Seotaeji and Boys. I can’t say with a 100% assurance, but I think the current time needs BIGBANG.

– We can’t leave out PSY when it comes to YG.

▶What I am grateful for is that since PSY rose to global stardom, various record companies and agencies became interested in YG. Many offer to work with us. These are the people who we couldn’t meet even if we desperately wanted to. But they are the ones coming to YG. It’s completely different to when Se7en was trying to sell in the U.S. There are so many opportunities, and now we are a partner of those agencies and companies.

– PSY must be under a lot of pressure as his comeback day approaches.

▶ True. At the last concert, he said, “The global-hit ‘Gangnam Style’ took 10 years to overtake the popularity level of ‘Champion’.” As ‘Gangnam Style’ was such a huge hit, people now simply compare the follow-up ‘Gentleman’ with it. ‘Gentleman’ also attracted the highest number of viewers last year, and he did his best. I ask PSY to “slow down.” Because ‘Gangnam Style’ became instantly popular, there was much pressure for preparing ‘Gentleman,’ and we were in a rush. At the moment the album preparation is almost ready, but we tell ourselves to slow down and look over it again before release.

– Any plans for overseas market penetration?

▶The U.S. pays much attention to Asian female artists. PSY didn’t become popular because he’s handsome (laughter). America’s the land of hip-hop, but there isn’t a famous Asian female rapper. So CL from 2NE1 could sell in the U.S.

-What are your plans this year as a producer?

▶Now is the time with most opportunities for the K-Pop market. Seotaeji and Boys would not have dreamt of it. New artists like BIGBANG, 2NE1, and PSY chose YG, and I was the chosen one. They are betting their lives on YG, so it’s my responsibility to bring them success. I am going to do everything in my power as a producer to help them succeed.

– YG is expanding to actor management as well?

▶ I’m actually not familiar with the acting part. But the company is now listed, and is becoming a proper organization. So we are expanding our field. China will be an enormous market for us. Drama takes a huge part in K-Wave, let alone music. So we can expand K-Wave much further and wider. We are strengthening our actor base, and are making an organization around it.

– What is the music YG pursues?

▶I like “artists” that stand out. There are no groups in the world other than BIGBANG who does hip-hop and solos. We discovered LEE HI and AKDONG MUSICIAN in K-Pop Star seasons 1 and 2 respectively. They’re preparing album releases. These two really stood out in the crowd. There’s no other like them, so they’re perfect for YG. If we were to produce another boy group, they have to be different from BIGBANG. 2nd and 3rd BIGBANGs will not work.

– You seem very fond of K-Pop Star.

▶Being a judge on the show takes up a lot of time. There are lots of artists under the care of YG, and I also need to appear on TV. K-Pop trainees around the world watch the show enthusiastically. People like me, who’s already been there done that, hopefully will be helpful to these trainees who want to be K-Pop artists.

– Heard you became a ‘morning person’ from New Year ‘s Day?

▶That’s right. I had to stay up until 4 am as I was at BIGBANG concert’s after party. But I woke up at 9 am. I didn’t sleep much. This year is a turning point for YG. PSY and BIGBANG make a long-awaited comeback, and 4 new groups make a debut. YG takes time creating contents. We take it seriously. Fans don’t believe 4 groups are making a debut. They think we’re lying (laughter). I don’t know if it’s because it’s only January, but we are more determined than ever. Our producers are under much producer and we’re cheering them on. We have 4 recording rooms, and we’re building 2 extra. We want to make YG a music power station.

– How’s your marriage life?

▶I am lucky to be married to my wife. We get along really well. In the last 5 years of our marriage, we never fought or argued, like many other couples do.

– Do you like your wife or your daughter better?

▶(hesitant) Hmm… It’s 50:50. I think if I name one, the other would be upset. But my wife comes first (laughter).

– What is your philosophy?

▶ That is the most difficult question. I feel it’s more important to avoid things you don’t like, than doing things you like. YG’s power comes from doing things we love. I am a friend to BIGBANG, and I don’t force them to do things. We don’t do music for money. It’s not what we want to do. ‘Gangnam Style’ was created under pure will. Nothing forced. The public loves it when we love it. If you say “I love you” and not mean it, the person hearing it will know.

■ He is…

YANG became a legendary dancer in Seoul’s Itaewon. Soetaeji, who heard about him, approached him to form a group. They made a debut in 1992 as Seotaeji and Boys. In 1996 YANG founded Yang Gun Project, a former YG Entertainment, and became a producer. He successfully produced artists like Wheesung, Se7en, BIGBANG and 2NE1, putting YG at the top.

Others see him as a good-natured, thoughtful and delicate man. To YG artists he is a mentor and a friend. After 9 years of dating with Lee Eun Joo, he married her in 2010. He is known for the blind love for his daughter, showing her singing on a TV show. He never studied the field, but he is naturally talented, and whatever work he chooses, it’s done by the best of the field. He spends more than half an hour raving about a beautiful fork. America’s Billboard selected YANG as one of the 100 people who transformed the world music market—the only one in South Korea.

2014. 2. 4.