"Mawang (devil)" Sin Hae-cheol

Singer Sin Hae-cheol is a symbolic music icon demonstrating that the music circle also addresses and openly talks about social issues. We more often see him on stage under his famous moniker 'Mawang' (meaning devil or ghost) than as a musician. As the host of the radio show , he has one of the most influential voices in show business. His remarks on the Taliban hostage crisis or his calls for the revival of music chart programs immediately make it to newspapers. Viewers are more interested in his harsh remarks as a judge of contestants on the reality TV than his career as a singer. Talks on issues such as sex and gambling unfold in the he hosts on a comedy cable channel.


Revival of '90s Rock Band

Sin's career is in line with the post '90s Korean pop music history. His band Muhangwedo's 1988 win at the College Song Fest with the song 'To You' revived student rock bands. His hit solo album of songs that he personally wrote and put lyrics to and the formation of the band 'Next' catapulted him as a leader of the 'young generation music' alongside Seo Tai-ji. It also marked the start of the '90s music era representing a pleasant coexistence of the artistic and commercial side of music. Sin still leads the rock band Next 15 years later. His 1994 album sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Releasing the first Next album, he appeared in an ice cream commercial with a song from the album as the background music. His glib speaking ability became well-known from his years as DJ of