Zion Hwang

Zion Hwang (born 1997/1998) is a South Korean-Colombian social media influencer, música popular singer, and restaurant owner. His first single, "Culpa de Quien" (2023), attracted enough attention on social media for Colombian singer Jessi Uribe [es] to collaborate on a remix, launching his music career.

Career

Having moved to Colombia when 19-years-old, he learned how to record videos from his friend and popular Colombian influencer Yeferson Cossio [Wikidata].^[1] He garnered attention on TikTok and Instagram in which he was immersed in Colombian culture,^[2] chronicled COVID-19 pandemic life, and showed his experience running his Korean restaurant.^[3] In travels between Bogotá and Villavicencio, he was exposed to Música popular.^[4] Inspired by Jessi Uribe [es], Paola Jara [es], and Yeison Jiménez [es], he released his first single "¿Culpa de Quien?" (2023), under the production of Yohan Usuga.^[3] On YouTube it received 3.9 million views in September alone, attracting Uribe. The pair collaborated on a remix and Hwang first performed on-stage.^[2] The new version was featured in Usuga's compilation album including Colombian singers like Paola Jara and Pipe Bueno [es] and some regional Mexican artists.^[4] Additionally, it was nominated for best regional Colombian collaboration in the Premios Mi Gente 2024.^[5]

Personal life

Born in South Korea in 1997 or 1998, he moved to China with his father at a young age. However, there he was bullied and after a few years they returned to Korea. Originally aspiring to play basketball, he was disabled for a month by a car accident and unable to practice. The ensuing bout of depression led to his father sending him to Germany to regain motivation, but he quickly returned. Finally, he moved to Colombia as insisted by his father at 19-years-old.^[6]

As of September 2024, he has been in a relationship with Colombian model and influencer Stephanie Fernández for 4 years.^[7] Hwang is Christian.^[6]

Discography

Singles

¿Culpa de Quién? (2023)
¿Culpa de Quién? (Remix) (2023), featuring Jessi Uribe
Infiel (2024)
Costumbre (2024)
Copa Vacía (2024)
El Party (2024)

Compilation

Regional Live by Yohan Usuga Vol. 1 (2024)

Sources

^ "Zion Hwang, el influencer coreano que canta música popular, lanzará nuevo tema en noviembre; esta es su historia en Colombia" [Zion Hwang, the Korean influencer that sings popular music, will launch a new theme in November; this is his history in Colombia]. Semana (in Spanish). 23 October 2023. ProQuest 2881148377.
^ ^a ^b Hernandez, Jeanette (8 July 2024). "This South Korean Immigrant in Colombia Is Going Viral for His Música Popular Songs". Remezcla.
^ ^a ^b "Zion Hwang, el coreano que se enamoró de Colombia y la música popular, lanza canción con Jessi Uribe; esta es la historia" [Zion Hwang, the Korean enamored with Colombia and popular music, releases song with Jessi Uribe; this is the history]. Semana (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. ProQuest 2899997652.
^ ^a ^b Arango Duque, Jaime Horacio (7 December 2023). "Zion Hwang, el coreano que canta música popular" [Zion Hwang, the Korean that sings popular music]. El Colombiano (in Spanish). ProQuest 2899585336.
^ "Estos son los nominados a los Premios Mi Gente 2024" [These are the nominees for the 2024 My People Awards]. El Heraldo. 11 July 2024. ProQuest 3079720286.
^ ^a ^b Martínez López, Cindy Katerine (11 August 2024). "Zion Hwang sufrió bullying y estuvo a punto de quedar vegetal: "no quería vivir"" [Zion Hwang suffered from bullying and was about to be a vegetable: "I didn't want to live"]. El Espectador (in Spanish).
^ Ibañez García, Erika Lucia (9 September 2024). "Zion Hwang, el coreano que llegó a Colombia para cantar música popular y cómo conquistó a su novia Stephanie Fernández" [Zion Hwang, the Korean that came to Colombia to sing popular music and how he won over his girlfriend Stephanie Fernández]. El Tiempo (in Spanish).

[1] "Zion Hwang, el influencer coreano que canta música popular, lanzará nuevo tema en noviembre; esta es su historia en Colombia" [Zion Hwang, the Korean influencer that sings popular music, will launch a new theme in November; this is his history in Colombia]. Semana (in Spanish). 23 October 2023. ProQuest 2881148377.

[H0-2] Hernandez, Jeanette (8 July 2024). "This South Korean Immigrant in Colombia Is Going Viral for His Música Popular Songs". Remezcla.

[S0-3] "Zion Hwang, el coreano que se enamoró de Colombia y la música popular, lanza canción con Jessi Uribe; esta es la historia" [Zion Hwang, the Korean enamored with Colombia and popular music, releases song with Jessi Uribe; this is the history]. Semana (in Spanish). 8 December 2023. ProQuest 2899997652.

[AD0-4] Arango Duque, Jaime Horacio (7 December 2023). "Zion Hwang, el coreano que canta música popular" [Zion Hwang, the Korean that sings popular music]. El Colombiano (in Spanish). ProQuest 2899585336.

[5] "Estos son los nominados a los Premios Mi Gente 2024" [These are the nominees for the 2024 My People Awards]. El Heraldo. 11 July 2024. ProQuest 3079720286.

[ML0-6] Martínez López, Cindy Katerine (11 August 2024). "Zion Hwang sufrió bullying y estuvo a punto de quedar vegetal: "no quería vivir"" [Zion Hwang suffered from bullying and was about to be a vegetable: "I didn't want to live"]. El Espectador (in Spanish).

[7] Ibañez García, Erika Lucia (9 September 2024). "Zion Hwang, el coreano que llegó a Colombia para cantar música popular y cómo conquistó a su novia Stephanie Fernández" [Zion Hwang, the Korean that came to Colombia to sing popular music and how he won over his girlfriend Stephanie Fernández]. El Tiempo (in Spanish).

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