Korean ‘Paul Potts’ will go to college next month

Choi Sung-bong

Korea’s Paul Potts, Choi Sung-bong, will enter college next month.

Choi was the runner-up in Korea’s Got Talent in 2011, a local version of the audition program Britain’s Got Talent.

He will enter as a freshman at the Department of Culture and Arts Management at Kyung Hee Cyber University.

The singer became famous after his audition video clip in which he sang a powerful rendition of “Nella Fantasia” was viewed by millions of YouTube users worldwide.

He was likened to Britain’s Paul Potts and Susan Boyle for his moving life story from the streets to the stage.

Choi was brought up in an orphanage from the age of three and earned a living from selling gum on the streets and doing hard labor. He never attended elementary, middle or high school but received diplomas for them by passing the qualification exams.

He dreamt of becoming a singer when he heard a vocalist perform while he was selling gum in a nightclub. He then received private lessons from a college student he met at a vocal training center.

But he gave up singing for some time because it was difficult to pay for the lessons. The audition program changed his life.

He became an international sensation when his story was broadcasted on CNN and other foreign media.

Choi says he wants to do music until the day he dies.

“I decided to go to college because I want to experience a bigger world through doing music,” Choi told the media.

“It’s time for me to offer people my talent as I have come this way due to their attention and support,” he said. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>