Kim So-hyang (, born April 5, 1978), known mononymously as Sohyang, is a South Korean singer-songwriter.
According to Sohyang, her goal is to use her voice to comfort people who are going through difficult times. Sohyang is also an author of fiction, having published multiple fantasy novels since 2013, the most well-known of them being Crystal Castle and Anaxion. She has been dubbed by some journalists in the international media as the "Korean Mariah Carey".
Career
Sohyang made her debut in 1996 with the song "Mr."(선생님). She was practicing in a recording studio and composer Jo Hwan-gon heard her singing and asked her to record a song with him. After being tested by him, Sohyang released her first single and then went on a tour with Jo Hwan-gon and participated in many concerts and musical performances. She joined her husband's family band "POS" and released several Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) albums. Sohyang became one of the most popular and influencing CCM singers of Korea. She held concerts in around 50 countries until now. In 2014, she became the first non-American artist to sing the American national anthem at an NBA game. She achieved further fame when she sang with Kirk Franklin.
Since 2012, Sohyang has participated multiple times on various television music competition programs Immortal Songs 2, King of Mask Singer, and I Am a Singer 2, winning three times on Immortal Songs 2 with songs "Lean on Me", "Bridge over Troubled Water" and in 2023, "One Million Roses". She had also set a record on King of Mask Singer in 2017, before it was broken by Son Seung-Yeon.
After winning the Michael Bolton special episode on Immortal Songs 2 with a score of 442 points (fifth-highest ever), Michael Bolton—who described Sohyang as a "virtuoso"—asked Sohyang to tour South Korea with him, and they performed many concerts together throughout the country. Furthermore, her performance of "Lean on Me" won an award at the 2015 Banff World Media Festival.
In 2016 Sohyang was awarded the Grand Prize of the Seoul Success Award in the Culture category. In Disney's movie Moana, Sohyang provided the singing voice of the protagonist in the Korean-dubbed version. Sohyang also gives lectures about singing and vocal technique at Baekseok University in Cheonan City.
In the first half of 2017, Sohyang appeared on MBC's King of Mask Singer as "Spirited Lady" for the show's 2nd anniversary and became the winner six consecutive times (Generation 53–58), making her the female singer with the highest number of consecutive wins ever achieved to that time (second highest overall) before losing her crown in July 2017 and departing from the show after appearing for 14 consecutive weeks. Sohyang sang the main OST, "Wind Song" (바람의 노래), which is a remake of Cho Yong-pil's original song, for the Drama Confession Couple (고백부부). This OST was at No. 1 on the charts on Melon (online music service) for several weeks and additionally won the 1st place on Music Bank on November 24, 2017. She was given a special stage on which to perform the main OST "Wind Song" at the KBS Drama Awards on the last day of 2017. Sohyang performed at the MBC Entertainment Awards 2017 and was awarded the Special Prize in the Music Show category for her participation in King of Mask Singer. She became the King of the show with the highest number of consecutive wins ever achieved as a female contestant at that time.
During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, ice dancer Yura Min and Alexander Gamelin performed to Sohyang's rendition of "Arirang Alone". Furthermore, during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang Sohyang performed, together with Sumi Jo, the song "Here as One", which they both recorded specifically for this occasion.
Personal life Sohyang is a devout Christian. She first began singing in her local community, with no aspirations of pursuing a career as a professional singer. Sohyang's parents divorced when she was in her third year of high school. Due to this, Sohyang experienced great financial difficulties, and, according to her, was often very sad as a result. She has said that she used to listen to artists Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion often, whose music helped her to get through these difficult times. In 2017 she was quoted as having said that her favorite album is still Carey's Music Box.
In 1998, at the age of twenty, Sohyang married Kim Hee-jun, the drummer of her band POS. Soon afterwards she was diagnosed with uterine cancer; due to the early detection, she was able to survive the cancer, but was rendered infertile. Her sister-in-law is the guitarist JinJoo Lee from DNCE. In September 2025, KQ Entertainment confirmed that Sohyang and Kim divorced two years ago on amicable terms.
Discography Studio albums Title Album detailsAs member of POSPOS Released: September 25, 2000Letter To The Sky Released: September 19, 2001 Label: Kakao EntertainmentButterfly Released: September 8, 2004 Label: June MusicDream Released: September 12, 2007 Label: Maninae MediaStory Released: February 3, 2009 Label: CCM SkyAs solo artist15th Anniversary Released: November 5, 2012 Label: June MusicDiva Released: November 13, 2024 Label: Arche Entertainment
Singles As lead artist TitleYear Peak chart positionsAlbum KORCircle Digital Chart positions:
"Love You, I Love You": "Rhapsody of Sorrow": "Love You, I Love You" () 2012 96 rowspan="9" "Someday" () 2013 —"Rhapsody of Sorrow" () 2014 81"Fall in All In" () —"Going Home" () 2016 —"The Song Begins" () 2018 —"Stay"2020 —"My Soul Magnifies the Lord" () —"Letter" () 2022 —"Higher" 2023 —Diva"Blessing"2024 —"Surrender" —
Collaborations TitleYear Peak chart positionsAlbum KORCircle Digital Chart positions:
"Mermaid": "Beside You": "Lying": "Mermaid" () (R&B Version) 2011 33 Diva Project"Beside You" () 2014 81 "On My Way Back" () 2020— O Esca Viatorum"Wind of Peace" () 2021— "Lying" (사랑하는 척)2022130 Lying (REVIBE, Vol. 7)"Miracle" (기적)— rowspan="4" "Freedom"—"The Star"—"My Lord, Jesus" 2023—
Soundtrack appearances TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum KORCircle Digital Chart positions:
"Only One Thing": "Don't Forget Me": "Wind Song": "Did You Forget?": "Only One Thing" () 2012 50 The King's Doctor OST"Don't Forget Me" () 2013 34 Iris II: New Generation OST "Home"2017 — Strongest Deliveryman OST "Wind Song" ()51 Confession Couple OST"Close My Eyes" ()2018— The Time OST"I Love You" ()— My Only One OST"Only My Heart Knows" ()— The Hymn of Death OST"Last Promise" ()— A Pledge to God OST"Starlight"2019— Perfume OST"Road" ()— Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life OST"Hopefully Sky" ()2020— Hi Bye, Mama! OST"Once"— When I Was the Most Beautiful OST"Hello"— 18 Again OST"Beautiful Destiny"— Birthcare Center OST"Did You Forget?" ()198 Homemade Love Story OST"Beautiful Words" () 2021 — Navillera OST"I Hope So" ()2022 —It's Beautiful Now OST"Sweet Dreams, My Dear" — Lost Ark OST"Vincent" —Why Her OST"Luminous" () —Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist OST"Hello"2023 —Three Siblings Bravely OST"Prayer" —Brain Cooperation OST"Beneath The Moonlight" () 2024 —Love Song For Illusion OST"That Day" () 2025 — The Queen Who Crowns OST
Other charted songs TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum KORCircle Digital Chart positions:
"I Have Nothing": "Running in the Sky": "Never Ending Story": "Dream": "Where Are You?": "Saldaga": "For a Thousand Days" and "Fate": "I Have Nothing" 2012 27 I Am a Singer 2: Group B July Competition (7월 B조 경연)"Running in the Sky" (하늘을 달리다) 42I Am a Singer 2: Group A August Competition (8월 A조 경연)"Never Ending Story" 23I Am a Singer 2: August Singer Exhibition (8월의 가수전)"Dream" (꿈) 90I Am a Singer 2: 2012 King of Kings Opening Ceremony (2012 가왕전 개막제)"Where Are You?" (그대는 어디에) 67I Am a Singer 2: 2012 King of Kings Round 7 (2012 가왕전 7강전)"Saldaga" (살다가) 33I Am a Singer 2: 2012 King of Kings Round 6 (2012 가왕전 6강전)"For a Thousand Days" (천일동안) 31I Am a Singer 2: 2012 King of Kings Round 4 (2012 가왕전 4강전)"Fate" (인연) 17
Filmography Variety shows YearTitleNotes2000 - 2024KBS Open ConcertGuest Performer2012I Am a Singer 2Contestant, 3rd place2014-2024Immortal Songs 2Contestant, 10 Episodes, 4 Wins2017King of Mask SingerSpirited Lady, Episodes 105–118, 6 wins2020Begin AgainCast member, Season 4, Episode 6–102021Voice King Judge, Season 1
I Am a Singer 2
Month Round Song Original Artist ResultJuly Group B "I Have Nothing" Whitney Houston Rank 1 Singer of July "In the Flower Garden" Jung Hoon Hee Rank 3August Group A "Running to the Sky" Lee Juck Rank 1 Singer of August "Never Ending Story" Boohwal Rank 1, Singer of August September Singer of September "Beauty and the Beast" Céline Dion Special StageSuper December Opening "Dream" Sohyang – POS Rank 2 Week 1 "Where Are You" Yim Jae-beom Rank 2 Week 2"As I Live" SG Wannabe Rank 2 Week 3"I Always Miss You" Lee Sun-hee Rank 3Week 4"For Thousands Days" Lee Seung-hwan Rank 2"Fate" Lee Sun-hee Rank 1Semi-finals"O Holy Night" Adolphe Charles Adam Rank 2"It's Only My World" Deulgukhwa / Drop out Sohyang achieved the highest average rank of every contestant on I Am a Singer 2 ever. Furthermore, she never placed outside of the Top 3 during the whole time she was present in the show.
Records and statistics
Rank 1 Rank 2 Rank 3 Average Rank4 Times 5 Times 1,9 (highest ever)
Immortal Songs 2
DateEpisode TitleEpisode No.SongOriginal ArtistOrderResult October 18, 2014Michael Bolton SpecialEp. 169"Lean on Me" Bill Withers 7/7 442 Votes, 1 Round won, Final Win February 21, 2015Traditional Folk Songs SpecialEp. 187"Arirang Alone" Jang Sa-ik 1/7 411 Votes, 1 Round won May 9, 2015English Pop Songs SpecialEp. 198"Bridge Over Troubled Water" Simon and Garfunkel 4/7 416 Votes, 4 Rounds won, Final Win December 26, 2015The Immortal Big Match SpecialEp. 230Immortal songs broadcast of December 2015 episode 230"Everyone" Yoon Bok Hee 4/7 0 Rounds won July 23, 2016Summer Story With Friends SpecialEp. 261"Childish Adult" Gummy 1/7 0 Rounds won May 12, 2018Shane Filan SpecialEp. 354"You Raise Me Up" Secret Garden 3/6 414 Votes, 2 Rounds wonFebruary 26, 2022Jang Sa-ik SpecialEp. 545"Wind Song" Cho Yong PilSpecial performance Special performance"I Will Give You Everything" Lee Janghee April 30, 2022Korean Music History SpecialEp. 553"Wild Flower" Park Hyo Shin 1/5 3 Rounds won April 1, 2023Sim Soo-bong SpecialEp. 600 One Million Roses Sim Soo-bong 5/5 1 Round won, Final Win July 15, 2023King of Kings SpecialEp. 615 Part of Your World Jodi Benson 3/4 0 Rounds won December 28, 2024Oh My Star #5 SpecialEp. 687 O Holy Night & All I Want For Christmas Is You John Sullivan Dwight & Mariah Carey 5/5 1 Round won, Final Win July 5th, 2025King of Kings SpecialEp. 713 Gangsta's Paradise Coolio 4/5 427 Votes, 1 Round won
King of Mask Singer
Generation # Episode # Round # Song Original Artist Opponent Result (Score) Notes53 106 1 "I Miss You" Kim Bum-soo Minzy Win (58:41) Advanced to the second round106 2 "Atlantis Princess" BoA Win (60:39) Advanced to the third round 3 "Dear Love" The One Bae In-hyuk (Romantic Punch) Win (74:25) Advanced to the final roundFinal N/A Lee Hae-ri of Davichi Win (58:41) Mask Queen 1st time 54 108 "Do You Know" Jo Sung-mo Win (66:33) Mask Queen 2nd time 55 110 "Hug Me" Lee Se-jun (Yurisangja) Win (77:22) Mask Queen 3rd time 56 112 "Mona Lisa" Cho Yong-pil Hwang Chi-yeul Win (67:32) Mask Queen 4th time 57 115 "Breathe" Lee Hi Win (76:23) Mask Queen 5th time 58 117 "Home" Park Hyo-shin John Park Win (74:25) Mask Queen 6th time 59 119 "Day Day" Bewhy Johan Kim Lose (43:56) Drop out
Records and statistics
Most Wins (Females)Most WinsAverage Score rank rank66 of 99 Votes rank rank