Yoon Sang, a highly acclaimed musician in South Korea, recently appeared on tvN’s You Quiz on the Block. He was joined by his son Yoon Chan Young, who debuted in SM Entertainment’s new boy group RIIZE as Anton.
@riize.city Part 3 | So Anton & his mom persistently asked Yoonsan permission to be an Idon for 1 year! Woww #anton #앤톤 #yoonsang #윤상 #riize #라이즈 #youquizontheblock
Yoon Sang denied involvement in his son’s career
Yoon Sang’s reputation in the music industry is well-established. He started his career in the 1980s and gained fame for blending various genres, including pop, electronic, and classical music. Over the years, Yoon Sang worked on numerous musical projects, both on his own and with other artists. In fact, he has produced and written songs for some of SM Entertainment’s top acts, including BoA and TVXQ.
Because of Yoon Sang’s ties to SM Entertainment, some have accused Anton of trading on his father’s name to become famous. These speculations have followed the idol since his debut with RIIZE in September 2023. So when the father-son duo sat down with You Quiz on the Block host Yoo Jae Suk, they seized the opportunity to clear the air.
@riize.city Part 4 | ANTON IS “AUDITION” TO SM Yeorobuun!!! #anton #앤톤 #yoonsang #윤상 #riize #라이즈 #youquizontheblock
During the interview, Yoo Jae Suk asked Anton how he got into SM Entertainment as a trainee. Anton replied that he won a spot on the agency’s roster after passing several auditions. Eventually, his hard work paved the way for him to get into RIIZE. Yoo Jae Suk expressed his surprise, saying, “Wow, you auditioned after signing up by yourself? Well, people have said Yoon Sang got you in.”
In response, Yoon Sang remarked, “Whenever I hear such things, I always think that people really don’t know how the world works.” With that one statement, he indirectly denied any involvement in his son’s career.
@riize.city Part 5 | Riize introduce by Yoonsang & performing Love 119 & Get a guitar at You Quiz on the Block #riize #라이즈 #youquizontheblock #anton #앤톤 #yoonsang #윤상
Important perspectives
This wasn’t the first time Anton and Yoon Sang addressed the nepotism allegations. A few weeks ago, Anton went viral for his response to a netizen calling him a “nepo baby,” a derogatory term used to describe those who purportedly benefit career-wise from their famous or successful parents. This happened after he and his father performed together at the 2023 Gayo Daejejeon.
The debate on nepotism in entertainment is complicated, but Anton and Yoon Sang offer important perspectives. They counter the common beliefs and rumors about artists with connections or family ties in the industry. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Anton and Yoon Sang say the K-pop idol got into SM on his own merits. Source: X/@soonkyut.