Jo Sung-mo

This article is about a singer. For the swimmer, see Cho Sung-mo.

Jo Sung-mo (Korean: 조성모; born March 11, 1977) is a South Korean pop ballad singer. He debuted in 1998 with the album To Heaven, and went on to release several of the all-time best-selling albums in South Korea.^[1]

In this Korean name, the family name is Jo.

Jo Sung-mo
Jo in 2012.
Background information
Born	(1977-03-11) March 11, 1977 (age 48)
Origin	South Korea
Genres	Pop ballad
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1998–present
Korean name
Hangul	조성모
Hanja	曺誠模
RR	Jo Seongmo
MR	Cho Sŏngmo

Biography

Jo Sung Mo was born in Seoul in 1977.

Shortly after high school, he was part of a dance group called 4004 (also called 4Angels). The dance group never had an official debut before disbanding.

Jo Sung Mo debuted in September 1998. He chose an unconventional method of releasing no information about the album or himself featuring actors (Lee Byeong Heon and Kim Ha Neul) in his debut instead of personally appearing in the video. It became known as the "mysterious concept".

His gamble paid off, and he became widely popular. Listed as one of the top sellers of Korean albums of all time, he earned the title "Crown Prince of Ballads".

Jo Sung Mo entered mandatory enlistment on March 30, 2006,^[2] and completed his service on May 23, 2008.

Jo Sung Mo got married in 2010 to former model and designer, Goo Min Ji. They met in 2007 and dated for 3 years prior.^[3] They had their first child, a boy, on October 26, 2015.^[4]

His fan club goes by the name Sungmo Maria.

Controversy

In 2015, Jo was taken to court over breech of contract and substandard performances for his 2014–2015 concert tour. He was originally agreed to hold 18 concerts, but he stopped after 16 due to a discrepancy with the performance agency over money. On October 25, 2015, the Seoul Central District Court ruled against Jo and ordered him to pay 100 million won ($890,000 US) to the production house.^[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [6]
To Heaven	Released: September 4, 1998 Label: GM (지엠) Formats: CD, cassette	4	KOR: 775,126+[7]
For Your Soul	Released: September 1, 1999 Label: GM Formats: CD, cassette	1	KOR: 2,047,152+[8]
Classic	Released: January 26, 2000 Label: GM Formats: CD, cassette	2	KOR: 1,599,111+[9]
Let Me Love	Released: September 1, 2000 Label: GM Formats: CD, cassette	1	KOR: 2,042,096+[10]
No More Love	Released: September 9, 2001 Label: GM Formats: CD, cassette	1	KOR: 979,697[11]
A Singer (歌人)	Released: March 10, 2003 Warner Music Korea Label: Formats: CD, cassette	1	KOR: 374,572[12]
My First	Released: February 2, 2005 Label: Warner Music Korea Formats: CD, cassette	5	KOR: 155,523+[13]
Classic 1+1 Grand Featuring	Released: November 8, 2005 Label: Heaven Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette	1	KOR: 53,657+[14]
Second Half	Released: April 9, 2009	—*	—*
*2009 data not available.

Compilation albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [6][15]
Don't Forget To Remember	Released: October 10, 2002 Label: GM Formats: CD, cassette	8	KOR: 97,771+[16]
The Essential Jo Sung Mo	Released: June 25, 2014 Label: CJ E & M Music Formats: CD, digital download	9	KOR: 1,929+[17]

Extended plays

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [15]
Meet Brave	Released: August 11, 2010 Label: CJ E & M Music Formats: CD, digital download	3	—*
Wind of Change	Released: March 24, 2014 Label: Synnara Music Formats: CD, digital download	9	KOR: 2,200+[18]
*2010 sales data not available.

Filmography

Television

Year	Program name	Note
2009	Let's Go! Dream Team Season 2	Cast member[19]
2012–13	The Last Audition of My Live	Singing competition judge[20]
2013	Hidden Singer 2	Guest singer[21]
2014	Final Adventure	Cast member
2015	Persevere, Goo Hae-Ra	Cameo
2016	Fantastic Duo	Guest singer

Film

• Taegukgi (2004) as a soldier of the North Korean People's Army (Cameo)^[22][23]

Awards and nominations

Golden Disc Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref
1999	Album Grand Prize	For Your Soul	Won	[24]
	Album Main Prize		Won
2000	Album Grand Prize	Let Me Love	Won
	Album Main Prize		Won
2003	Album Grand Prize	A Singer	Won
	Album Main Prize		Won
2005		My First	Won

KBS Music Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref
1999	Best Song Award	"For Your Soul"	Won	[25]

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref
1999	Best Ballad Performance	"For Your Soul"	Won	[26]
	Best Male Artist		Nominated
2000	Music Video of the Year	"Do You Know"	Won	[27]
	Best Male Artist		Nominated
	Best Ballad Performance		Won
2001	Best Male Artist	"Goodbye My Love"	Nominated	[28]
2003		"Piano"	Nominated	[29]
	Best Ballad Performance		Won
2004	Best OST	"By Your Side" (Lovers in Paris OST)	Won	[30]
2005	Best Male Artist	"Mr. Flower"	Nominated	[31]

Seoul Music Awards

Year	Category	Nominated work	Result	Ref
1998	New Artist Award	Not applicable	Won	[32]
1999	Grand Prize	For Your Soul	Won
	Main Prize		Won
2000	Grand Prize	Let Me Love	Won
	Main Prize		Won

See also

• List of best-selling albums in South Korea