Lee Sung-hyun (Korean: 이성현, born in 1972), also known as Mowg (Korean: 모그; RR: Mogeu), is a bassist and composer of primarily film scores. He was named Mowg because of his similar appearance to Mowgli in The Jungle Book when he was in his 20s in New York.^[1][2]

Mowg has won multiple awards for his works in various films, such as I Saw the Devil (2010), Masquerade (2012), Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet (2016),^[3][4][5] The Age of Shadows (2016) and Burning (2018). In addition to his work in film, Mowg has produced albums by other artists, including the debut album by Korean star Jang Yoon-ju Dream,^[6] and Jazz album of vocalist Malo.^[7]

Early life

Mowg's early exposure to music was not due to a special occasion. Instead, his parents' decision to enroll him in a piano academy, due to their busy work schedules, made him developed a liking for music. He also enjoyed watching movies on "Saturday Myunghwa" which left him lasting impression. The "Aranjuez Concerto" by Joaquin Rodrigo, which was the signal music of "The Masterpiece of Saturday," and "Exodus," which was regarded as the "masterpiece of the weekend", were two pieces of music he still remembers vividly. Mowg's love for movies and music extended to radio programs as well, and he loves various genres, including jazz, blues, pop, rock, new country, and new wave music. He recorded all of them on blank tapes. The movies and music he encountered during his sensitive adolescence provided him with the strength to endure life as mucisian.^[2]

However, Mowg's parents were not pleased with his hobby. His father, a former rugby player, made him join the school rugby team, thinking that it would distract him from music and help him develop better control over his emotions. To build his body, Mowg had to eat two slices of tofu every morning, and he was pushed to the point of creating a sandstorm on the playground during training sessions. Gradually, his body grew to match that of a rugby player. During his adolescence, Mowg's personality developed in a contrasting manner. He was sometimes quiet and withdrawn, and other times outgoing and energetic, exhibiting tendencies similar to those of manic-depressive patients.^[2]

The conflict between his deep passion for music and his conservative family's disapproval drove him to leave for New York. Around the time he graduated from high school, he was heavily involved in jazz and occasionally played at "All That Jazz" in Itaewon. Lee Young-gyeong, a jazz pianist who was a star at "All That Jazz" at the time, encouraged him to go to a bigger city like New York, saying that he would do much better there. Although his family strongly opposed the idea, Mowg was determined to pursue his dreams. He said, "I couldn't live in a system that opposed my love for music. In a situation where I had to choose between giving up on myself or my family, I eventually chose to leave my family behind."^[2] In 1993, he went to New York.^[8]

Career

New York represented freedom for Mowg, who enrolled in school to legally stay in the US, although he was not interested in studying. He had a wild life and longed for freedom, and his inability to communicate may have contributed to his difficulty adjusting to school. Music in New York was not just a dream but a matter of survival for him, and he played with various artists, including jazz, Krasmer, and Broadway shows. He played multiple instruments, including bass, guitar, keyboard, and drums. Living in Harlem exposed him to a multinational culture that influenced his music.^[2]

Even though Mowg can play multiple instruments, he is most notable as a jazz bassist. Mowg played a 7-string bass that went beyond the usual 4-string and was called 'the greatest star of fusion jazz'.^[10] As a bass session player and producer, he frequently traveled between Seoul, New York, and LA.^[2] In 2004, he released the first bass-only album titled Desire in South Korea.^[9]

Mowg started working for the film industry in 2006 in anthology film Doomsday Book (released in 2011 but started in 2006). It was a three-part anthology film to be directed by Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung. Mowg received an offer from his friend, director Yim Pil-sung, whom he first met when he was 24 years old. It was around that time that he was introduced to several directors, including director Kim Jee-woon, as well as Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.^[2] Director Kim Jee-woon became one of his most frequent collaborators. Mowg credits Kim Jee-woon as the person who helped him grow as a composer.^[2]

Mowg admires David Shire, who was responsible for the music for Saturday Night Fever (1977), and Zodiac (2007). Another was Lalo Shiffrin.^[11]

Mowg founded Filmuziker, a music team.^[12]

In 2010, he performed in Director's Cut Award Congratulatory Performance.^[13]

In 2011, Mowg was appointed as full-time professor of Department of Applied Music and Arts, Department of Instrumental Music, Seoul Institute of the Arts.^[14]

In April 2013, was appointed as Public Relations Ambassador of KT&G Sangsangmadang Music Film Festival.^[15]

In 2015, he performed in 3rd Muju Mountain Film Festival.^[16]

In 2021 he performed in Incheon Film Week.^[17]

Discography

Feature film

Short films

Other

• Illusion: Between Reality and Fantasy (sound art 2021)
• Planet B-Boy (documentary 2007)

Television series

Web series

Albums

Awards and nominations