Remembering Shinsadong Tiger, Whose Music Shaped Contemporary K-Pop

The prolific producer and songwriter, who died last month, was among the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Korean music's rise.

Shinsadong Tiger (born Lee Ho-yang), the prolific producer and songwriter behind many of modern K-pop's most indelible hits, was found dead in his Seoul recording studio on February 23. He was 40.

Lee was born in the city of Pohang in 1983, and pursued music beginning in middle school, with his first production credits appearing in 2005. His artistic moniker, Shinsadong Tiger, combines the name of an upscale neighborhood in Seoul's Gangnam district and the Korean word for tiger, which is pronounced similarly to Lee's name. Lee's songwriting was a driving force in defining the catchy, upbeat, electronic-driven style that would come to define K-pop in the public eye in the 2010s, blending global influences with a distinctly Korean sensibility. Shinsadong Tiger songs were career-defining hits for major artists including Apink, Beast, 4Minute, and many more. Lee also branched out into management, forming the girl groups EXID in 2012 and TRI.BE in 2021.

I don't usually write about timely news on this Substack, least of all, obituaries. But I felt compelled to write something remembering Shinsadong Tiger. On The K-Pop Power Hour, the radio show I hosted for over five years, one of my missions was to get people to take K-pop more seriously. A key part of this was highlighting the genre's behind-the-scenes talent, who are so often overlooked in favor of the glamorous singers. I did this in a few ways, including in an ongoing series of episodes called the Producer Focus. Shinsadong Tiger was among the earliest producers I profiled in this series. Though he has sadly passed well before his time, he leaves a truly massive legacy through all the great music he made. Even if you didn’t know his name, if you’re a fan of K-pop, you certainly know his work. To honor his memory, I want to share a few of my favorites from his gem-packed catalog.

Beast- Shock

From the EP “Shock of the New Era,” released February 28, 2010. Lyrics by Lee Sang-ho, Shinsadong Tiger and Yong Jun-hyung of Beast. Music by Lee Sang-ho and Shinsadong Tiger.

Beast rose to prominence as one of the biggest boy bands of the decade's turn on the back of a string of ultra-catchy Shinsadong Tiger-penned hits. “Shock” was their breakthrough hit, reaching number 3 on the Korean charts, and moving over 2 million units. The song rides on a crunchy electropop beat that evokes the electric shock referred to in the lyrics. Its melodic chorus amplifies this club anthem with a shot of emotion. “Shock” was one of the songs that made bombastic dance-pop with heavily processed vocals and slightly awkward English lyricism the signature sound of 2nd generation K-pop.

Trouble Maker- Trouble Maker

From the EP “Trouble Maker,” released December 1, 2011. Lyrics by LE of EXID, Rado, and Shinsadong Tiger. Music by Rado and Shinsadong Tiger.

Particularly early in his career, Shinsasong Tiger worked heavily with artists under the label Cube Entertainment. The duo of Trouble Maker unites two of the label’s biggest stars, Hyunseung, a vocalist from the aforementioned Beast, and Hyuna, a rapper in the girl group 4Minute. In a K-pop world so often associated with chaste, innocent fun, Trouble Maker were boundary pushers. Their self-titled debut single derives much of its punch and frisson from the chemistry of its two members, which was strong enough to provoke “are they/aren’t they?” gossip. But “Trouble Maker” wouldn’t be any fun without its addictive electrofunk groove, and its slinky hooks are classic Shinsadong Tiger.

4Minute- Volume Up

From the EP “Volume Up,” released April 9, 2012. Lyrics and music by Shinsadong Tiger and Rado.

Much of Shinsadong Tiger’s music draws from the Eurodance genre, and nowhere is his love for that genre’s cheesy thrills more evident than with “Volume Up.” Powered by a saxophone riff and chugging electronic piano, the track builds in its verses to a massive, soaring chorus that, in the tradition of the best dance tracks, pairs its stomping beats with a true sense of grandeur. 4Minute’s legacy is sometimes placed in the back seat given Hyuna’s solo stardom, but the group has some real hits in their discography as well.

Ailee- U&I

From the EP “A’s Doll House,” released July 12, 2013. Lyrics and music by Shinsadong Tiger and Kupa.

“U&I,” a collaboration between Shinsadong Tiger and the Korean American soloist Ailee, sees the producer going a bit outside his typical wheelhouse. His signature style involves electronic soundscapes and purposefully filtered vocals. Here, Shinsadong Tiger instead presents a classic-sounding piece of brass-driven vocal pop, layered with groovy bass and drum fills, alongside massive melodies that allow Ailee’s soaring voice to shine, without sacrificing an ounce of the catchiness his involvement also necessitates.

T-ARA- Sugar Free

From the EP “And & End,” released September 11, 2014. Lyrics and music by Shinsadong Tiger and LE of EXID.

In contemporary pop, electronic dance music and more classic pop styles are often presented as adversaries. A song can either have a dancefloor-ready electronic drop, or it can have a melodic, vocal-forward chorus. On “Sugar Free,” Shinsadong Tiger and T-ARA prove that you can do both. The song has a massive, crushing big room dance beat, with vibrant synthesizers and stomping four-on-the-floor percussion, but it also is deeply melodic, showcasing the emotive vocal capabilities of the ladies of T-ARA. “Sugar Free” also showcases Shinsadong Tiger’s long-running collaboration with one of his proteges, LE of EXID, whose sassy, nasal vocals can be heard all throughout “Sugar Free,” presumably left over from a demo she recorded.

EXID- Ah Yeah

From the EP “Ah Yeah,” released April 13, 2015. Lyrics and music by Shinsadong Tiger, Namking Nang, and LE of EXID.

Shinsadong Tiger worked with girl group EXID all throughout their career, penning practically all of their singles and often writing together with with the group’s rapper, LE. “Ah Yeah” is the follow-up to “Up and Down,” which skyrocketed EXID to stardom the previous year. While the latter will always be more popular, the former song is a bit of a pop music miracle. It has the same charms as its predecessor, welding beat-driven, hip-hop inflected verses with a bold, melodic, vocal-driven pop chorus, all intertwined with a mischevious groove. But while “Up and Down” was coyly seductive in tone, “Ah Yeah” is a fierce rebuttal to sexual harassment, a boldly confrontational message in a pop landscape so often focused on simply courting fans.

Cosmic Girls/WJSN- Secret

From the EP “The Secret,” released August 17, 2016. Lyrics by e.one and Exy of WJSN, music by e.one and Shinsadong Tiger.

Cosmic Girls, also known as WJSN (an abbreviation of Wu Ju So Nyeo, their Korean name’s Korean translation), are known for a spacey, quirky musical style as their name might indicate. An early career song that established this sound was “Secret,” which pairs a smooth synth groove with bright, airy vocals for an addictive, cheery track that would prove to be an enduring highlight in WJSN’s discography over the years.

These seven tracks are just a small snapshot of the impressive discography Shinsadong Tiger racked up over the years. During his tragically short career, he was a crucial behind-the-scenes player in defining the sound and style of modern K-pop. With the genre reaching ever greater heights in popularity, his legacy lives on.