Young Tak

In 2004, Young-tak entered The 1st Yeongnam Song Festival contest and won the first prize.[16] He used the prize money (1,000,000 Won) to move to Seoul and work on becoming a singer.[17][18] Young-tak started out by singing OST for the movie Marrying the Mafia II (2005).[19] In 2007, he officially debuted as a ballad singer with his single "I Love You" (사랑한다) but did not achieve much success. Young-tak joined Star King as Country Kids' Soul with 3 of his friends (Seo Dong-hoon, Min Geum-yong and Lee Woo-ram), which was a parody group of Brown Eyed Soul.[20] They won the first place and got a contract with a music company to debut as a 4-member ballad group named L-Class (Korean: 엘클래스)[21] He wrote their debut song "Don't Go" (가지 말라고).[22] They worked together for 2 years and disbanded in 2011. Young-tak later became part of a ballad duo called J-Symphony (Korean: 제이심포니 or J-심포니) with ex L-Class member Min Geum-yong (Korean: 민금용)[23][24]. They released 3 singles and even had a solo concert in Japan before part away in 2012.[25] In the meantime, Young-tak continued his music works by singing OSTs for cartoons, dramas and movies, singing guides for famous singers and groups, such as Super Junior-H, Davichi, Park Hyoshin, writing and producing songs and many more.[26] In 2014, Park Young-tak and his friend Ji Kwang-min (Korean: 지광민, stage name MinZi, Korean: 민지) formed a Ballad/Urban/Hiphop/R&B duo called Park-G (Korean: 박지, a.k.a. Park-Ji, "Park" and "Ji" are their respective last names).[19] They release songs and work together as producers, even after Young-tak has switched to Trot.

To make a living, Young-tak became a vocal teacher in a music academy. He almost gave up his singing career to be a vocal teacher as it is more stable. But when Young-tak joined Hidden Singer 2 as a contestant in Wheesung's episode[27], his love for singing was resurrected. He decided to work on his voice and sing professionally again. Young-tak and other contestants in Wheesung's episode formed a small group called The Wheesung Team or Wheeteam. They sang together in small gatherings and events.[28] They did charity together as well and received a testimonial from UNICEF.

In 2016, Young-tak signed a contract with Milagro Entertainment[13][29] and became a trot singer.[30] His CEO co-wrote his Trot debut song "Nuna You're Perfect" (누나가 딱이야). He promoted his songs by working as a morning show presenter and a guest singer in singing classes for middle-aged people.[31] His second Trot single is called "We Are So Bad" (우리 정말 나쁘다 (演歌))[32], which received good response from the public. In the same year, he released his first Trot duet and MV "Cherry Blossom Love" (사랑의 벚꽃놀이) with Sook Haeng[33] [34]. "Cherry Blossom Love" was given to them by a composer named Kwak Young Joon, who has written songs for Big Mama, Heesung and Naul of Brown Eyed Soul. They were hoping this song would be a Trot version of Busker Busker’s Cherry Blossom Ending, which is a repeatedly adored song for every spring. Young-tak wrote and produced "Why Are You Coming Out From There" (니가 왜 거기서 나와) in 2018.[35][36] It is based on the true story of how Young Tak found out his girlfriend was cheating on him.[37] He planned to give the song to his friend Young-ki, who is also a Trot singer, but Young-ki said the song was too difficult for him.[38] Jang Min-ho suggested that Young Tak sing this song himself and it became Young Tak's fourth Trot single.[39] "Why Are You Coming Out From There" became viral thanks to kids liking the song and using it for their TikTok videos.[40] The "Grabbing the neck" choreography of the song also became more known by Trot lovers.

Young Tak then auditioned for TV Chosun's Mr. Trot on December 2019[41] and got his breakthrough thanks to his cover of "A Glass of Makgeolli" (막걸리 한 잔) by Kang-jin in Mr. Trot's Mission 2 – Death Match: 1 VS 1.[42] After the episode was aired, his cover got 1.2 million downloads in one week. Young Tak became a household name throughout South Korea and earned his nickname "Takgeolli".[43] There is also a Makgeolli brand named after him, called Youngtak Makgeolli.[44] In the final round, where all the top 7 finalists got to choose one totally new song to perform, Young Tak chose "Jjin-iya" (찐이야) and the song, along with the thumb dance, became Mr. Trot's best hit.[45] He came 2nd in the end and signed a 1 year and 6 months contract with New Era Project with other singers called Top6.[13][46][47] He became a fixed cast in TV Chosun's shows Romantic Call Centre (사랑의 콜센타) and Mister Trot F4 Academy (뽕숭아학당), both have huge ratings.[48][49]

Young Tak sang Kkondae Intern's OST "Kkondae Latte"[50] (꼰대라떼) and had a special appearance in 3 episodes.[51] He also played a cameo in TV Chosun's Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny.[52] He also played in a musical called 왕의 나라 삼태사 (King's Kingdom Samtaesa) in 2019.[53]

On 22 October 2020, Young Tak and Top 6 Mr. Trot finalists appeared as main stars in documentary film "Mr. Trot: The Movie",[54][55] which was exclusively released by Lotte.[56] The documentary film was a commercial success, selling more than 150,000 tickets after 3 weeks of release.[57][58]

• 2019 JH글로벌 천하장사 원기천 홍삼정골드 JH Red Ginseng
• 2020 한국 야쿠르트 발효홍삼 발휘 Korean Yakult Fermented Red Ginseng
• 2020 예천양조 영탁막걸리 (Yecheon Brewery Young Tak Makgeolli)
• 2020 빙그레 아이스크림 슈퍼콘 (Bingrae Ice cream Supercone)
• 2020 (주)신영 GS건설 울산 지웰시티 자이 (Apartment)
• 2020 NAOBIO 비오틴구미 (비타민) NAOBIO Biotingumi (Vitamin)
• 2020 광동제약-광동 헛개차 알바린 헛개파워 (숙취음료 건강음료 / 짜먹는 식) Kwangdong Pharmaceutical-Guangdong Tea (Hangover Drink/ Health Drink)
• 2020 밀키트 전문 업체 마이쉐프 (간편식) Meal Kit Specialist My Chef (Simple Meal)
• 2020 뷰티 브랜드 JM SOLUTION (화장품) Beauty brand JM SOLUTION (cosmetics)
• 2020 (주)피죤 (섬유유연제 세제 액츠) Pigeon Co., Ltd. (Textile Softener Detergent Acts)
• 2020 미스터피자 Mr. Pizza (미스터트리오 피자) with Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won
• 2020 치킨 프랜차이즈 기업 멕시카나 (치킨) Chicken franchise company Mexicana (Chicken)
• 2020 4399코리아 모바일게임 기적의 검 (게임광고) 4399 Korea Mobile Game Miracle Sword (Game Ad)
• 2020 해양수산부 대한민국 찐수산대전 (대한민국 해양수산부 홍보) Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Korea Steaming Fish Festival (Public relations by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of Korea)
• 2020년 MG새마을금고 (금융) MG Saemaul Bank (Finance)
• 2021 FOLLINIC (Hair Treatment)