The year he turned 22, he won the Toulouse International Singing Competition in France. The following March, he debuted in the male trio AWESOME with Han Ki-joo and You Chae-hoon.
In 2018, he won the Opera Crown International Vocal Competition in Tbilisi, Georgia. In March 2019, he performed at an opera gala at Zaryadye Concert Hall in Moscow.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 26, he entered JTBC’s Phantom Singer 3 and became known. The first episode aired on Apr. 10, and News1 wrote that attention focused on the participation of a classical singer working at the Royal Opera House in London. In the July 3 final, Letteamor placed third, and in October he released his debut album A Time to Blossom.
In 2021, he released Letteamor’s first mini album, Wish. In February 2022, he released his first classical album, The Road of Classics.
That August, he took on his first musical, playing Emperor Franz Joseph in the 10th anniversary production of Elisabeth, and in December he entered TV Chosun’s Mr. Trot 2 as a classical singer.
In March 2023, he was eliminated from Mr. Trot 2 in 12th place, just short of the semifinals. In June, he won Rookie of the Year at the DIMF Awards, and the same year he also won first prize at the Opera Index competition in the United States.
In April 2024, he won first prize at the Cascais Opera International Singing Competition in Portugal, and in December he appeared on KBS1’s Gayo Mudae. In November 2025, he appeared in the Phantom Singer IN LOVE concert, and in December he was introduced as a performer in Sumi Jo’s Christmas concert.
In May 2026, he signed an exclusive contract with SM C&C.
Gil Byung-min (born 1994) debuted in the male trio AWESOME on Mar 31, 2017, the year he turned 23, and became known when he appeared in the premiere of JTBC’s Phantom Singer 3 on Apr 10, 2020, the year he turned 26. His first musical was Elisabeth in 2022, the year he turned 28.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
In March 2017, Herald POP wrote that the win had attracted attention.
Source 01 · Herald POP (Korean) · AWESOME debut · opens in a new tab The year is confirmed in a 2017 article; the article does not give the month or day.Debuted with Han Ki-joo and You Chae-hoon in a classical-based trio.
Source 01 · Herald POP (Korean) · AWESOME debut · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Joynews24 (Korean) · AWESOME interview · opens in a new tab The debut date was announced in Herald POP’s Mar. 29 article; Joynews24 said the first song, “Il Mondo,” came out on Mar. 31.After its release in Korea, the song was released worldwide through Warner Music.
Source 02 · Joynews24 (Korean) · AWESOME interview · opens in a new tabThe competition was held in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Source 03 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Gil Byung-min on the Zaryadye stage · opens in a new tab The year is confirmed from the April 2019 article’s reference to the previous year; the article does not give the month or day.Performed on stage in Moscow, Russia. Maeil Business Newspaper reported that he was to join the Royal Opera House in London that August.
Source 03 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Gil Byung-min on the Zaryadye stage · opens in a new tabNews1 wrote that attention focused on the participation of Gil Byung-min, a classical singer working at the Royal Opera House in London. The premiere drew a 3.8% rating.
Reached the final with Letteamor, made up of Gil Byung-min, Kim Min-seok, Kim Sung-sik and Park Hyun-soo, and placed third.
Source 05 · Singlist (Korean) · Letteamor finishes third · opens in a new tabSinglist reported that the first print run sold out on the day of release.
Source 06 · Singlist (Korean) · Encore concert news · opens in a new tabA recital marking the release of his debut album, held at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul and then in Busan and Goyang. An encore recital was planned for Nov. 21.
Source 06 · Singlist (Korean) · Encore concert news · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Today Shinmun (Korean) · Encore recital · opens in a new tab The date is the first performance date given in two November 2020 articles; it was not checked against an article from the day of the concert.Released in two versions, classical and casual.
Source 08 · Herald Business (Korean) · Letteamor’s Wish · opens in a new tabNewsis reported that pre-orders reached platinum (10,000 or more) within a day of opening.
Source 09 · Newsis (Korean) · First classical album · opens in a new tabCast as Emperor Franz Joseph. The run was scheduled to continue until Nov. 13.
Source 10 · Newsis (Korean) · Elisabeth 10th anniversary · opens in a new tabSource 16 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · Autumn Night Concert interview · opens in a new tab The date is the opening of the run. The articles do not say which performances he appeared in.A concert at Ayang Hall in the Ayang Art Center in Daegu with four alumni of Phantom Singer 3.
Source 22 · Maeil Shinmun (Korean) · Concert by Phantom Singer 3 alumni · opens in a new tab The concert was titled Gil Byung-min, John Noh, Ko Yeong-yeol and Park Hyun-soo’s Friends.The first episode drew a 20.2% rating.
Source 11 · Top Star News (Korean) · Why he entered Mr. Trot 2 · opens in a new tabSource 12 · YTN (Korean) · Mr. Trot 2 episode 1 ratings · opens in a new tabSeoul Shinmun reported that he kept entering competitions after Phantom Singer.
Source 16 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · Autumn Night Concert interview · opens in a new tab The article gives the year only.In the Other Genres division, he was at risk of elimination but advanced as an additional pick.
Source 13 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Mr. Trot 2 at 21.3% · opens in a new tab The date is the broadcast date the article describes.Failed to advance to the semifinals after round 2 of the fourth main round.
Source 14 · Newsen (Korean) · Mr. Trot 2 semifinalists · opens in a new tabReceived the award for playing Emperor Franz Joseph in Elisabeth.
Source 15 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · DIMF Rookie of the Year · opens in a new tab The date is the KBS broadcast date.Placed first, the prize below the grand prize, in a competition that ended in Lisbon, Portugal.
Source 17 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · Cascais competition · opens in a new tabSource 16 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · Autumn Night Concert interview · opens in a new tab The date is the closing day of the competition.Sang the art song “Cheotsarang.”
Source 18 · Top Star News (Korean) · Gayo Mudae · opens in a new tabA concert marking the Joongang Ilbo’s 60th anniversary, held at the Sejong Center in Seoul.
Source 19 · Joongang Ilbo (Korean) · Phantom Singer IN LOVE · opens in a new tab Photo captions in the article disagree between the 28th and 29th, so only the month is given.Yonhap News Agency reported that he would sing songs including the Toreador Song from Bizet’s Carmen at this concert.
Source 20 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Year-end concert · opens in a new tab Yonhap announced the concert for Dec. 25 at the Seoul Arts Center; it was not checked against an article from the day of the concert, so only the month is given.The agency also represents Kang Ho-dong, Jun Hyun-moo, Seo Jang-hoon and Jang Do-yeon. He announced plans for a solo concert.
Source 21 · MyDaily (Korean) · SM C&C exclusive contract · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2016–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Music · South Korea
1994 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1994: the year of the event minus 1994, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.30 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.