The year he turned 22, he debuted as a solo singer with the album In Front of the Post Office in Autumn. In 1995, he appeared in Gaettongi, a rock opera directed by Kim Min-ki.
In 1996, he began performing as the Yoon Do-hyun Band (YB) from his second album. In December 1998, the “’98 Goodbye Best Live” concerts were announced at Yonsei University’s Centennial Memorial Hall.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 27, he sang five songs in the Korean version of Disney’s Tarzan, and in December “Neoreul Bonaego” reached the top 20 of the singles chart, making his name known.
In spring 2000, the band paused and then returned, and in October he released his first live album, Yoon Do-hyun Band LIVE. In 2001, he released the album An Urbanite. In 2002, he became host of KBS’s Yoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter, and in June the World Cup cheer song “Oh! Pilseung Korea” became a hit and the band came to be called the national band. He married on June 15, during the tournament.
In 2005, “I Guess I Loved You” from his solo album took first place on a music chart show for the first time. In 2006, the band changed its name to YB and he released the seventh album. In 2008, Yoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter, which he had hosted for six years and seven months, ended. In 2009, he released the solo album Harmony.
In 2010, the documentary Flying Butterfly, about YB’s tour of a U.S. rock festival, was released. In 2011, he appeared on MBC’s I Am a Singer, and in December became host of SBS’s K-pop Star. In 2013, he released YB’s ninth album. In 2014, he released the solo mini album Singing Yoon Do-hyun.
In 2015, he held YB’s 20th anniversary concert, “20 Years Old.” In 2018, he began the YB:PULSE shows at arts centers in small provincial cities. In 2019, he released YB’s tenth studio album, the first in six years.
In 2021, the year he turned 49, he was diagnosed with gastric MALT lymphoma after a health checkup. In 2022, he was lead vocalist on the official cheer song for the Qatar World Cup, 20 years after the 2002 World Cup. In 2023, he said he had been declared fully recovered after three years of treatment.
In 2024, he went on a nationwide tour and marked 30 years since his debut. In December he was music director of Netflix’s Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die. In 2025, he released Odyssey, YB’s first metal album, as an EP. In 2026, he appeared on MBC’s Omniscient Interfering View.
Yoon Do-hyun (born Feb 3, 1972) debuted in 1994, the year he turned 22, with his first studio album, and became known when “Neoreul Bonaego” reached the top 20 of the singles chart in late 1999, the year he turned 27. In 2002, the year he turned 30, the World Cup cheer song “Oh! Pilseung Korea” became a hit and the band came to be called the national band.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Debuted as a solo singer.
Source 01 · The Hankyoreh (Korean) · Profile of Yoon Do-hyun · opens in a new tabSource 02 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Update after full recovery · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Sports Today (Korean) · Stars with Feb. 3 birthdays · opens in a new tab The release month could not be confirmed. The Dong-A Ilbo (June 18, 2002) gives his debut as 1995, and Yonhap (Apr. 22, 1996) refers to a 1995 solo album.Appeared in an environmental rock opera directed by Kim Min-ki. The Hankyoreh writes that Kim cast Yoon in the lead although he had no acting experience.
Source 04 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Rock opera Gaettongi · opens in a new tabSource 01 · The Hankyoreh (Korean) · Profile of Yoon Do-hyun · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the opening date.The Hankyoreh writes that he began performing as the Yoon Do-hyun Band with the second album, released in 1996. A Yoon Do-hyun Band concert was announced that April.
Source 01 · The Hankyoreh (Korean) · Profile of Yoon Do-hyun · opens in a new tabSource 05 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun rock band concert · opens in a new tab Going by the 15th-anniversary (2010) and 20th-anniversary (2015) articles, YB was formed in 1995.Planned to hold concerts at Yonsei University’s Centennial Memorial Hall from the 18th to the 20th. The program was reported to include 25 songs, among them signature songs from three studio albums.
Source 06 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun Band concert · opens in a new tab Based on a preview article; whether the concerts took place could not be confirmed.Was to sing five songs, including “Nunbusin Achim” (“Dazzling Morning”) composed by Phil Collins, in the Korean-dubbed version opening in Korean theaters in July.
Source 37 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Tarzan theme songs · opens in a new tabReached No. 16 on the fourth-week-of-December top 20 reported by Yonhap. The Hankyoreh writes that he gained broad popularity as rock ballads like this song rose.
The Kukmin Ilbo writes that the Yoon Do-hyun Band, at the height of its popularity after the remake album Hanguk Rock Dasi Bureugi, halted activities after a concert in March 2000. It adds that they returned after several months off.
Source 36 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun Band An Urbanite · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Star News (Korean) · Omniscient Interfering View · opens in a new tab The article’s “last March” is written here as March 2000. On a 2026 TV program he says he disbanded the band in 1999, and that after “Neoreul Bonaego” began to appear on the charts he re-formed it.The Kukmin Ilbo describes it as a live album released six years after his debut.
Source 08 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun Band LIVE · opens in a new tab The article does not give the release date. Based on the article of Oct. 11.The Kukmin Ilbo describes it as the album the Yoon Do-hyun Band released after a year and a half.
Source 36 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun Band An Urbanite · opens in a new tabSource 09 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun Band Christmas concert · opens in a new tab The article does not give the release date. The numbering conflicts: the Kukmin Ilbo article of July 2001 calls it the fifth album and the one of December that year the sixth, and a 2006 Kukmin Ilbo article dates the sixth studio album to 2003.Became host of a late-night music program. The first guest at the first recording was Shin Seung-hun.
Source 10 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · First recording of Yoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter · opens in a new tab The first air date could not be confirmed. The date given is that of the first recording.Sang the cheer song for the Korea-Japan World Cup and performed on the cheering stage. The Dong-A Ilbo wrote that nine in ten World Cup cheering fans named Yoon Do-hyun as their national singer, and he said an album with the cheer song and “Arirang” would be sold in a limited run of 2002 copies.
Source 12 · Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · World Cup singer Yoon Do-hyun · opens in a new tabSource 13 · Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Album limited to 2002 copies · opens in a new tabSource 14 · Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Ten cultural figures who shone this year · opens in a new tabSource 15 · SBS Entertainment News (Korean) · Story behind “Oh! Pilseung Korea” · opens in a new tabSource 01 · The Hankyoreh (Korean) · Profile of Yoon Do-hyun · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the exact day. He explains that the song was originally a commercial jingle and says it made his name known. The Hankyoreh writes that he came to be called the national band after the song became a hit.Held the wedding at the Holiday Inn Seoul.
Source 16 · Dong-A Ilbo (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun’s wedding · opens in a new tabReleased a solo album in April, and Star News writes that “I Guess I Loved You” took first place on a music chart show for the first time, ten years after his debut.
Source 17 · Star News (Korean) · Back to the band after solo work · opens in a new tab The article does not give the release date. The article’s ten years since debut counts from 1995 and is one year off the debut year used on this page (1994).Changed the band’s name from the Yoon Do-hyun Band to YB and released the seventh album. Held a showcase in Gwangjang-dong, Seoul, on the 28th.
Source 18 · Kukmin Ilbo (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun Band seventh album · opens in a new tabSource 19 · Star News (Korean) · YB name change · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the release date. Based on the article of Aug. 24 and the showcase on the 28th.The program ended after six years and seven months.
Source 11 · Edaily (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun’s Love Letter ends · opens in a new tabReleased an album of new solo songs.
Source 25 · Star News (Korean) · Solo mini album · opens in a new tab The release date could not be confirmed. Based on how a 2014 article describes it.The film records YB’s appearance at the U.S. rock festival Warped Tour. It follows concerts in seven U.S. cities, including Seattle and Los Angeles.
Source 21 · TV Report (Korean) · Documentary Flying Butterfly · opens in a new tabSource 22 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · 15 years of YB · opens in a new tabWas one of seven singers appearing, along with Kim Gun-mo, Lee So-ra, Lena Park, Baek Ji-young, Kim Bum-soo and Jungyup.
Source 20 · Seoul Shinmun (Korean) · I Am a Singer, Mar. 27 broadcast · opens in a new tab The first air date could not be confirmed. Based on the cast list for the Mar. 27 broadcast.Became host of an audition program.
Source 23 · TV Daily (Korean) · K-pop Star premiere · opens in a new tabHe says the ninth album, released in 2013, did not do well.
Source 24 · MyDaily (Korean) · Confession about the ninth album · opens in a new tab The release date could not be confirmed.His first album of new solo songs in five years, since Harmony in 2009. Held a press conference in Seogyo-dong, Seoul, on the 16th.
Source 25 · Star News (Korean) · Solo mini album · opens in a new tab The article does not give the release date. Based on the date of the press conference.A 20th anniversary concert at LG Arts Center from the 15th to the 18th. Yoon says the World Cup and I Am a Singer saved YB.
Source 26 · Sports Seoul (Korean) · 20 years of YB · opens in a new tabSource 34 · Edaily (Korean) · The World Cup and I Am a Singer saved YB · opens in a new tab Based on the preview in the Oct. 6, 2015 press conference article; whether the concerts took place could not be confirmed.Performed in towns such as Nonsan, Seosan, Pocheon and Yangsan rather than the metropolitan-scale cities of earlier nationwide tours. Season 1 was reported to end with a show in Mokpo in June.
Source 27 · Xportsnews (Korean) · YB:PULSE · opens in a new tabA studio album released after six years.
Source 28 · Herald POP (Korean) · Cultwo Show, tenth album · opens in a new tab The article does not give the release date. Based on the article of the 10th.Was diagnosed after a health checkup. He disclosed this himself in 2023.
Source 02 · Segye Ilbo (Korean) · Update after full recovery · opens in a new tabSource 30 · JTBC (Korean) · Update after full recovery · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the month of diagnosis.Was lead vocalist on the cheer song released by the Korea Football Association. It came 20 years after the 2002 World Cup.
Source 29 · MyDaily (Korean) · Official cheer song for the Qatar World Cup · opens in a new tabSaid on social media that he had been declared fully recovered two days earlier, after three years of treatment.
Source 30 · JTBC (Korean) · Update after full recovery · opens in a new tabSource 35 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · Update after full recovery · opens in a new tab Date based on how the JTBC article (Aug. 23) describes it.The tour began in Daegu in March and ran to Seoul in early June. The year was the 30th anniversary of Yoon’s debut.
Source 31 · JoongAng Ilbo (Korean) · 2024 YB nationwide tour · opens in a new tabSource 32 · IS Plus (Korean) · Yoon Do-hyun’s 30th anniversary · opens in a new tab The articles do not give the start date.Was music director of a Netflix sports survival variety show. He says he made 17 songs over about seven months, and that the main title song is “End And End.”
Source 39 · KBS Entertainment (Korean) · Music director of Rugged Rugby · opens in a new tabYB’s first metal album, with six songs.
Source 33 · Maeil Business Newspaper (Korean) · YB Odyssey · opens in a new tabAppeared as a singer in his 31st year since debut and talked about his early shows and the period when the band broke up.
Source 07 · Star News (Korean) · Omniscient Interfering View · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 1994–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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Music · South Korea
Feb 3, 1972 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1972: the year of the event minus 1972, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.03 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.