Conversations with Sunyou Kim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sunyou Kim

Hi Sunyou, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t start music because I had a talent for it or was deeply interested in it. Honestly, I just didn’t want to study! When I was a kid, I would secretly watched K-pop music shows, Disney movies, or Korean dramas endlessly when I supposed to study. Even though I didn’t have much stress as a kid, the music in these shows and movies comforted me and made me feel so emotional. I started wondering, “Who makes this kind of music? How do they do it?” I found it fascinating.

When I learned that becoming a composer meant studying music, not math or science, I thought, ‘This is perfect for me!’ My parents didn’t agree at first, but I convinced them to let me try if I could get into a music school. I only had three months to prepare, so I practiced every day, sometimes 13 hours straight. In the end, I passed the entrance exam and my parents started supporting me.

But my journey wasn’t smooth. I changed to a regular high school. This is because the music school was quite far from home and my parents didn’t want me to live by myself. Also, I had to prepare for college again. I didn’t take music seriously at first and only studied hard in the last three months before the entrance exam. Luckily, I got accepted to a university for music.

At university, I struggled. Most of my classmates truly loved music and had already built their own music styles. They had deep knowledge of classical music, while I only enjoyed listening to Disney songs, K-pop, and indie band music. I felt out of place and doubted if I really belonged there.

During this tough time, my parents encouraged me. They said, “You think you’re here because you don’t like studying, but you’re actually here because you love music. You wouldn’t have come this far otherwise. Take time to find what kind of music you truly love.” That gave me the motivation to keep going.

I joined a musical theater club as a music director and an alto in a choir. These experiences introduced me to many different types of music and expanded my perspective. Growing up watching dramas with my mom also inspired me. I realized that film and TV music had all the things I loved.

In my third year of college, I started to focus on film scoring. I studied it for two years and found it exciting to tell stories through music. After graduation, I worked on short and long K-drama series, which made me want to learn even more. That’s why I applied to USC.

At USC, I learned so much and became even more passionate about this field. I was introduced to a much bigger and more diverse world of music than anything I had experienced before. It opened my eyes to new possibilities and pushed me to grow as a composer. And one day, I hope to fulfill my dream of working at Disney, the company I’ve loved all my life haha.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. I’ve had confidence issue. There are so many talented people around me, and I often feel like I’m nothing compare to them, especially when I tried step out of my comfort zone. I’ve had moments when I wanted to quit music for good because I felt so uncertain about what I was capable.

But then I’d think, “If I quit music, what else could I possibly do?” Music is the only thing I truly know how to do, and it’s always been a part of who I am. That realization kept me moving forward, even when things felt impossible.

Whenever I feel stuck, my friends and mentors are there supporting me. They would hand me projects and encourage me to work on them, even when I wasn’t sure I could do it. And every time I finished, they’d say, “See? You did it! You can do this!” Those moments gave me the courage to keep going.

My parents have also been my biggest cheerleaders. They always believe in me, even when I don’t believe in myself. Their encouragement has helped me push through challenges and reminded me why I started this journey in the first place.

Looking back, I realize that those struggles were what shaped me into a better and stronger person. They taught me to trust myself more and reminded me that I’m not alone in this journey.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a media music composer and orchestrator, specializing in music for visual media, including film, television, commercials, animations and games. I also work on orchestration for musicals and K-pop.

What sets me apart is my versatility in working across a broad range of genres and mediums. I’ve worked on everything from various dramas to games, as well as K-pop, musicals, commercials and YouTube web series.

In South Korea, I’ve contributed to Netflix series like Tomorrow and Switch, as well as YouTube web dramas like Please, Summer! I also worked as an orchestrator for Korean original musicals like Milwoldan and Suntan-Boy. Additionally, I’ve participated in orchestration for Korean indie bands like Re-in, Eui-Seo, Meaning, and Yuni, contributing to their album productions. Currently, I’m working on commercial brand films for Urban Planet.

At USC, I had the privilege of scoring a diverse array of student films, spanning genres such as romance, drama, occult, and thriller. I also collaborated on USC game projects, including Game Sorelle, which was nominated for Best Audio for an Indie Game by the Game Audio Network Guild.

I believe my strength lies in capturing emotions within visual content. I have a deep understanding of the emotions conveyed in a scene and compose music that enhances and supports those feelings. Often, directors are surprised by how my music enhances their vision, and many have remarked on the power of music in storytelling.

Additionally, I continue to work on my own music. While I deeply enjoy working on video content, opportunities to fully express my personal musical vision are rare, which can sometimes result in creative stress. However, I channel that energy into my own compositions. I’ve released three original tracks so far and continue to work on new music whenever time allows.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is hard to choose because there are so many, but one that stands out is from when I was around 10 or 11. Back then, I wholeheartedly believed in Santa Claus. Every year, about a month before Christmas, I would write a letter to Santa listing the gifts I wanted and stick it on our front door. Each morning, I’d rush to check if the card had disappeared. If it was still there after a week, I’d start to worry, wondering if something had happened to Santa. Eventually, when the card was gone, I’d feel a mix of relief and excitement, knowing Santa had received my message.

On Christmas Eve, I’d leave out milk and a slice of cake for Santa. The next morning, I’d wake up to find the empty plate, the card, and my presents waiting for me, filling me with joy and wonder. Those moments felt magical.

However, around Christmas when I was 11, I accidentally found my dad’s glove box and discovered a pile of Christmas cards I had written over the years. It was a shock to realize that Santa wasn’t real and that my parents had been playing the role all along. At first, it was disappointing, but now, looking back, I appreciate the love and effort my parents put into making each Christmas magical. They gave me some of my happiest childhood moments.

That moment remains a special and heartwarming memory, reminding me of the warmth and care my parents put into making my childhood magical.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://uscscoring.com/students/2024/sunyou-kim
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suny0u_/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@suny0u_97?si=_3mmbQHTiBHltgl0
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7qyBxGpEfN2EXq74r2sgOv?si=tjmwRaIBTrC-FWF3Cme0dQ&pi=u-BEws587hS7Wi
• Other: https://play.reelcrafter.com/hJ19vnHCQUGoMlGRhkIJpA

Image Credits
Christian Amonson, Yi-Hsuan Liu, Yeri Seok, Jane Song, Jinny Lee