Meet Yeakun Yoo

We were lucky to catch up with Yeakun Yoo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Yeakun, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence and self-esteem are crucial when working as a professional media composer. In my experience, whenever I lacked confidence as a composer, I often struggled to create truly impactful music. The fear of failing would push me to play it safe, resulting in predictable, generic pieces rather than something bold and innovative. I realized that this lack of confidence was holding back my growth as an artist.

What consistently restores and strengthens my confidence is my family. The word “family” itself is incredibly beautiful. In a world where most relationships are driven by interests and mutual benefits, family transcends all that. My wife and children are my unwavering supporters—they love my music unconditionally, no matter what. They always tell me that my work is the best, and they genuinely enjoy every piece I create. My kids are the first to want to listen to my music, and they hum my melodies as if they are their favorite songs. Whenever we go on family trips, they always ask to play “Dad’s music” in the car. Hearing that never fails to fill me with pride and confidence as a composer.

With that confidence, I feel empowered to take risks and experiment with more daring and original compositions. Of course, there are failures along the way, but when I’m confident, I can recover from those setbacks quickly and keep moving forward.

In that sense, confidence is absolutely vital in my field. I am incredibly grateful to have such a loving and supportive family by my side. Their love is my greatest source of strength and inspiration.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a South Korean-born, classically trained composer and multi-instrumentalist, specializing in music for film, television, and video games. After earning my degree in classical composition from Seoul National University, I pursued further studies in Screen Scoring at the University of Southern California (USC), which allowed me to broaden my musical horizons and gain international experience.

One of my most notable projects is composing for the video game Lies of P, a gothic reinterpretation of the Pinocchio tale. In this project, I aimed to musically capture Pinocchio’s intense desire to become human by creating emotionally resonant melodies. My compositions for the game, including the menu theme and the final stage music for Arche Abbey, were implemented without alterations, reflecting a strong alignment with the game’s creative vision .

Beyond Lies of P, I have contributed to over 30 major projects in Korea, encompassing various genres and media formats . I also founded YK Music Productions, where I serve as CEO and lead composer, focusing on delivering high-quality music that enhances storytelling across different platforms.

What excites me most about my work is the opportunity to blend diverse musical elements to create immersive soundscapes that resonate with audiences. I strive to craft music that supports the narrative and stands out for its emotional depth and originality.

Looking ahead, I am working on several AAA game titles and Netflix film projects, though I cannot disclose specifics due to confidentiality agreements. I aim to continue pushing creative boundaries and contributing to projects that challenge and inspire me.

Recently, I scored a feature film called ‘On the hunt’. It will be released soon, so please stay tuned!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

In my opinion, the most important qualities in my field are patience and perseverance. If you look at the data, many successful media composers excel in these areas. Typically, after beginning a career as a media composer, it can take as long as 10 to 20 years to debut as the main composer for a major project. During that long journey, more than 99% of aspiring composers drop out, unable to endure the wait and challenges.

Although I wouldn’t claim to be the most successful composer yet, I’ve managed to reach a point where I can comfortably sustain my living as a full-time composer without relying on other jobs. Looking back, I believe the key was enduring the highs and lows without getting carried away or discouraged. When things went well, I didn’t get overly confident, and when things weren’t going as planned, I didn’t give up. I simply focused on what I could do in my position and kept moving forward. That steady perseverance, I believe, was the driving force that brought me to where I am today.

Another quality I found crucial is going beyond what is typically expected. Many people wonder if they really need to go to such extremes to succeed. My answer is yes—and more. To continue working as a composer, I sent out over 1,000 DMs and emails each week, held meetings with more than 10 to 20 people weekly, and composed for at least 3 to 5 hours every single day to improve my skills.

When an opportunity finally did come my way, I treated it as something incredibly valuable. I made it a priority to actively communicate with the director, always responding within 1–2 minutes whenever I received a message. This kind of proactive communication led to stronger relationships and eventually opened doors to bigger projects.

I truly believe that these qualities—perseverance, going the extra mile, and valuing every opportunity—are crucial for anyone who aspires to be a media composer.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

One of the things I am most grateful to God for is blessing me with the best parents I could ever ask for.

My mother, no matter the circumstances, has always been a pillar of support for our family. Even during times when my father was temporarily unemployed or when his career stagnated without a promotion for many years, she never wavered in her belief in him. She would always encourage him, reassuring him that these tough times would eventually pass and that better days were ahead. That same positivity and faith extended to my brother and me. Even when we struggled with poor grades or faced setbacks, she instilled in us the belief that we would eventually succeed. Today, both my brother and I are happily married with beautiful families, and we are each thriving in our respective careers. I truly believe her unwavering optimism helped shape who we are today.

From my father, I learned the value of perseverance and unwavering diligence. He began his career at Hewlett-Packard and continued to build his path in American companies for decades. It wasn’t his own business, so he often had to endure pressure from his superiors and cope with high levels of work-related stress. Yet, for over 30 years, despite the countless challenges, he persevered in that demanding industry. His relentless commitment and resilience eventually led him to become the CEO of Nvidia Korea, one of the most successful tech companies today. I know there must have been many moments when he wanted to give up, but for the sake of our family, he continued to push forward. I am incredibly proud of him, and I consider the perseverance and work ethic I inherited from him to be my greatest legacy.

Their unwavering support, faith, and perseverance are the foundations of my own journey, and I am endlessly grateful for the example they set for me.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Lies of P (2023)
Lineage 2 Revolution (2022)
Western Avenue(2023)
Second Chances (Season 1,2,3) (2021-2024)
Collision (2024, Armflix TV series)

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made