Kim Jong Kook
Kim Jong Kook 金鐘國 (Hangul 김종국 born on 25th April 1976) is a South Korean singer and TV personality. He was initially part of the Korean duo Turbo, later pursuing a successful career as a solo artist.
Biography
Kim Jong Kook first entered the Korean music industry in 1995 as a member of the group Turbo, which became immensely popular for their catchy music. After the group disbanded a few years later, he became a solo singer in 2001, mostly concentrating on ballads. Although his unusually high tone of voice is often joked about (with many stars jokingly calling it a "mosquito voice"), he has had many hit singles and has also been a frequent guest on many variety shows, most notably X-Man. In addition, his muscular body is often considered one of the best in K-pop, due to constant weight training.Kim Jong Kook had a big slump after Turbo. However, he made a huge comeback with his second album. One of the songs in the second solo album called Han Nam Ja (One Man) was the reason for all his success. Furthermore, a scandal rumor with Yoon Eun Hye grabbed a lot of attention. The rumor started when both of them were permanent members of a famous variety show called X-Man. The rumor actually brought them close and they started to act like a couple in X-Man.
By 2005, Kim Jong Kook became one of Korea's most popular artists. His third album sold in excess of 300,000 copies, making it one of the year's best-selling albums in Korea. He capped off that year by sweeping the 3 Daesang from all 3 major TV stations. In doing so, he became the only second artist ever to accomplish this feat since Jo Yong Phil in the 1980s. The lead single from the album, "Lovable", topped many charts. It was also included in Pump It Up and Audition Online.
On 26th January 2006, Kim Jong Kook, Jeon Hye Bin, and Im Tae Kyung participated in Thuy Nga's Paris by Night 81 Vietnamese concert in California. Kim Jong Kook performed "To Her Man".
In March 2006, Kim Jong Kook received his military service enlistment letter at the height of his popularity and career. Jong Kook also released his fourth album around this time, unable to directly promote it while in the military, he used unorthodox methods. To comply with Korean law, the music video was shot so that his face would never be seen on screen. Also, in order to raise awareness, Kim Jong Kook's rumored girlfriend Yoon Eun Hye was asked to star in the music video. Though there has been no direct promotion, his fourth album has sold in excess of 100,000 copies.
It was announced in late April 2008 that the singer would end his military service on 23rd May 2008. On that day, he was greeted by fans, and during his interview, he said that he was "relieved". His fifth studio album was released on 22nd October 2008 as "Here I am" with the featuring song as "Today More than Yesterday" and "Thank you." Proving the "tradition" of not being able to rise once again after military service false, Kim Jong Kook made a successful comeback, making one album, one digital single "Happy Virus" and one trot "Ddajo".
Jong Kook also returned to television, becoming a permanent member of variety show Family Outing, part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup and earning popularity, especially with the love scandals between Lee Hyori and Park Ye Jin. Kim Jong Kook's Hoolala CF with Kim Sooro was released on July 2009. He has also posed for many advertisement for clothing. His sixth album was released on 27th January, and a preview of the album was released with the song "Don't Be Good to Me." However the title song for the album is titled "This is the Person". The music video for the song included Park Ye Jin who is famous for the "Family Outing Scandal" between Kim Jong Kook, Lee Hyori and Park Ye Jin. His sixth album is titled "The Eleventh Story" because in his music career, he has so far released 11 albums. It included 3 MV. Right now, he is a regular on SBS's Running Man.
On 27th August, 2010, Kim Jong Kook received a lumbar microdiscectomy back disk surgery at Seoul’s Kwan Ahk Goo Chung Ryong Dong Kangnam Choice hospital. Kim Jong Kook’s management company, 101 Entertainment, stated, “Kim Jong Kook carried on with his daily activities without knowing that he had a ruptured disk. He did feel pain, but didn’t think much of it, and he endured his condition with painkillers while filming SBS Running Man.
Kim Jong Kook active participation in SBS Running Man makes him one of the big names in Korean Variety Shows World. He had been called "SpartaKook" and "The Commander" throughout the SBS Running Man and he has received a favorable evaluation leading the mission with his muscular body and extraordinary intelligence. This proved as he won SBS 연예대상 (SBS Entertainment Awards) Best TV Star Award on 2010 and SBS 연예대상 (SBS Entertainment Awards) Excellence Award on 2011.
Discography
Solo2001 Volume 1 - Renaissance - Released 13th December 2001
2004 Volume 2 - Evolution - Released 18th June 2004
2005 Volume 3 - This Is Me - Released 1st July 2005
2006 Volume 4 - Kim Jong Kook's Fourth Letter - Released 13th April 2006
2008 Volume 5 - Here I am - Released 22nd October 2008
2010 Volume 6 - Eleventh Story - Released 27th January 2010
Kim Jong Kook Remake Album 'Song' - Released 9th September 2010
Group Albums (Turbo)
1995 280 km/h Speed - Released 6th September 1995
1996 New Sensation - Released 14th August 1996
X-Mas Dance Party Mix with Turbo - Released 29th November 1996
1997 Turbo Summer Remix - Released 24th June 1997
Born Again - Released 22nd October 1997
1998 Perfect Love - Released 17th October 1998
1999 Millennium Turbo Dance Megamix - Released 15th July 1999
2000 E-Mail My Heart - Released 27th January 2000
2001 History - Released 19th June 2001
Digital singles
1st December 2005 : Big4 Of Voices In My Dream (Kim Jong Kook, SG Wannabe, Vibe and M to M): 바람과 함께 사라지다 (Gone With The Wind)
December 2005 : Kim Jong Kook and Mikey: 스키장에서 (White Love)
11th December 2006 : Kim Jong Kook and SG Wannabe: 바람만 바람만 (Only Wind, Only Wind)
23rd November 2007 : Turbo & Kim Jong Kook Digital Mini Album "2007 Hwesang (Recollection)" (part1)
4th January 2008 : Turbo & Kim Jong Kook Digital Mini Album "2007 Hwesang (Recollection) " (part2)
5th March 2009 : Kim Jong Kook ft. Shorry J (MM): 행복병 (Happy Virus)
13th April 2009 : Kim Jong Kook: 따줘 (Give To Me)
Others
23rd April 2004 : special appearance in "나가 남자이기 때문에" (Because I'm Still A Guy) (MC Mong's first album)
22nd June 2004 : 김장훈 - 二色英雄新聞
Track 3 - 고속도로 로망스
24th December 2004 : 통일염원 Special Album 사랑 (Love)
Track 1 - 그날이 오면 (When That Day Comes)
15th November 2006 : S.101 Digital Single "I'll Follow You (ParamMan ParamMan)" (ft.SG Wannabe)
8th June 2009 : Family Outing - 패밀리의 하루
Track 1 - 패밀리의 하루
16th November 2010 : Soya - 매일매일 사랑해 (I Love You Everyday)
Track 1 - 매일매일 사랑해 (I Love You Everyday)
23rd June 2011 : Mikey - All For You
Track 1 - All for You
Television appearances
2004 : SBS's Banjun Drama, (special appearance)
2004 : MBC's Special TV Story
2005 : Old Miss Diary (special appearance)
2005 to 2006 : KBS's 슟돌이 Shootdori (coach)
2008 : Kim Jung Eun's Chocolate [080903]
2008 : KBS2TV Immortal Musical Classics [080907]
2008 : Happy Together [081106]
2008 : KBS2 Star Golden Bell [081202]
2008 : MBC Golden Fishery [081203]
2010 : KBS2 Yoo Heeyeol’s Sketchbook [100129]
2010 : Kim Jung Eun's Chocolate [100206] & [101010]
2010 : Happy Together [100211]
2010 : KBS2 Star Golden Bell [100312]
2011 : KBS 2TV ‘Yoo Heeyeol’s Sketch Book’ [110715] (ft. Mikey)
Variety Shows
2001 to 2003 : KBS Dream Team
2002 : Star Survival
2004 to 2006 : SBS X-Man
2004 to 2006 : KBS Happy Sunday
2005 to 2006 : SBS Real Situation Saturday Love Letter
2008 to 2010 : SBS Family Outing
2010 to present : SBS Running Man
Awards
1995–1998 KBS 가요대상 (KBS Music Awards)
SBS 가요대전 (SBS Music Awards)
MBC 가요대전 (MBC Music Awards)
서울가요대상 (Seoul Music Awards)
2004 KBS 가요대상 (KBS Music Awards) 본상
SBS 가요대전 (SBS Music Awards) 본상
MBC 10대 가수가요제 (MBC Best 10 Music Awards) 본상
서울가요대상 (Seoul Music Awards) 본상
골든디스크 인기가수상 (Golden Disk Popularity Awards)
2005 MBC 가요대제전 (MBC Music Awards) 최고인기가수상 (Most Popular)
KBS 가요대상 (KBS Music Awards) 대상 (Best Artist)
SBS 가요대전 (SBS Music Awards) 대상 (Best Artist)
KBS 연예대상 (KBS Entertainment Awards) Best Entertainer
골든디스크 (Golden Disk Awards) 본상
MNET Best Male Solo Artist
Korean Entertainer Awards Ballad Award
2006 골든디스크 (Golden Disk Awards) 본상
2008 BBF Popular Singer Award
2009 서울가요대상 (Seoul Music Awards) 본상
2010 SBS 연예대상 (SBS Entertainment Awards) Best TV Star Award
2011 SBS 연예대상 (SBS Entertainment Awards) Excellence Award
