Kim Wan-sun (Korean김완선; Hanja金緩宣; born May 16, 1969)[1] is a South Korean pop singer who was known in the mid-1980s and early 1990s as the "Korean Madonna" and "the dancing queen of Korean popular music's renaissance era" as well as a sex symbol for her "sexy" dancing and "charismatic" stage presence.[2][3][4][5]

Kim Wan-Sun
Kim Wan Sun 2012
Kim Wan Sun 2012
Background information
Birth nameKim I-sun[1]
Born (1969-05-16) May 16, 1969 (age 55)
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop, Mandopop, synth-pop, funk
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active1986–present
Korean name
Hangul
김완선
Hanja
金緩宣
Revised RomanizationGim Wan-seon
McCune–ReischauerKim Wansŏn
Birth name
Hangul
김이선
Revised RomanizationGim I-seon
McCune–ReischauerKim Isŏn

Kim debuted in 1986 with the album, Tonight. Her fifth album, 1990's Pierrot Smiles at Us, sold 1 million copies.[2] She is considered to be one of the first wave of Hallyu artists due to her success in Taiwan in the mid-1990s.[6]

Early life

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Kim Wan-sun was born Kim I-sun on May 16, 1969,[7] the third of her parents' five daughters.[8] When she was in middle school, Kim began training to be a singer and dancer under the guidance of her aunt, Han Baek-hee, who managed successful musicians including the singer Insooni.[9] Han rigorously trained Kim for three years, during which time Kim dropped out of school and did not visit her parents.[10] She studied digital art at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[11]
Korean
Tonight (오늘밤)[12]
  • Released: April 11, 1986
  • Label: Jigu Records
  • Format: LP, cassette
Track listing

Side A

  1. 지난 이야기
  2. 오늘밤
  3. 별 하나 나 하나
  4. 왜 말 못해
  5. 안돼

Side B

  1. 왜 아니오나
  2. 고독
  3. 그 사람 미워요
  4. 그 한마디
  5. 어떤 그림
  6. 평화로운 세계
  7. 정화의 노래 (건전가요)
Alone in Front of the Yard
(나홀로 뜰앞에서)[13]
  • Released: May 7, 1987
  • Label: Jigu Records
  • Format: LP, cassette
Track listing

Side A

  1. 나홀로 뜰앞에서
  2. 그대여 다시 오세요
  3. 선물
  4. 겨울풍경
  5. 어차피 우린

Side B

  1. 슬픈 얼굴 보이긴 싫어
  2. 노란 벤취
  3. 강변연가
  4. 충격
  5. 이 세상 어린이 (건전가요)
Too Lonely to Dance Alone
(나홀로 춤을 추긴 너무 외로워)[14]
  • Released: August 20, 1988
  • Label: Jigu Records
  • Format: LP, cassette
Track listing

Side A

  1. 나홀로 춤을 추긴 너무 외로워
  2. 편지
  3. 그건 너
  4. 나 그대에게 모두 드리리
  5. 사랑의 골목길

Side B

  1. 사랑의 골목길
  2. 잊혀진 사람
  3. 너는 아니?
  4. 휘파람을 부세요
Feel Good Day (기분 좋은 날)[15]
  • Released: June 10, 1989
  • Label: Jigu Records
  • Format: LP, cassette
Track listing

Side A

  1. 이 세상 슬픔 가운데
  2. 이별보다 더 큰 슬픔
  3. 기분 좋은 날
  4. 불빛을 좀 더 어둡게 해줘요
  5. 보라빛 레인코트

Side B

  1. 싫어요
  2. 이젠 잊기로 해요
  3. 추억은 가슴 속에 남으리
  4. 5월의 눈물
  5. 이젠 혼자 일어서야 해
Pierrot Smiles at Us
(삐에로는 우릴 보고 웃지)[16]
  • Released: August 21, 1990
  • Label: Asia Records
  • Format: CD, LP, cassette
Track listing

Side A

  1. 가장 무도회
  2. 나만의 것
  3. 삐에로는 우릴 보고 웃지
  4. 어느 봄날
  5. 마지막 밀회

Side B

  1. 어디 있었나요
  2. 작은 카페 이야기
  3. 모노드라마
  4. 잃어버린 도시
  • KOR: 1,000,000+[2]
Sadness (애수)[17]
  • Released: July 1, 1992
  • Label: Asia Records
  • Format: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. 애수
  2. 그대는 바람처럼
  3. 슬픈 체념
  4. 가난한 이별
  5. 하얀비
  6. 생의 또다른 슬픔
  7. 힘든 미소
  8. 이상한 외출
  9. 자유로운 날엔
  10. 애수 (Instrumental)
  11. 슬픈 체념 (Instrumental)
Innocence[18]
  • Released: November 1, 1996
  • Label: King Records
  • Format: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. 탤런트
  2. 운명의 장난
  3. 슬픔같은 행복
  4. 슬픈 인연
  5. 투정
  6. 체인징 파트너
  7. 삐에로의 회상
  8. 운명의 장난 (Remix)
S & Remake[19]
Track listing

Disc 1: S

  1. S
  2. Shall We Dance
  3. Seduction
  4. 질주
  5. Only Love
  6. Feel So Good
  7. Shadow
  8. 보낼 수 없는 사랑
  9. Another Me
  10. I Don`t Want To Hear It From You
  11. S (Chinese Ver.)
  12. Seduction (Wtse-Han Jae Won Mix)
  13. 질주 (Wtse-Han Jae Won Mix)
  14. Feel So Good (Wtse-Han Jae Won Mix)
  15. Shall We Dance (Wtse-Han Jae Won Mix)
  16. S (Wtse-Han Jae Won Mix)

Disc 2: Remake album

  1. 지난 이야기
  2. 리듬속의 그 춤을
  3. 애수
  4. 그대는 바람처럼
  5. 가장 무도회
  6. 나홀로 뜰앞에서
  7. 삐에로는 우릴 보고 웃지
  8. 모노드라마
  9. 하얀비
35
Return[21]
Track listing
  1. 서른의 노래
  2. 모짜르트 듣는 여자
  3. 처음 이별하는 듯
  4. Seventeen
  5. 산책
  6. 정말이지 나는
  7. 시간을 삼켜도
  8. White Wine
  9. 애수
  10. 느끼는대로만
  11. Do It
Taiwanese
The First Touch (第一次接觸)
  • Released: July 14, 1994
  • Label: PolyGram
  • Format: CD
Track listing
  1. 女人的心都一樣
  2. 肯定的美麗
  3. 在你背後的我
  4. 坦白
  5. 愛上風雨中走來的你 (with Alan Tam)
  6. 我就是你的
  7. 傷心是爲誰
  8. 但是又何奈
  9. 一顆心換一份情
  10. 愛得甛蜜
Extremely Attractive (極度魅力)
  • Released: June 20, 1995
  • Label: PolyGram
  • Format: CD
Track listing
  1. 莎哟娜啦 (by Leon Lai)
  2. 辣辣的心 (by Leon Lai)
  3. 情已逝 (by Jacky Cheung)
  4. 我和我追逐的夢 (by Andy Lau)
  5. 愛不完 (by Andy Lau)
  6. 我是不是該安靜的走開 (by Aaron Kwok)
  7. 一路上有你 (by Jacky Cheung)
  8. 謝謝你的愛 (by Andy Lau)
  9. 渴望 (by Aaron Kwok)
  10. 你冷得像風 (by Jacky Cheung)
Mi Mi Hu Hu (迷迷糊糊)
  • Released: April 24, 1996
  • Label: PolyGram
  • Format: CD
Track listing
  1. 迷迷糊糊
  2. 言不由衷
  3. 借我一條手帕
  4. 愛情萬歲
  5. 誘惑
  6. 這一次我真的需要你挽留
  7. 就爱吧
  8. 噓 ! 現在別說話
  9. 音樂是我快樂的世界
  10. 多愛我一點
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Compilation albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[22]
The Original[23]
  • Released: April 17, 2017
  • Label: K. W. Sunflower Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
Track listing

Disc 1

  1. 지난이야기
  2. 오늘밤
  3. 그대여 다시 오세요
  4. 나홀로 뜰앞에서
  5. 강변연가
  6. 선물
  7. 편지
  8. 잊혀진 사람
  9. 사랑의 골목길
  10. 나 그대에게 모두 드리리
  11. 이젠 혼자 일어서야해
  12. 싫어요
  13. 이젠 잊기로 해요
  14. 리듬속의 그춤을

Disc 2

  1. 이별보다 더 큰 슬픔
  2. 불빛을 좀 더 어둡게 해줘요
  3. 기분 좋은 날
  4. 삐에로는 우릴 보고 웃지
  5. 어느 봄날
  6. 작은 카페이야기
  7. 나만의 것
  8. 가장 무도회
  9. 모노 드라마
  10. 잃어버린 도시
  11. 애수>
  12. 그대는 바람처럼
  13. 하얀비
  14. 이상한 외출

Disc 3

  1. 오늘
  2. Benjamin
  3. Can Only Feel (Remix Ver.)
  4. 강아지
  5. Use Me (Feat. Ravi Of VIXX)
  6. Set Me On Fire (Feat. Kebee)
  7. Mir
  8. Alien
  9. It's You
  10. Use Me (DJ HEAD Mix)
  11. Use Me (DJ Jazz Mix)
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
KOR
[22]
Super Love[24]
  • Released: April 21, 2011
  • Label: KT Music
  • Format: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. Oz On The Moon
  2. Super Love
  3. 슬픈고백
  4. Super Love (Instrumental)
28
The Beer[25]
  • Released: September 11, 2012
  • Label: K. W. Sunflower Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. Benjamin
  2. 오늘
  3. Can Only Feel
  4. 오늘 (Instrumental)
39

Digital singles & EP

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Title Year Peak chart positions
KOR
[26]
"Super Love" 2011 28
"Be Quiet"
feat. Yong Jun-hyung
6
"Goodbye My Love"
feat. Tiger JK & Bizzy
2014 46
"Puppy" (강아지) 2016
"Use Me"
feat. Ravi of VIXX
"Set Me On Fire"
"Odisseya"
"Oz On The Moon" 2017
"Jelly Christmas"
"Tonight" 2018
"심장이 기억해"
"Feeling" 2022
"Apple Blossom"
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 Seoul Searching Kim Wan-sun wannabe cameo

Television show

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Year Title Role Ref.
2023 Dancing Queens On The Road Cast Member [27]

References

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  1. ^ a b "김완선 소개" [Kim Wan-sun Profile]. Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  2. ^ a b c Lim, Sun-young (2017-02-07). "Korean Madonna Kim Wan-sun on her rebirth : Reality TV show gives '80s singer new career and a new public image". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  3. ^ Kwon, Mee-yoo (2011-04-14). "Singer Kim Wan-sun faked retirement". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  4. ^ Chang, Dong-woo (2017-05-03). "Fueled by nostalgia, forgotten K-pop heroes rush comebacks". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  5. ^ "Romantic Couch bring back 80s sex symbol". Indieful ROK. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ Lee, Sangjoon; Nornes, Abé Markus (2015). Hallyu 2.0: The Korean Wave in the Age of Social Media. University of Michigan Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0472120895.
  7. ^ "[스타 클릭] 화려한 컴백 가·수 김완선". Weekly Chosun (in Korean). 2002-08-15. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  8. ^ "김완선, 데뷔 25년만에 가족공개 친언니도 가수 될 뻔". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  9. ^ "섹시하기 위해 태어난 누나 - 김완선". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  10. ^ "가족 공개 김완선...'폭풍' 눈물 왜?". Minjungui Sori (in Korean). 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  11. ^ "K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2009-02-19. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  12. ^ "김완선 독집 제 1집". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  13. ^ "김완선 - 나홀로뜰앞에서/그대여다시오세요". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  14. ^ "'88 김완선 - 나홀로 춤을 추긴 너무 외로워". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  15. ^ "김완선 4 - 이세상슬픔가운데/기분좋은날". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  16. ^ "김완선 5집 - 가장무도회/나만의것/삐에로는우릴보고웃지". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  17. ^ "애수". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  18. ^ "Innocence". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  19. ^ "{S} & Remake". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  20. ^ "July 2002 K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2004-09-08. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  21. ^ "Return Seventeen". Kpop Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  22. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  23. ^ "The Original". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  24. ^ "Super Love". Daum (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  25. ^ "The Beer". Melon (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  26. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  27. ^ Han, Hae-sun (February 16, 2023). "이효리, 김완선·엄정화·보아·화사와 '댄스가수 유랑단' 출격[공식]" [Lee Hyo-ri, Kim Wan-seon, Um Jung-hwa, Boa, and Hwasa sortie for 'Dance Singer's Wandering Troupe' [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Retrieved February 16, 2023 – via Naver.