Kim Hak-chul, better known by his stage name Kim Yeon-woo (Korean김연우; born July 22, 1971) is a South Korean male singer, vocal coach, and professor at Seoul Art College (ko:서울종합예술학교). Nicknamed God of Vocals, he is well known for his ballads, smooth singing voice, and ability to hit high notes without difficulty.[1][2] Kim recorded a number of hit ballads with the South Korean band, Toy, in the mid-to-late 1990s, gathering a sizable cult following. In 2011, Kim achieved widespread fame and recognition in South Korea through his participation on I Am a Singer, along with numerous appearances on variety and entertainment shows.

Kim Yeon-woo
Kim Yeon-woo in November 2011
Kim Yeon-woo in November 2011
Background information
Birth nameKim Hak-chul
Born (1971-07-22) July 22, 1971 (age 53)
OriginSouth Korea
GenresBallad, dance
Occupation(s)Singer, professor, vocal coach
InstrumentsPiano, guitar, melodica
Years active1996–present
LabelsPoibos
IO Music/EMI
Adio/Manwaldang Music
Mystic89 /LOEN(2013-2016)
Dio Music/LOEN(2016–present)
Korean name
Hangul
김연우
Hanja
金煙雨
Revised RomanizationGim Yeonu
McCune–ReischauerKim Yŏnu
Birth name
Hangul
김학철
Hanja
金學哲
Revised RomanizationGim Hakcheol
McCune–ReischauerKim Hakch'ŏl

Career

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After completing his military service in the Air Force, Kim Yeon-woo participated in the 7th Annual Yoo Jae-ha Music Competition and won the gold prize.[3] In 1996, Kim Yeon-woo became the featured vocal of You Hee-yeol's project band Toy and adopted his stage name Kim Yeon-woo, which was the name of a café You Hee-yeol frequented. You had felt that Kim's birth name Kim Hak-chul did not suit him.[4] They went on to record a number of hits such as Still Beautiful and Remember I Was Next to You.[5]

Since leaving Toy, Kim Yeon-woo has released five solo full albums and two mini albums.

In 2010, Kim was noted in the media thanks to a video of him performing at a university concert back in 2007. He performed in the heavy rain while holding an umbrella, after all the other guest singers had reportedly quit.[6] Because of this, the title of Kim's national concert tour in the summer of 2011 was Yeon-woo in the Rain.

In 2011, Kim was a participant in I Am a Singer. He performed two songs before being voted off. The day after his elimination, the second (and last) song he sang in the contest became number 1 on all music charts in Korea. Kim's popularity started to rise, and he gained widespread recognition from the public, earning the nickname God of Vocals. He also found success in two other guest appearances in the contest. His duet with Kim Kyung Ho was ranked second,[7] and during the Australian contest/concert of the show, Kim was voted first.[8][9]

In 2012, Kim participated in the second season of I Am a Singer [ko]. This time he was not voted off, and was able to earn honorary graduation by the end of the contest.

In 2015, Kim sang a duet with Yangpa in the third season of I Am a Singer [ko]. The performance was ranked first. Kim's popularity rose even more thanks to his participation in King of Mask Singer. Under the stage name CBR Cleopatra, he became the first male Mask King, as well as the first long-term Mask King, staying on the show for 10 consecutive weeks.[10]

Kim is also well known as a vocal trainer. His former students include SG Wannabe's Lee Seok-hoon, Big Mama's Lee Young-hyun, and Brown Eyed Girls' JeA.[11]

Personal life

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Kim studied practical music at Seoul Institute of the Arts.[citation needed]

Kim's best friends include You Hee-yeol, Kim Kyung-ho, and Muzie. He is also close with Sung Si-kyung and K.Will.[citation needed]

Several K-pop idols such as B1A4's Sandeul, Shinee's Onew, and VIXX's Ken have mentioned Kim as their role model.[citation needed]

In 2010, Kim married the daughter of a president of a Korean corporation. At the wedding, You Hee-yeol was the master of ceremonies and Sung Si-kyung was the wedding singer.[12]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[13]
Only Me Beside You... (그대 곁엔 나밖에...)
  • Released: March 1, 1998
  • Label: Danal Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Couple (연인)
  • Released: January 6, 2004
  • Label: IO Music
  • Formats: CD, cassette
24
Missing Love (사랑을 놓치다)
  • Released: January 17, 2006
  • Label: Antenna
  • Formats: CD, cassette
21
Mr. Big
  • Released: November 24, 2011
  • Label: Dio Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
11
Forever Yours (나의 너)
  • Released: May 10, 2018
  • Label: Dio Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
17
"—" denotes release did not chart.
Note: The Gaon Album Chart was established in 2010. All peak chart positions are from 2010 or later.

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[13]
Jeong (정)(情)
  • Released: January 5, 2010
  • Label: Noah Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
8
Move
  • Released: May 28, 2014
  • Label: Mystic89
  • Formats: CD, digital download
19

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Sales
(Digital)
Album
KOR
[19]
"Only Me Beside You" (그대곁엔 나밖에) 1998 Only Me Beside You
"Couple" (연인) 2004 Couple
"Love, That Common Word" (사랑한다는 흔한 말) 2006 59 Missing Love
"I'll Give My Life With You" (지금 만나러 갑니다) (feat. Tablo) 2008 non-album single
"Chukga" (축가)(祝歌) 2010 Jeong
"I Was Happy...Take Care" (행복했다...안녕) 2011 13 Mr. Big
"Not A Popular Song" (인기없던노래) (with Don Spike) 2012 29 non-album single
"No Schedule" (with Yoon Jong-shin) 2013 49 Monthly Project 2013 Yoon Jong Shin
"Antidote" (해독제) 2014 28 Move
"Move" (feat. Park Kyung of Block B) 42
"Melt Away" (눈물고드름) 84 non-album singles
"Ariyo" (그리운 노래 아리요) 2015 66
"My Apology Letter" (반성문) 2018 Forever Yours
"—" denotes release did not chart.
Note: The Gaon Digital Chart was established in 2010. All peak chart positions are from 2010 or later.

Other charted songs

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Title Year Peak chart positions Sales
(Digital)
Album
KOR
[19]
"Sometimes I Cry Alone" (가끔은 혼자 웁니다) 2010 44 Bad Guy OST
"Lingering Affection" (미련) 2011 10 I Am a Singer: 3-1
"If You Are Like Me" (나와 같다면) 1 I Am a Singer: 3-2
"You Are My Love" 24 Lie to Me OST
"My Love By My Side" (내사랑 내곁에) 8 I Am a Singer: 호주 특별 공연
"I Miss a Thing" (그립다) 91 Mr. Big
"Withdrawal Symptoms" (금단현상) 89
"Winter Love" (겨울애) 78
"Fragment" (부스러기) 77
"Closer" (더 가까이) 5 Brain OST
"In The Shade of the Street Tree" (가로수 그늘 아래 서면) 2012 55 I Am a Singer 2: 5월 13일
"You Let Me Go With A Smile" (미소를 띄우며 나를 보낸 그 모습처럼) 89 I Am a Singer 2: 5월 27일
"Though I Loved You" (사랑했지만) 85 I Am a Singer 2: 7월의 가수전
"This Is The Moment" (지금 이 순간) 91 I Am a Singer 2: 9월 A조 경연
"You In My Mind" (그대 내 품에) 86 I Am a Singer 2: 9월의 가수전
"Addicted to Love" (중독된 사랑) 82 I Am a Singer 2: 10월 A조 경연
"Because It's You" (그대라서) 2013 29 Nine OST
"Running In The Sky" (하늘을달리다) (with Yangpa) 2015 95 I Am a Singer 3: 6회 듀엣미션
"To Be With You" 51 The Producers OST

Other activities

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Variety and competition shows

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Year Title Episode(s) Role Notes
2011 I Am a Singer (Season 1) 6–9 Contestant
32 Contestant
2012 I Am a Singer (Season 2) [ko] 1–28 Contestant Honorary graduation
2014 Cool Kiz on the Block 45–52 Member
Idol School 1–17 Host
2015 King of Mask Singer 7–16 Contestant As CBR Cleopatra
Hidden Singer (Season 4) 8 Singer/Contestant
The Racer [ko] 1–8 Member
2016 Superstar K 1–10 Judge
2021 The Masked Talent MBC Chuseok's special Judge MBC[43]
2022 Fantastic Family SBS [44]

Dramas

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Year Title Role
2012 Standby Main cast (as Kim Yeon-woo)
2017 A Korean Odyssey Cameo (Ep. 1)
2019 Welcome to Waikiki 2 Cameo (Ep. 6)

Awards

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Year Award Category
1995 7th Annual Yoo Jae-ha Music Competition Gold Prize
2015 MBC Entertainment Awards Excellence Award in Music/Talk Show

References

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  1. ^ Kim (김), Hyun-jung (현정) (January 9, 2012). "[공연리뷰]Mr. Big 김연우 ' 연우빛을 만들다'". eToday (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  2. ^ 인물정보 김연우, Naver People (in Korean), May 24, 2011, retrieved January 9, 2012
  3. ^ Kim (김), Chae-yun (채연) (September 27, 2011). 김연우 어린시절 ‘유재하 가요제 금상 수상한 수재’ 자심감 폭발. 뉴스엔 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. ^ Park (박), Ah-rim (아름) (November 25, 2011). ‘본명 김학철’ 김연우 "예명 김연우, 유희열이 자주가던 다방 이름". 뉴스엔 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  5. ^ 김연우 "토이시절 노래 이젠 추억됐죠". 스포츠한국 (in Korean). December 23, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  6. ^ Park (박), Ah-rim (아름) (May 2, 2011). 대학축제 간 김연우 우산 들고 빗속 열창 "프로정신 대단". JoongAng Ilbo/joinsMSN (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ 김경호&김연우, 사랑과 우정사이(피노키오)/MBC나는 가수다. Daum tv팟 (in Korean). October 9, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Kim (김), Soo-Kyung (수경) (October 30, 2011). 김연우, 나가수 호주경연 1위 '5개월 동안 칼 갈은 발라드 神'. 재경일보 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  9. ^ Nam (남), Yeon-hee (연희). 김경호-김연우 '사랑과우정사이' 감동의 하모니 '명불허전'. The Financial News (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Hwang, Jee-young. "'복면가왕' 김연우, 드디어 벗은 클레오파트라…새 가왕 퉁키 (종합)". Naver TV. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  11. ^ Kim, Seong-han. "김연우 "토이시절 노래 이젠 추억됐죠"". Naver TV. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  12. ^ Oh(오), Youg-Kyung (영경) (September 10, 2010). 김연우, 12살 연하와 결혼…유희열 사회+성시경 축가. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Gaon Album Chart "김연우" Search". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Cumulative sales of Couple:
  15. ^ "2011년 05월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  16. ^ "2011년 12월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "2018년 05월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  18. ^ "2014년 05월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Gaon Digital Chart "김연우" Search". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  20. ^ Cumulative sales of "Love, That Common Word":
  21. ^ Cumulative sales of "I Was Happy...Take Care":
  22. ^ "2012년 04월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  23. ^ "2013년 11주차 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  24. ^ "2014년 05월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Cumulative sales of "Move":
  26. ^ Cumulative sales of "Melt Away":
  27. ^ "2015년 31주차 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  28. ^ "2011년 05월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  29. ^ "2011년 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  30. ^ "2011년 06월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  31. ^ Cumulative sales of "My Love By My Side":
  32. ^ a b c d "2011년 49주차 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  33. ^ Cumulative sales of "Closer":
  34. ^ "2012년 21월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  35. ^ "2012년 23월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  36. ^ "2012년 31월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  37. ^ "2012년 38월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  38. ^ "2012년 41월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  39. ^ "2012년 42월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  40. ^ Cumulative sales of "Because It's You":
  41. ^ "2015년 12주차 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  42. ^ "2015년 06월 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  43. ^ Tae Yu-na (September 9, 2021). "[공식] 김연우·쌈디·제시·이석훈, '더마탤' 판정단 라인업 확정" [[Official] Kim Yeon-woo, Simon D, Jessi, and Lee Seok-hoon, 'Dermatal' judging team lineup confirmed]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via Naver.
  44. ^ Baek Ji-eun (January 11, 2022). "[단독] 김연우X송가인, 레전드 뭉쳤다…스타 가족 음악쇼 '판타스틱 패밀리' 출연" [[Exclusive] Kim Yeon-woo X Song Ga-in, legends unite... Appeared in the star family music show 'Fantastic Family'] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Naver.
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