Kim Hee-chul (born July 10, 1983), better known by the mononym Heechul, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, presenter, and actor. He is a member of South Korean boy band Super Junior and has further participated in its subgroup, Super Junior-T as well as project group with TRAX's Jungmo, M&D. Aside from group activities, he participated in various television dramas, appeared as a radio DJ and television presenter. He is a League of Legends Gamer on LoL Champions and Celebrity Event.
Career[]
2002-05: Pre-debut, Model, Actor, MC[]
In October 2002, he auditioned to become a singer through the Starlight Casting System, and was initially placed in a four-member group called "Four Seasons" along with Jaejoong, Yunho and Kangin. While Jaejoong and Yunho went on to debut as TVXQ in December 2003, Heechul and Kangin joined ten other trainees under S.M. Entertainment to form the group "Super Junior 05", the first generation of Super Junior.
In December 2016, he confessed, He was preparing to debut as Trax main vocalist. He also revealed that he had frequent clashes and misunderstandings with the person in charge at SM at that time. Therefore, he became frustrated and abandoned his Trax debut and returned to his hometown in Gangwon Province. With Trax's Jungmo and Jay, TVXQ's Yunho and Donghae encouragement and positivity, he returned to SM.
His first acting role was in teen drama Sharp 2 alongside bandmate Kibum on 2005 before the debut of Super Junior. Shortly afterwards, he appeared in an episode of the series Loveholic and was a regular MC for the cable music show Show! Music Bank Tank. He also appeared on entertainment programs such as Heroine 6.
2005-11: Debut with Super Junior, Super Junior-T, DJ[]
On November 2, 2005, "Super Junior 05" made their official debut as a twelve-member group on SBS's Popular Songs, performing their first single "TWINS". Their debut album Super Junior05 (Twins) was released on December 5 and debuted at #3 on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts.
In March 2006, SM Entertainment began to recruit new members for the next Super Junior generation. However, plans changed and the company declared a halt in forming future Super Junior generations. Following the addition of thirteenth member Kyuhyun, the group dropped the suffix "05" and became officially credited as Super Junior. The re-polished group's first CD single "U" was released on 7 June 2006, which was their most successful single until the release of "Sorry, Sorry" in March 2009.
Following their debut, Heechul again appeared alongside Kibum for the sixth season of Nonstop (2005–06), and also starred in Bad Family (2006),[8] Golden Bride (2007–08). He also appeared on entertainment programs such as Vitamin, Sponge, X-Man, Love Letter, and was a radio DJ on SBS Power FM Youngstreet with Park Hee-von until mid-2006.
On February 23, 2007, he debuted as part of Super Junior sub-group, Super Junior-T , performing trot single "Rokuko!!!". That year Super Junior released their second album Don't Don, which became Super Junior's best-selling album and Korea's second best-selling album of the year, toured with the Super Show, and filmed the movie Attack on the Pin-Up Boys.
He appeared as a presenter on SBS music programme Inkigayo as a substitute for Andy of Shinhwa, going on to become a permanent host with Ku Hye-sun (23 April 2006 – 18 February 2007), Jang Keun-suk (25 February-7 October 2007) and Song Ji-hyo (11 November 2007 – 4 May 2008). He co-MC 4 straight years the Dream Concert (2008 – 11).
In 2008, he appeared in the S.M. Entertainment production of the musical Xanadu, playing the role of Sonny in rotation with bandmate Kangin. The production ran between 9 September-23 November 2008 at the Doosan Art Center, Yeonji-dong, Seoul. Casting was carried out via a reality television programme, To Be Kangin and Heechul. He also appeared on the TV Programmes 8 vs 1 (2008), Good Daddy (2008–09), Band of Brothers (2009). His first solo single, "First Star" ("초별"), was released on November 6, 2009, as part of the OST for the drama Loving You a Thousand Times. The song is written by Song Jong-ho and composed by Choi Myung-hoon.
In 2009, Heechul became depressive due to the lawsuit between SM Entertainment and Han Geng, leading to Han's departure from the company and the group, who Heechul considered his best friend. He didn't participate in any of the stage shows, including the end-of-year award shows For 3 months.
He returned as a radio DJ for the first time in four years on SBS's Heechul's Young Street from March 29, 2010 until mid-2011. In May 2010, he became a regular cast member on the series Family Outing 2, but the show was cancelled two months later due to low ratings. On October 9, he created a personal Facebook account which received 5,000 friend requests within five minutes. He became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter for four days after the account's creation.
2011-15: M&D, Military Enlistment, League of Legends[]
In 2011, he formed a project group with label mate Jungmo of TRAX called M&D (meaning "Midnight and Dawn" or "Miari and Dangae-dong", after the members' hometowns). They released their debut single, "Close Ur Mouth", in June. Heechul wrote the lyrics and directed the music video for the song, while Jungmo produced and performed the instrumental. Their first live performance was at Mnet’s summer awards ceremony 20’s Choice on July 7.
Kim Hee-chul carried out mandatory military service between 1 September 2011-30 August 2013. At the time that he enlisted, he had been appearing on KBS's Secret (시크릿) as well as the Radio Star main segment of MBC's Golden Fishery, for which bandmate Kyuhyun took over the role.
On July, Lady Gaga appeared on 9th’s episode on KBS2’s Entertainment Weekly for an exclusive interview and mentioned that she was amazed by Heechul's imitation of her. He's appeared “Lady HeeHee” throughout Super Show 3, as well as SM Town in Paris. Lady Gaga has seen his imitation and praised him, saying: “He looks amazing! Look at the hair bow.”
Shortly after he had completed his military service, he featured on Kim Jang-hoon's single "Breakups are So Like Me". During live performances of the song on Music Bank and Show! Music Core, his part was performed by bandmates Yesung, Eunhyuk and Shindong.
Orange Caramel continued the "One Asia" project with the release of "Shanghai Romance" on October 13, 2011, which peaked at No. 8. The song's lyrics were written by him.
In September 2013, he became a regular cast member on the JTBC's variety program Ssulzun War of Words but on July 2014 he posted a photo in his personal Instagram account and poured his heart and thoughts regarding his last appearance in the program. In Heechul’s last recording for the show, he mentioned about having the pressure of talking about the people close to him.
In January 2014, he appeared on the Global Edition spinoff of MBC reality television programme We Got Married, as an on-screen couple with Taiwanese girl group member Puff Guo. That year, he also played the role of a detective in the tvN drama Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit.
In February 2015, The famous LoL team SK Telecom T1 sponsored a special match titled the Celebrity League of Legends Invitational Event Match. SKT T-LoL invited various celebrities to join in a match against professional LoL gamers. The celebrity team included Heechul lost in the END. Heechul also appeared on OnGameNet’s Pandora TV LoL Champions on 27 November 2013 as a Special Commentator and Guest player.
In April 2015, SM Entertainment announced that M&D would release their first mini-album Cottage Industry with the title track "I Wish" digitally on April 16 and physically on April 20.
In 2015, he became MC on entertainment programs such as Tvn's The Demand of Luxurious Food, KBS's Fashion-beauty Show A Style For You, O'live's Travel Show MAPS, JTBC's variety show Knowing Bros, and Korean-Chinese program All the Way With You (S2), This is the first Chinese variety that he was in charge since his debut in Korean entertainment in 2005.
2016-present: Solo Fanmeeting and Solo activities[]
In March 2016, Heechul was confirmed to become a temporary host for Weekly Idol until October 5, when Jeong Hyeong-don ending his 11-month break from television activities. He released a duet with Wheein in April 15, 2016 for SM Station. The single "Narcissus" was written by Heechul and produced by Jungmo, and is his first collaboration with a female artist. In early July 2016, M&D returned as "Kim Heechul & Kim Jungmo", with a 2nd mini-album Goody Bag, and trot-rock title track "Ulsanbawi" on July 12.
In June 4, 2016, He appeared on the third season of the Chinese dating variety show, If You Love with Li Feier (Chinese actress). He announced the news himself through his personal Weibo account. He has been on the global edition of We Got Married before with Puff Guo, so this is his second time being in a virtual relationship. In 23 July, he held his first solo fanmeeting "The Space Big Star Show" in Beijing, China.
The "league of legends 5th anniversary" in China included LOL Final and Regional Final. Also the Asian celebrity showmatch. China vs Korea celebrities to competed in celebrities invitational in commemoration. Korean Celebrity All-Star player Heechul with Seungri and F.T. Island's Hongki, Minhwan and Seunghyun won in the end. In 9 October, he also appeared as a Special Commentator on LoL World Championship. In November 2016, Heechul began participating in S.M. Entertainment's League of Legends tournament 2016 S.M. Super Celeb League, where he and labelmate Baekhyun play the game with both professional players and fans from South Korea and China.
In fall 2016, Heechul and Buzz member Min Kyung-hoon released a duet titled "Sweet Dream", with the music video starring Momo from TWICE and the rest of the Knowing Bros cast. The song reached number one on every South Korean online music chart, an achievement known as "all-kill", making him the first Super Junior member to achieve "all-kill" in 2016.
In 2016, he became MC on Channel A's Music Show Singderella, JTBC's Phantom Singer, OnStyle's new type of Beauty Show, Lipstick Prince, also he is one of the main members in Secretly Greatly and SBS TV's Game Show.
Discography[]
Collaborations[]
- 2011: Breakups Are So Like Me (이별 참 나답다) (with Kim Jang-hoon)
- 2016: Sweet Dream (나비잠) (with Min Kyung-hoon)
OSTs[]
- 2006: Can It Be Love? (with Kibum) [Rainbow Romance OST]
- 2009: First Star (초별) [Loving You a Thousand Times OST]
Featurings[]
- 2009: Soul (魂 (혼)) [Super Junior - SUPER SHOW 2 Live Album]
- 2011: The Way Idol Breaks Up (아이돌이 헤어지는 방법) [Super Junior - SUPER SHOW 3 Live Album]
As a featured artist[]
- 2010: King Wang Zzang (킹왕짱) [Defconn]
- 2011: Breakups are So Like Me (이별 참 나답다) [Kim Jang-hoon]
- 2016: Melody (멜로디) [EVE]
Concerts & Tours[]
Fanmeeting Tours[]
- 2016: Kim Heechul Universe Big Star Show
Filmography[]
Film[]
- 2007 Attack on the Pin-Up Boys (꽃미남 연쇄 테러사건) - as The Ultra Junior President
- 2007: Alvin and the Chipmunks (Korean voice-cover) - as Simon
- 2010: Super Show 3 3D - as himself
- 2016: Familyhood (굿바이 싱글) - as Broadcasting Station Idol
Television[]
- 2005: Loveholic (러브홀릭) - as Joo Ho (Young chef)
- 2005: Sharp 2 (반올림2) - as Baek Jin-woo
- 2005-2006: Rainbow Romance - as Heechul
- 2006: Bad Family (불량가족) - as Gong Min
- 2007-2008: Golden Bride (황금신부) - as Kim Young-soo
- 2009: Tae-hee, Hye-kyo, Ji-hyun - as himself (cameo)
- 2009-2010: Loving You a Thousand Times (천만번 사랑해) - as Lee Chul
- 2010: I am Legend (나는 전설이다) - as himself (cameo)
- 2011: Melody of Youth (青春旋律) - as Shen Tai Yi
- 2013: The Heirs [왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 – 상속자들] - as himself (cameo)
- 2014: Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit (꽃할배 수사대) - as Park Jung-woo
TV Shows[]
- 2008: 8 vs 1
- 2008: To Be Kangin And Heechul
- 2008-2009: Good Daddy (좋아서)
- 2009: Band of Brothers
- 2010: Family Outing 2 (패밀리가 떴다2)
- 2010-2011: Radio Star (라디오스타)
- 2011: Night of Brilliant Memories
- 2011: Saturday Freedom (Secret) (자유선언 토요일)
- 2013-2014: Ssulzun (썰전)
- 2014: We Got Married Global Edition
- 2015: All the Way With You
- 2015: The Demand of Luxurious Food Wednesday Dining
- 2015: A Style For You
- 2015: MAPS
- 2015-2017: Weekly Idol (주간 아이돌)
- 2015-present: Knowing Bros (아는 형님)
- 2016: Code: Secret Room (코드 - 비밀의 방)
- 2016: National Championship
- 2016: Perhaps Love (S3)
- 2016: S.M. Super Celeb League
- 2016-2017: Phantom Singer
- 2016-2017: Singderella (싱데렐라)
- 2016-2017: Secretly Greatly (은밀하게 위대하게)
- 2016-2017: Lipstick Prince
- 2016-present: Game Show (게임쇼유희낙락)
- 2017: Syndrome Man (신드롬맨)
- 2017: Bragging Room Guest
- 2017: Life Bar (Season 2)
- 2017: Idol School
Radio Show[]
- 2005-2006: Young Street Radio (영스트리트)
- 2010-2011: Heechul's Young Street
- 2012-2013: Kim Heechul's SungDong Cafe
- 2013-2015: Super Junior's Kiss The Radio
Musical[]
- 2008: Xanadu - as Sonny
Bibliography[]
- 2013: The ZZINPANG Family
- 2017: MY RAMEN-FUL LIFE
Lyrics & Composition[]
- 2005: "Believe" [Super Junior - Super Junior05] - Lyrics
- 2011: "Shanghai Romance" (샹하이 로맨스) [Orange Caramel - Shanghai Romance] - Lyrics
- 2011: "Oops!!" [Super Junior - A-CHA] - Lyrics
- 2011: "Close Ur Mouth" (뭘봐) [M&D - Close Ur Mouth] - Lyrics
- 2015: "M&D (Midnight&Dawn)" [M&D - Cottage Industry] - Lyrics
- 2015: "I Wish" (하고 싶어) [M&D - Cottage Industry] - Lyrics
- 2015: "Moon Crystal" (달수정) [M&D - Cottage Industry] - Lyrics
- 2015: "Silhouette" (실루엣) [M&D - Cottage Industry] - Lyrics
- 2015: "Soul" (魂) [M&D - Cottage Industry] - Lyrics
- 2015: "You Got It" (놈, 놈, 놈) [Super Junior - MAGIC] - Lyrics
- 2015: "Sarang♥" [Super Junior - MAGIC] - Lyrics
- 2016: "Narcissus" (나르시스) [M&D - Narcissus]
- 2016: "Ulsanbawi" (울산바위) [M&D - Goody Bag]
- 2016: "Banana Shake" (바나나쉐이크) [M&D - Goody Bag]
- 2016: "Essay" (수필) [M&D - Goody Bag]
- 2016: "No DAP" (No답) [M&D - Goody Bag]
- 2016: "Sweet Dream" (나비잠) [Heechul X Min Kyung-hoon - Sweet Dream] - Lyrics
Awards[]
- 2007: Mnet 20's Choice Awards - Best Pretty Boy
- 2011: MBC Entertainment Awards - Best Newcomer Award (Radio Star)
- 2015: 12th Cosmo Beauty Awards - Asia Beauty Icon Award
- 2016: Melon Popularity Awards - Weekly Popularity Award (11.21~11.27) ("Sweet Dream")
- 2016: 5th JTBC Awards - Crazy Person Award (Knowing Bros)
- 2016: 5th JTBC Awards - Best Entertainer (Knowing Bros)
- 2016: 5th JTBC Awards - Best Couple Award (with Min Kyung-hoon) (Knowing Bros)
Gallery[]
