| Min Kyung-hoon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native Name: | 민경훈 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 6 October 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Seoul, South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Min Kyung-hoon (; born October 6, 1984) is a South Korean singer and television personality. He is the lead vocalist of the rock band Buzz and one-half of the duo Universe Cowards with Kim Hee-chul. His first solo album, Im·pres·sive, was released on December 5, 2007. His second solo album, Picnic, was released on June 27, 2011.[1] He is a regular cast member of South Korean variety show Knowing Brothers (JTBC).
During his early childhood, Min never thought that he would become an entertainer. Once he entered high school, he worked with a group of peers who liked to sing. In his third year of high school, Min was recommended to audition for an entertainment company as he was famous among students for both his strong vocals and "flower boy" visuals.
Min went to the audition for AYON Entertainment along with a friend without thinking seriously about it. He auditioned for the company, which would later become Buzz's first agency, in a karaoke room. Once the company heard him sing, they liked him and wanted to immediately sign a contract with him.[2] Min would then record songs under this agency and become a singer.
He signed a contract with the company in late spring 2002 and gave up on both sports and school to focus on singing. Min joined Buzz in June 2002 as the group's vocalist. The band's members practiced instruments together for two years. Min, having been added to the band later, often had to stay up at night and practice his vocals without rest.[3]
See main article: Buzz (band). Buzz made their official debut with "Morning Of Buzz" on October 11, 2003.[4] Their second studio album "Effect" included songs like "Coward", "Thorn", and "Travel to Me" that gained extreme popularity.[5] In their third album "Perfect", the song "You Don't Know Men" was well received.[6] [7] [8] [9] He was given the nickname "Ssamja" because he made a mistake singing this song. On May 17, 2007, Buzz disbanded temporarily as the members, with the exception of Min, began their mandatory military service.[10] Min was confirmed to continue solo activities while the members are serving the military.[11] On June 25, 2007, Buzz released the single "Love Is My Heart, Part 2".[12]
On December 4, 2007, Min released his first solo album "Im · pres · sive", with the advice of Buzz members and the solicitation of his former agency.[13] The album received a lukewarm reception, as did the digital single, "Day", which was released on December 12, 2008.[14] Until 2009, Min and Buzz took a hiatus. During this time, Min hardly left his house and suffered from severe depression and weight gain. He claims that during this "slump", he drank alcohol as soon as he woke up, and drank again to fall asleep.[15]
Min recovered and returned to music. On February 4, 2010, the mini-album "Reunion" was announced officially. The title song "I Love You" is one of his most popular solo songs. Min released the digital single "It's Alright" on March 29, 2010 and the soap opera My Life Is Beautiful OST "My Eternal Love", but there was no follow-up activity. In October and November 2010, he participated as a guest vocalist by singing his digital single "Wounded" and "Buzz 2" album "Fuzz-Buzz".
On June 27, 2011, Min released his second solo album "Picnic". The album had many new attempts, including fast tempo and lively songs, a change from rock ballads, a genre Min is known for. It had lower album sales compared to the previous album.
On March 6, 2012, after the release of his digital single "Look Back" on March 2,[16] Min suddenly began his military service.[17] He joined the Uijeongbu 306 supporters and served for 21 months.[18] [19] While Min was serving in the military band, he performed military band performances and concert train performances.[20] Min finished his military service on December 5, 2013, and fans and Buzz members gathered and congratulated him.[21]
On April 8, 2014, Min returned as the singer of Buzz as the band announced their comeback.[22] [23]
In December 2015, he joined JTBC's new variety show, Knowing Bros, as a cast member. Fellow cast members include comedians Kang Ho-dong and Lee Soo-geun and Super Junior member Kim Hee-chul.[24]
In fall 2016, Min and Kim Hee-chul released a duet titled "Sweet Dream". The two stars are known as "Universe Cowards" when they promote their music.[25] The song proved successful, topping the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart, an achievement known as an "all-kill".[26] In 2017, "Sweet Dream" won the Best Rock Song award at the MelOn Music Awards.[27]
Following the success of "Sweet Dream", in February 2018, Universe Cowards returned with "Falling Blossoms". It was composed by Lee Sang-joon and Cha Gil-wan and features lyrics written by Min,[28] and peaked at number 15 on Gaon Digital Chart. Billboard described it as "soft pop-rock tune that grows to a soaring, emotional cacophony" and complimented how their music video was one of the most inclusive music videos South Korea's seen in some time.
Starting from November 2018, Min became a fixed cast member of the weekly variety show Problem Child in House after successful pilot episodes.[29]
In December 2020, Universal Cowards collaborated with producer DinDin and Bibi to produce the traditional hip-hop track "Hanryang".
On July 10, 2024, it was reported that Min would marry former JTBC producer Shin Ki-eun in November.[30] The ceremony was held on November 17 at Hotel Shilla in Seoul.[31]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [32] [33] | |||
| Im·pres·sive |
| 6 |
|
| Picnic (소풍) |
| 4 |
|
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [36] | ||||
| As lead artist | ||||
| "Sad Fool" (슬픈 바보) | 2007 | Im·pres·sive | ||
| "Cry Only Today" (오늘만 울자) | ||||
| "One Day" (하루) | 2008 | |||
| "It's Love Coz It Hurts" (아프니까 사랑이죠) | 2010 | 4 | Reunion | |
| "It's Alright" | 21 | rowspan="2" | ||
| "Wounded" (상처투성이) | 22 | |||
| "She" | 2011 | 9 |
| Picnic |
| "Look Back" (돌아보다) | 2012 | 31 |
| rowspan="2" |
| "The Way to Meet You" (널 만나러 가는 길) | 2019 | — | ||
| Collaborations | ||||
| "Sweet Dream" (나비잠) | 2016 | 1 |
| SM Station Season 1 |
| "Falling Blossoms" (후유증) | 2018 | 15 | rowspan="3" | |
| "Hanryang" (한량) | 2020 | 190 | ||
| "I Should Not Have Loved You" (사랑하지 말걸 그랬나 봐요) | 2021 | — | ||
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Climax" | 2008 | The Lawyers of The Great Republic Korea OST |
| "Life is Beautiful" | 2010 | Life Is Beautiful OST |
| "Hero" | 2015 | SPY OST |
| "Love You" | 2016 | The K2 OST |
| "Here I am" | 2017 | Live Up to Your Name OST |
| "Waiting here for you" | 2018 | Money Flower OST |
| "Forever Love" | 2019 | Kill It OST |
| "Welcome 2 Life" | Welcome 2 Life OST | |
| "Lost Life" | 2020 | Rugal OST |
| "The Time is Now" | 2022 | The Golden Spoon OST |
| "Confession of My Youth" | Mental Coach Jegal OST |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref.[40] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–present | Knowing Bros | Cast | Episodes 2 – present | |
| 2017 | Girl Group Battle | Co-Host | Lunar New Year Special | [41] |
| I Came Alone | Chuseok Pilot Special | |||
| What Shall We Eat Today - Delivery | Cast | |||
| 2018 | Human Intelligence – The Most Perfect A.I. | Users | ||
| 2018–2023 | Problem Child in House | Cast Member | ||
| 2019 | Stories of Two Cities - Sokcho & Wonsan | Narrator | Season 2, Lunar New Year Special | |
| Shopping Mall (Shopping Nagger) | Cast | Seasons 1 and 2 | ||
| Episodes 1, 2 | [42] [43] | |||
| 2022 | Secret Man and Woman | Host | [44] | |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2nd JTBC Awards | Best Duo Award with Kim Hee-chul | Knowing Bros | [45] | |
| 2017 | Song of the Year (November) with Kim Hee-chul | "Sweet Dream" | [46] | ||
| Best Rock Song with Kim Hee-chul | |||||
| 2018 | "Falling Blossoms" | [47] [48] | |||
| 2019 | 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year | [49] | ||
| 17th KBS Entertainment Awards | Excellence Award in Entertainment Category | Problem Child in House | |||
| 2020 | 18th KBS Entertainment Awards | Excellence Award in Show/Variety Category |