Kim Jae-joong (Hangul: 김재중; Hanja: 金在中; born January 26, 1986), simply known as Jaejoong, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, and director. He is best known as a member of the Korean pop group JYJ, and was one of the original members of boy band TVXQ. Kim also went by the stage names, Hero Jaejoong (Hangul: 영웅재중; Hanja: 英雄在中; "Youngwoong Jaejoong") and Jejung (ジェジュン).
Kim has branched out to act in dramas including Sunao ni Narenakute, Protect the Boss, and most recently Dr. Jin, and in films such as Heaven's Postman and Jackal is Coming. He was also the Executive Director for JYJ's 2011 Worldwide Tour and the 2011 LG Whisen Rhythmic All Stars.
In January 2013 he released his first EP, titled I, followed by a full length album, WWW in October the same year.
Early life[]
Kim was born Han Jae-jun in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. His real birthday, as revealed by his biological mother, was on 4 February, instead of 26 January. At a young age, he was given up for adoption by his birth mother to the Kim family, and his name was changed to Kim Jae-joong.
When Kim was fifteen, he moved to Seoul by himself in order to take part in the auditions held by SM Entertainment. Life in Seoul was financially difficult and he took various odd jobs to pay for rent, food, and training fees, he even appeared as an extra in movies. In an interview he admitted he used to be tone-deaf in primary school and was frequently ridiculed for his dream of becoming a singer. He practiced singing on his own.
Career[]
Main article: TVXQTVXQ[]
In 2001, at fifteen years old, Kim auditioned for S.M. Entertainment and was accepted into the agency. From 2003 to 2010, he was the lead vocalist of South Korean boy band TVXQ. After TVXQ went on hiatus in early 2010, he and two other fellow band members Yoochun and Junsu formed a new three member group, initially known as JUNSU/JEJUNG/YUCHUN in Japan.
JYJ[]
Main article: JYJIn 2009 Kim, Junsu and Yoochun, started a lawsuit against their agency, S.M. Entertainment, and separated from TVXQ, soon founding their own band, JYJ. Their debut Japanese language EP The..., released in September 2010, and their first concert DVD from Tokyo Dome Thanksgiving Live in Dome both reached No. 1 on the Japanese Oricon album and DVD charts.The group's global, English language debut album, The Beginning, was released in October 2010, featuring Kanye West. During the making of the album Kim did not speak fluent English.
In January 2011 they released a Korean EP, Their Rooms "Our Story", with three of Kim's own compositions, "Pierrot" (삐에로), "Nine" and "I.D.S." In April he toured Asia and North America with JYJ, and later South America and Europe. He was also stage director of the Asian leg of the tour. In September the band released a studio album called In Heaven, which sold 350,000 copies and ranked first on the Gaon charts. He composed two new songs for the album, "In Heaven" and "Get Out", the latter was a collaboration with Yoochun.He composed "In Heaven" in memory of his good friend, Park Yong-ha, who committed suicide.
Solo singing projects[]
Kim also sang the solo track "Maze" for the fifth and final single of the Trick Project, "Keyword/Maze". Jaejoong wrote and composed "Wasurenaide" (忘れないで lit. Don't Forget) which was included on Tohoshinki's twenty-fifth single "Bolero/Kiss the Baby Sky/Wasurenaide." The song was also on their fourth Japanese album The Secret Code, along with the songs "9095" and "9096" which were also composed by Kim. The song, "忘れないで" was used in television advertisement for cosmetics in Japan.Apart from TVXQ and JYJ, Kim has worked on solo activities as a singer. He sang, "Insa" (인사 lit. Greeting), for the soundtrack of A Millionaire's First Love. Kim collaborated with label-mates The Grace for the Japanese version of their song "Just for One Day", which was featured on their fifth Japanese single and their debut album, Graceful 4.
On September 30, 2009, Kim and bandmate Yoochun released a self-composed single "Colors (Melody and Harmony)/Shelter." The A-side track, Colors (Melody and Harmony), was used as the image song for Hello Kitty's thirty-fifth year anniversary. Jaejoong and Yoochun also participated in "m-flo TRIBUTE -maison de m-flo" singing "Been So Long."
Kim sang "Love" for the soundtrack of the movie Heaven's Postman in which he starred as the male lead. He also sang "Found You" and "For you It’s Separation, For me It’s Waiting" for the soundtrack of the television drama Sungkyunkwan Scandal, "I'll Protect You" for the soundtrack of the television drama Protect the Boss, and "Living Like A Dream" for the soundtrack of the television Drama Dr. Jin.
On January 17, 2013, Kim released his first solo mini-album titled I/MINE. The rock-themed album debuted at the top of both the Hanteo and Gaon weekly charts in Korea and broke previous pre-order records in Japan.It also topped the iTunes overall chart in Japan, as well as the iTunes rock charts in nine countries. On 26 and 27 January, Kim held two days of special concerts at the KINTEX Ilsan to celebrate the launch of the album, as well as his birthday. The 16,000 tickets to the concert were sold in record time.
His first full length solo album WWW is scheduled for release on 29 October 2013. A duet with Lee Sang-gon of Noel was pre-released on the 15th of October.
Filmography[]
TV Shows[]
- Time Slip Dr. Jin (MBC, 2012)
- Protect the Boss (SBS, 2011)
- Postman to Heaven (SBS, 2010)
- Sunao ni Narenakute (Fuji TV, 2010)
- Vacation (2006)
- Banjun Drama (SBS, 2005)
Movies[]
- Code Name: Jackal (2012)
- Taegukgi (2004, cameo)
Acting[]
Prior to his debut as a singer, Kim worked as an extra, playing a soldier in film Taegeukgi. Along with the other members of TVXQ, he acted in television programmes, Banjun Theater and Vacation.
In November 2009 Kim co-starred with Han Hyo-joo in a joint Korean-Japanese telecinema Heaven's Postman, as Shin Jaejun, a young man who delivers letters written by the living to the dead and helps lingering ghosts settle their earthly affairs. This was followed by Fuji TV's Japanese television drama Sunao ni Narenakute in September 2010. Where he portrayed a "doctor", who moved from Korea to Japan with his younger sister, working for a medical equipment manufacturer.
In August 2011, he starred in his first television series in South Korea, with Choi Kang-hee and Ji Sung in Korean drama Protect the Boss. He played the role of seemingly perfect Director Cha Mu-won, nicknamed "Prince of the Financial World" for his business acumen, who becomes frustrated and fight against the constraints in his life.He was also in Ayumi Hamasaki's music video for her 2010 song "Blossom".
In May 2012, he starred in his second South Korean television series, Dr. Jin, with Song Seung-heon. He played the role of Kim Kyung Tak, a high-ranking officer of the police force of Joseon Dynasty, who is an illegitimate son of the Joseon era's Prime Minister and his concubine. His character was entangled in a love triangle with his childhood friend, Hong Young-rae, and the drama's main protagonist, Dr. Jin.
Kim starred in a teaser video along with actress Kim Ji-won, for debut song for Baek Seung-heon. He also wrote the lyrics for the song "Until the Sun Rises", which was released on 7 November. However neither he nor Kim Ji-won were featured in the official full length music video.
In November 2012, Kim in his big screen debut in dark comedy feature film Jackal is Coming, portrayed Choi Hyun, a Hallyu star who is kidnapped by the assassin Bong Min-jung, played by labelmate Song Ji-hyo.
Directing[]
Kim served as Executive Director for the Asian leg of JYJ's 2011 Worldwide Tour. He also participated in the directing team for the 2011 LG Whisen Rhythmic All Stars.
Personal life[]
Injury[]
In September 2005, while rehearsing the dance steps for "Rising Sun", Kim ruptured his cartilage in his knee and was admitted to a hospital in Seoul. He underwent surgery on the same day to repair the tissue.
Suspension[]
On April 7, 2006 at 1:20 AM, Kim was pulled over in his father's friend's BMW by a police officer on his way home from the Renaissance Hotels. He was ordered to take a breath test and his level of alcohol was revealed to be 0.071%. After spending 20 minutes at the police station, he was released. Due to violating traffic laws, Kim was temporarily suspended from all TVXQ activities and had his license taken away for 100 days.
Custody battle[]
On November 21, 2006, a man with the surname Han filed a lawsuit against Kim's guardians. Han claimed he was Kim's biological father, and thus wanted parental rights.
Han cited the reason for the lawsuit against Kim's legal guardians as "for not going through the proper procedures before registering [Jaejoong] in [the legal guardians'] custody." The first hearing was to be held in Kim's hometown, Gongju, on November 29, 2006, but on November 22 Han dropped the charges against Kim's legal guardians.
In reaction to the matter, Kim uploaded a journal entry on his official fan club website, and said that he was informed of the existence of separate biological parents by his mother two or three years ago, and it had been quite a shock to him. With his current mother's support, his biological mother has been able to keep in touch with him, and to meet occasionally, but whereabouts of his father had been unknown.
He expressed his will to live by the name of Kim Jae-joong, not by his birth name Han Jae-jun (한재준).
Discography[]
See also: TVXQ discography and JYJ discography===Albums===
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | Sales | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR
[51] |
JPN
[52] | ||||
| 2013 | I (EP)
|
1 | 8 |
|
|
WWW
|
1 |
|
|||
Music videos[]
- "Mine" (from I, 2013)
- "Just Another Girl" (from WWW, 2013)
Soundtrack contributions[]
- 2010: "너에겐 이별 나에겐 기다림" (To You It's Goodbye, To Me It's Waiting) - Sungkyunkwan Scandal OST
- 2011: "지켜줄게" (I'll Protect You) - Protect the Boss OST
- 2012: "살아도 꿈인 것처럼" (Living Like A Dream) - Dr. Jin OST
- 2012: "나만의 위로" (Healing for Myself) - Jackal is Coming OST
- 2012: "Kiss B" - Jackal is Coming OST
- 2012: "Stay" - Jackal is Coming OST
Gallery[]
