Kim Yeon-woo

Korean name
Hangul	김연우
Hanja	金煙雨
Revised Romanization	Kim Yeon-u
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Yŏn-u
Birth name
Hangul	김학철
Revised Romanization	Kim Hak-cheol
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Hak-ch‘ŏl

Kim Yeon-woo
Kim Yeon-woo
	Kim Yeon-woo in November 2011
Background information
Birth name	Kim Hak-chul
Born	July 22, 1971 (age 53)
Origin	South Korea
Genres	Ballad, dance
Occupation(s)	Singer, professor, vocal coach
Instruments	Piano, guitar, melodica
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Poibos; IO Music/EMI; Adio/Manwaldang Music; Mystic89 /LOEN(2013-2016); Dio Music/LOEN(2016–present)

Kim Hak-chul, better known by his stage name Kim Yeon-woo (Korean: 김연우; 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.

Career

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

Kim studied practical music at Seoul Institute of the Arts.

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

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

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

Studio albums

Year	Album	Notable songs
1998	Only Me Next to You 《그대곁엔 나밖에》	그대곁엔 나밖에 (Only Me Next to You)
2004	Couple 《연인》	연인 (Couple), 이별택시 (Parting Taxi), 이미 넌 고마운 사람 (First Letter to You)
2006	Lost Love 《사랑을 놓치다》	사랑한다는 흔한 말 (Love, The Common Word)
2011	MR. BIG	행복했다...안녕 (I Was Happy...Goodbye)
2018	Forever Yours 《나의 너》	반성문 (My Apology Letter)

Collaboration albums

Toy (ko:토이) albums in which Kim Yeon-woo was featured as the main vocal

Year	Album	Notable songs
1996	Youheeyeol	내가 너의 곁에 잠시살았다는 걸 (That I Was Once by Your Side) 그럴때마다 (Every Time)
1999	A Night in Seoul	여전히 아름다운지 (Are You Still Beautiful) 거짓말 같은 시간 (Time Like a Lie)
2011	Fermata	언젠가 우리 다시 만나면 (If Someday We Meet Again) 마지막 노래 (The Last Song)
2011	Toy LIVE
2008	Thank You	인사 (Greetings)

Singles

[2008] 지금 만나러 갑니다 Going to meet you now
[2014] 눈물고드름 Melt away (2014, Mystic89/ LOEN Entertainment)
[2015] 그리운 노래 아리요 Nostalgic song Ariyo (2014, Mystic89/ CJ E&M)

Mini albums

Year	Album	Track listing
2010	정(情)(EP)	다시한번 사랑하자 사랑아 잘가라 축가 (祝歌) S.O.S 지금 만나러 갑니다 (feat. Tablo)
2014	MOVE^[13]	Call Me (feat. Kanto) 해독제 Antidote Move (feat. Park Kyung of Block B) 도레미파솔 Do Re Mi Fa Sol I Belong 2 U

Digital singles

Year	Song	Notes
2011	I'm Your Friend	Project Friends with Kim Hyung-joong and Byun Jae-won
2013	No Schedule	Yoon Jong-shin's Monthly Project
2013	Winter Sky Stars <겨울 하늘 별>	Mystic Holiday 2013
2019	Try <노력>	You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook's 10-Year Anniversary Album Vol. 33 Original singer: Park Won
2019	I Hate You <미워요>	You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook's 10-Year Anniversary Album Vol. 34 Original singer: Jung-in

Songs from King of Mask Singer

Episode	Song	Notes
7	The Phantom of the Opera (Korean version) <오페라의 유령>	Duet with Bae Da-hae
8	If by Chance <만약에 말야>	Original singer: Noel
8	Cannot Have You <가질 수 없는 너>	Original singer: Bank
10	After This Night <이 밤이 지나면>	Original singer: Yim Jae-beom
12	Love...That Person <사랑... 그 놈>	Original singer: Bobby Kim
14	The More I Love <사랑할수록>	Original singer: Boohwal
16	500 Years of Sorrow <한 오백년>	Gangwon Province arirang

Songs from I Am a Singer

Year	Season	Song	Original singer	Notes
2011	1	미련	Kim Gun-mo
		나와 같다면	Kim Jang-hoon	English title: If You Are Like Me
		사랑과 우정사이	Pinocchio	English title: Between Love and Friendship Duet with Kim Kyung-ho
		내사랑 내곁에	Kim Hyun-sik	English title: My Love by My Side
2012	2	가로수 그늘 아래 서면	Lee Moon-sae
		미소를 띄우며 나를보낸 그 모습 처럼	Lee Eun-ha
		당신만이	Lee Chi-hyun
		호랑나비	Kim Heung-gook
		All by Myself	Eric Carmen
		사랑했지만	Kim Kwang-seok	English title: Even Though I Loved You
		Rain	Lee Juck
		사랑일뿐야	Kim Min-woo
		지금 이 순간	Cho Seung-woo	Korean version of This Is the Moment
		그대 내품에	Yoo Jae-ha	English title: You in My Arms
		중독된 사랑	Jo Jang-hyuk	English title: Addicted to Love
		마지막 콘서트	Lee Seung-chul	English title: Last Concert
		1994년 어느 늦은 밤	Jang Hye-jin	English title: Some Late Night in 1994
		그대여 변치마오	Nam Jin
2015	3	하늘을 달리다	Lee Juck	English title: Hang in the Sky Duet with Yangpa

OST

Year	Genre	Name	Song
1996	Drama	Lover	"Lover"
1997	Drama	When the salmons return	"Next to You", "Only Beautiful Memories"
1997	Drama	Into the Storm	"You're Larger Than This World(Rock Ver.)"
2001	Movie	Bungee Jumping of their Own	"Wow! You're So Beautiful"
2002	Drama	Ocean of Greed	"Everyone Is in Your Heart"
2002	Drama	Boys Over Flowers	"Boys Over Flowers (Ballad Ver.)", "Boys Over Flowers (Rock Ver.)"
2003	Movie	Do you like bears in the spring?	"Shy Love"
2004	Drama	Oh! Pil Seung And Bong Soon Young	"A Lie Called Goodbye…", "Epilogue"
2004	Drama	Island	"Only My Memories"
2004	Animation	Greek and Roman Mythology-Olympus Guardians	"A Story of Gods and Heroes", "Whenever I Breathe"
2004	Drama	Sweet Buns	"The Days We Laughed"
2005	Drama	Preparing for Breakups	"Far and Close"
2006	Movie	Lost in Love	"Love, That Common Word"
2006	Drama	Trace of Love	"When You Cry When You Smile"
2007	Drama	Blue Fish	"I Am You"
2008	Drama	Hong Gil Dong	"The First"
2008	Drama	Chosun Police Season 2 O.S.T Vol.2	"The Road to You"
2010	Drama	Bad Man	"Sometimes I Cry Alone"
2011	Drama	Lie to Me	"You're My Love"
2011	Drama	Brain	"Closer"
2013	Drama	Nine	"Because It's You"
2015	Drama	The Producers	"To Be With You"
2018	Drama	Where Stars Land	"Dream of You"

Contemporary Christian music

Year	Genre	Name	Song(s)
2004	CCM Contest Now	2nd Album-Life, Song, Dreams	"That Man, that Love"
2006	Jo Hwan-gon	1st Album- To my searching friend	"To my searching friend" "Can't give up" "Now" "To the missionary lands" "Who will follow the Lord"

Other activities

Variety and competition shows

Year	Title	Episode(s)	Role	Notes
2011	I Am a Singer (Season 1)	6–9	Contestant
2011	I Am a Singer (Season 1)	32	Contestant
2012	I Am a Singer (Season 2) [ko]	1–28	Contestant	Honorary graduation
2014	Cool Kiz on the Block	45–52	Member
2014	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

Dramas

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

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

References

^ Kim (김), Hyun-jung (현정) (January 9, 2012). "[공연리뷰]Mr. Big 김연우 ' 연우빛을 만들다'". eToday (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^ 인물정보 김연우, Naver People (in Korean), May 24, 2011, retrieved January 9, 2012
^ Kim (김), Chae-yun (채연) (September 27, 2011). 김연우 어린시절 ‘유재하 가요제 금상 수상한 수재’ 자심감 폭발. 뉴스엔 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^ Park (박), Ah-rim (아름) (November 25, 2011). ‘본명 김학철’ 김연우 "예명 김연우, 유희열이 자주가던 다방 이름". 뉴스엔 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^ 김연우 "토이시절 노래 이젠 추억됐죠". 스포츠한국 (in Korean). December 23, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^ Park (박), Ah-rim (아름) (May 2, 2011). 대학축제 간 김연우 우산 들고 빗속 열창 "프로정신 대단". 중앙일보/joinsMSN (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Nam (남), Yeon-hee (연희). 김경호-김연우 '사랑과우정사이' 감동의 하모니 '명불허전'. 파이낸셜뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Hwang, Jee-young. "'복면가왕' 김연우, 드디어 벗은 클레오파트라…새 가왕 퉁키 (종합)". Naver TV. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
^ Kim, Seong-han. "김연우 "토이시절 노래 이젠 추억됐죠"". Naver TV. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
^ Oh(오), Youg-Kyung (영경) (September 10, 2010). 김연우, 12살 연하와 결혼…유희열 사회+성시경 축가. 서울신문 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.
^ "Move – EP by Kim Yeon Woo".

External links

[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". 중앙일보/joinsMSN (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2012.

[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.

[ref1-8] 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.

[ref2-9] Nam (남), Yeon-hee (연희). 김경호-김연우 '사랑과우정사이' 감동의 하모니 '명불허전'. 파이낸셜뉴스 (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. 서울신문 (in Korean). Retrieved January 9, 2012.

[13] "Move – EP by Kim Yeon Woo".

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]