Lee Jung-hyun
Lee Jung-hyun | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Also known as | Ava, Hyony |
Born | Gimje, South Korea | February 7, 1980
Genres | K-pop, Eurodance, Techno, Trance |
Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | AVA Films & Entertainment |
Website | withava.kr |
Lee Jung-hyun | |
Hangul | 이정현 |
---|---|
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | I Jeonghyeon |
McCune–Reischauer | Ri Chŏnghyŏn |
Lee Jung-hyun (born February 7, 1980 in Gimje, South Korea) is a South Korean pop singer and actress. She was first recognized for her acting abilities with award-winning role in her first film and has been solidified as one of the top international acts from Korea with her illustrious singing career. She is widely known as "The Techno Queen" as she introduced Techno music genre to Korea and throughout Asia. Lee is also known as "The Queen of Transformation" due to her unique new look for each and every song. In Korea, she was voted "The Best Performer" with her colorful and charismatic stage presence. Lee is one of the most prominent acts from Korea who is widely popular in China.[1]
Biography
Actress
Lee Jung-hyun made her acting debut at the age of 16 in A Petal in 1996, which won domestic and foreign film awards. The film tells the story of a girl who experienced the Gwangju uprising at the age of 15, and its effect on her life in later years.[2] Since 1996, Lee has had numerous acting roles with projects in Korea, Japan and China.
In 2009, Lee regained her acting strides with the Chinese television drama Confucius, playing role of Nan Zi. In 2010, Lee portrayed a shaman in Park Chan-wook and Park Chan-kyong's award-winning fantasy short film Night Fishing, which was shot entirely on an iPhone. Night Fishing won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at 2011 Berlin International Film Festival. In 2012, Lee portrayed a single mother in the coming-of-age film Juvenile Offender, which won Best Feature at the Tokyo International Film Festival. She was next cast in the 2014 period blockbuster The Admiral: Roaring Currents, as the sole female character in the main cast.
Singer
After debuting with an award-winning acting performance, Lee etched her singing career by introducing techno genre to the K-Pop scene and her ever-reinventing styles for each and every song. Lee assumes a unique persona for each album, such as a mermaid, Barbie doll, tribal queen, soldier, Korean folk dancer, belly dancer, or princess of the sea. She has garnered many nicknames over the years, including Techno Queen of Korea, Ms. Charisma, Little Giant, and Queen of Change.[3][4]
Before releasing her first solo music she featured as a guest vocalist on the Jo PD single "Fever", also appearing in the music video. She also appeared in the music video for Goofy's "The Rule of the Game".[5]
Her early work is techno-style dance music. Her first single, Wa (와, "Come") topped the Korean charts for three weeks, while her second, Bakkwo (바꿔, "Change") won awards for Best Song and Most Broadcast Song. These two songs in particular were covered by artists throughout Asia and Europe. Many of her earlier songs are sung in an angry mood, from the perspective of a rejected lover. These two singles firmly established Lee as one of the top Korean singers who successfully gained popularity throughout Asia with her strong colorful performances.
Lee released Japanese versions of her early hits Wa and Heaven in December 2004. The single ranked #26 on Oricon chart in Week 3 of January 2005. Heaven was a theme song for the Korean drama Beautiful Days. The drama became widely popular in Japan. On December 31, 2004, Lee was invited to perform Heaven and Wa-come on- and participate at the 55th edition of Kōhaku Uta Gassen, an annual New Year's Eve live music show. In 2006, she released her first Japanese album, This is Hyony. The Japanese version of "Wa" hit #1 on Oricon chart in January 2005. Her Japanese fanclub was called Honey Hyony. In 2008, she released her first Mandarin album with title single "Love Me."
With her fifth album, Passion, she switched to a Latin-influenced sound, complete with Spanish Guitar and flamenco-style tap dance.
In May 2009, she released her first Korean mini album, featuring trio of songs, "Crazy," "Vogue It Girl" and "Miro." The music video "Crazy" was choreographed by Brian Friedman.[6] In September 2009, she was invited to open at Lady Gaga's concert in Seoul, Korea. In December 2009, Lee sung her first ballad for the soundtrack of the Korean TV drama Iris. The song, "How Can I Hold Back Tears," takes her to the ballad genre for the first time in her over 10-year singing career.
In 2010, her seventh album was released on May 11, 2010 with the title song, "Suspicious Man." In this title single's music video, Lee once again showed her dynamic performance range by introducing a vengeful assassin with a short blonde do. The seventh album was entitled, "007th."
For her 2013 single "V," Lee starred opposite Jin Goo in a music video directed by Park Chan-wook and Park Chan-kyong, with whom she'd previously worked on Night Fishing.[7][8]
Cultural Ambassador
In August 2007, singer-actress Lee was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.[9][10]
On June 22, 2012, Lee was appointed as an honorary ambassador for the Korea-China Cultural Industry Conference, called CICON.[11]
Covers of Lee Jung-hyun's songs
Chinese singer Sammi Cheng has released and performed covers of several of her hits such as:
Bakkwo 바꿔 Change - Mei fei se wu 眉飛色舞 Radiant with Joy (Mandarin)/Saat for 煞科 Finale (Cantonese)
Wa 와 Come - Du yi wu er 獨一無二 Unique (Mandarin)/Duk ga see cheung 獨家試唱 Trying to sing by myself (Cantonese)
Nuh 너 You - Tian yi wu feng 天衣無縫 Impossible to Defeat (Mandarin)/Sun fa 神化 Apotheosis (Cantonese)
Sammi's versions have separate, original (non-translated) lyrics sung in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Vietnamese singer Ngo Thanh Van remade "Nuh" in her debut CD, Playworld, under the name "The Colourless Heart" and "Dara Dara" in her 2nd album under the name "Mystery Of The Moon".
Evonne Hsu (许慧欣)'s "Lonely Ballet" (孤单芭蕾/Gu Dan Ba Lei) is also a cover of Lee's "Michyeo" (미쳐/Crazy).
Cyndi Wang (王心凌)'s "HONEY" is also another cover of Lee's "Summer Dance".
Jordan Chan (陈小春) Covered "I Love You Cheol Soo" in his album "Exclusive Memory" on year 2008 with track #08 "每個女人都是美人" ("Every woman is a Belle") ("Every woman is a Beauty") JP!
An Italian-Spanish group Bandidos has covered Lee's 'Wa" for their Euro-techno single called "Vamos Amigos" which became a hit in Europe. However this brought a controversy since Bandidos made the cover without permission and also neglected to credit the original.
From Lee's 1999 debut album "Let's Go to My Star," the track "I Love X" featuring Jo PD and South Korean singer Psy was re-released on his own debut album in 2001 PSY from the Psycho World! entitled "I Love Sex" - also featuring Jo PD but without Lee.
In Korea, Lee is known as "The Most Plagiarized Artist" for having many of her songs covered by international acts - in most instances without permission.[12]
In music arcade games
Lee's music has been featured in rhythm games. "Wa" and "Bakkwo" were included in the Korean dance game, 'Let's Dance'. These songs were also featured in the Korean releases of Dance Dance Revolution 3rdMix, as well as the Dance Dance Revolution 4thMix games. Also, "Nuh" (Trance Mix) was featured in ez2Dancer. Fan-made dance steps of her other works are available for DDR simulators.
Her song "Come On!" is featured in the Pump It Up NX Absolute dance machine, both a short Chinese version and the full song version appear there.
Currently, "I'll Give", "Going Crazy" and other songs are featured on Audition, an online dance-rhythm game.[13]
Discography
Korean discography
|
Japanese discography
|
Chinese discography
|
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
1996 | A Petal | Girl |
1997 | Push! Push! | Barmaid |
Maria and the Inn | Maria (at 18 years old) | |
1999 | Route 7 | |
2000 | Scent of Man | Im Seon-hee |
Harpy | Song Soo-yeon | |
2009 | Be My Guest | |
2011 | Night Fishing | Female shaman |
2012 | Juvenile Offender | Jang Hyo-seung |
2014 | The Admiral: Roaring Currents | Mrs. Jeong |
Alice in Faithful Land |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Open Your Heart | Yoo So-young | MBC | |
Seven Spoons | Jung-hye | MBC | ||
1997 | Reign: The Conqueror | |||
1998 | Legendary Ambition | Lee Jung-hee | KBS2 | |
1999 | 납량특선 8부작 | Eun-mi | SBS | |
2001 | Beautiful Days | Kim Se-na | SBS | |
2003 | Beautiful Heart | Jung-hye | BTV | Chinese television drama |
2006 | Rondo | Choi Yoon-hee | TBS | Japanese television drama |
2008 | King Sejong the Great | Lee Seon (later Shinbin Kim) | KBS1/KBS2 | |
2010 | Asia Uncut with Jon Niermann | Asia region | ||
Confucius | Nanzi | CCTV | Chinese television drama | |
2015 | The Family Is Coming | Na Joon-hee/Susan Johnson | SBS |
Variety show
Year | Title | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Infinite Challenge | MBC | Guest - episode 160-161 |
2014 | Infinite Challenge | MBC | Guest - episode 409-411 |
2015 | 2 Days & 1 Night | KBS2 | Guest - episodes 396-398 |
Video games
- 2001: Tomak: Save the Earth, a Love Story
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Grand Bell Awards | Best New Actress | A Petal | Won |
Best Actress | Nominated | |||
Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Actress | Won | ||
Korean Association of Film Critics Awards | Best New Actress | Won | ||
1997 | Cine21 Awards | Best New Actress | Won | |
1999 | Seoul Music Awards | Best New Artist | "Wa" | Won |
Golden Disk Awards | Best New Artist | Won | ||
KBS Music Awards | Best New Artist | Won | ||
MBC Top 10 Artists Awards | Best New Artist | Won | ||
Top 10 Awards | Won | |||
SBS Music Awards | New Solo Artist | Won | ||
KMTV Music Awards | Best New Artist | Won | ||
2000 | Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | "Nuh" "Peace" | Won |
Golden Disk Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | Won | ||
KBS Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | Won | ||
SBS Music Awards | Top 10 Awards | Won | ||
KMTV Music Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | ||
Music Video of the Year | "Peace" | Nominated | ||
Korea Best Dresser Awards | Best Dressed Female Singer | — | Won | |
2001 | Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | "Micheo" "Ban" | Won |
Golden Disk Awards | Best Female Solo Artist | Nominated | ||
KBS Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | Won | ||
SBS Music Awards | Top 10 Awards | Won | ||
KMTV Music Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | Won | ||
2002 | Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | New Generation Artist | "Ban" | Won |
Golden Disk Awards | Popularity Award | — | Won | |
KBS Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | "Ari Ari" | Won | |
SBS Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | Won | ||
KMTV Music Awards | Artist of the Year (Main Prize) | Won | ||
2003 | Seoul Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | "Summer Dance" | Nominated |
KBS Music Awards | Artist of the Year (Main Prize) | Won | ||
SBS Music Awards | Bonsang (Main Prize) | Nominated | ||
2005 | Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | Hallyu All Star Award | — | Won |
2006 | China Fashion Awards | Korean Artist of the Year | — | Won |
2012 | Hua Ding Awards | Best International Artist | — | Won |
2013 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Actress | Juvenile Offender | Nominated |
Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
2014 | Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Admiral: Roaring Currents | Nominated |
2015 | Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated | |
Korea Culture and Tourism Industry Awards | Hallyu Star Award | — | Won | |
Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Actress | Alice in Earnestland | Won |
Year | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Best New Solo Artist | "Come"[14] | Won |
Best Dance Performance | Won | ||
2000 | Best Female Artist | "Peace"[15][16] | Nominated |
2002 | Best Dance Performance | "Half" (반)[17] | Nominated |
2003 | Best Dance Performance | "Summer Dance" | Nominated |
2013 | Red Carpet Special Prize | — | Won |
These are a sample collection of Lee Jung-hyun's wins on Korea's televised music shows.
Year | Date | Song |
---|---|---|
1999 | November 28 | "와 (Wa)" |
December 5 | ||
2000 | January 16 | "바꿔 (Change)" |
August 6 | "너 (You)" | |
August 13 |
Year | Date | Song |
---|---|---|
1999 | November 16 | "와 (Wa)" |
November 23 | ||
November 30 | ||
2000 | August 17 | "너 (You)" |
References
- ^ http://www.ikoreatimes.com/Article/ViewArticle.aspx?p=19&q=&page=1&aid=23299#
- ^ Synopsis from "A Petal (Kkoch-ip) (1996)". KMDb Korean Movie Database. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
(help)|publisher=
- ^ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/07/wbw-lee-jung-hyun
- ^ http://www.obsnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=670753
- ^ Lee Jung-hyun, KBS World Artists Search
- ^ 이정현, 강렬한 섹시 블랙 女전사 파격변신 ‘눈길’. Newsen.com, May 11, 2009.
- ^ "Lee Jung Hyun is a Ghostly Bride in “V” Music Video". Soompi, July 22, 2013.
- ^ "Lee Jung Hyun Demands Attention in Her Freaky MV for V". enewsWorld, July 23, 2013.
- ^ Lee Hyo-won. "Lee Named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador." The Korea Times, August 23, 2007.
- ^ "Singer Lee Jung Hyun named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador." 서울신문, August 23, 2007, page 27.
- ^ Lee Jung Hyun Honorary Ambassador CICON., VisitKorea.or.kr June 22, 2012
- ^ http://tvdaily.mk.co.kr/read.php3?aid=1355819829436483010
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPqqe1XtFw
- ^ "1999 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
- ^ "2000 MMF part 1". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- ^ "2000 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list". MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
- ^ "2002 MMF part 1". Mwave. Retrieved 2014-08-17.