Lee Jong-hyun is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor and musician. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist for the K-pop boy band CNBLUE before leaving the band in 2019.
Wiki/Biography
Lee Jong-hyun was born on Tuesday, May 15, 1990 (age 30 in 2020) in Busan, South Korea. His zodiac sign is Taurus.
Lee Jong-hyun’s childhood
When he was about four years old, his family moved to Japan. Later, they moved back to Busan. He attended Busan Songdo Elementary School, Busan Songdo Middle School, and Busan Gyeongnam Commercial High School. When he moved to Seoul to pursue a music career, he studied at the Seoul School of Performing Arts. He graduated from Kyung Hee Cyber University in Seoul.
appearance
Height: 5′ 11.6″ (182 cm)
Eye color: Black
Hair color: Black
Family and Race
He has two older sisters.
Lee Jong Hyun and his family attended his sister’s wedding
He once had a relationship with a girl named Suzy.
Profession
Agency: FNC Entertainment
As a member of CNBLUE
When a talent scout from FNC Entertainment (then FNC Music) came to Busan to contact Jung Yong Hwa (actor, member of CNBLUE), he spotted Lee Jong Hyun and suggested that he audition for their company. Jong Hyun auditioned, passed, and began to learn bass techniques at the FNC Academy. The band consisted of four members including Lee Jong Hyun, the other members were Jung Yong Hwa, Kang Min Hyuk, and Kong Kwang Jin. In early 2009, the band (CNBLUE) held its first performance in Japan at the entrance of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. By mid-June 2009, the band began to perform live on the streets and in clubs. On August 19, 2009, CNBLUE released the EP “Now or Never” in Japan, with Jonghyun as the leader. This EP was entirely in English and failed to enter the music charts.
That same year, Kong Kwang-jin quit the band and Lee Jung-shin replaced him. Their second EP, Voice, which was available in English and Japanese, became the 227th album and stayed on the charts for two weeks. On January 14, 2010, CNBLUE debuted in South Korea with the EP Bluetory.
“I’m a Loner” from the album was their first Korean single. On January 15, 2010, the band made their first televised stage performance on KBC Music Bank.
The band released its first Japanese album, Thank U, in 2010.
CNBLUE has released several Japanese albums and EPs, including 392 (2011), Code Name Blue (2011), What Turns You On? (2013), Wave (2014), Colors (2015), Euphoria (2016), and Stay Gold (2017). CNBLUE released its first Korean album, First Step, in 2011.
The band released several Korean albums and EPs, such as First Step +1 Thank You (2011), Ear Fun (2013), Can’t Stop (2014), 2gether (2015), Blueming (2016), and 7ºCN (2017). Several of the band’s hit singles (in Japanese and Korean) include I’m a Loner, Intuition, Hey You, I’m Sorry, Cinderella, Where You Are, Robot, Truth, White, Puzzle, and Shake. In 2019, he quit CNBLUE after facing backlash for sending inappropriate messages to a YouTuber, which drew attention to his involvement in South Korea’s “Burning Sun Scandal” (2019).
As a solo artist
In 2012, his debut single “My Love” was released as part of the soundtrack for the Korean drama A Gentleman’s Dignity.
He released his debut studio album Sparkling Night in Japan in July 2016. The album peaked at number 7 on the Oricon album chart and number 9 on Billboard Japan magazine’s Hot Albums.
He has another Japanese album, Metropolis (2018). He made his showbiz debut with the anthology film Acoustic (2010) alongside CNBLUE member Kang Min Hyuk. He played the role of “Kim Sung Won” in the Bakery Attack segment.
In May 2012, he made his Korean drama debut with “A Gentleman’s Dignity” as “Collin Black”.
Lee Jong Hyun in a scene from “A Gentleman’s Dignity”
He has appeared in many Korean dramas, including Orange Marmalade (2015), My Only Love Song (2017), Lingerie Girls’ Generation (2017), and That Man Oh Soo (2018). He made his Japanese film debut as Do Hyun in Desire to Live (2018).
Desire for Life (2018)
Awards and Honors (as a CNBLUE member)
- 2015 Popular Chinese Music Festival – Foreign Pop Group Award
- SBS Gayo Daejeon – 2014 Syrup Best Band Award
- 2014 Yin Yue Tai V Chart Awards Ceremony – Best Band Award
- 2013 Gaon Chart Music Awards – Hallyu Special Award
- Received the commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Korean government in 2011
- 2010 Seoul Music Awards – Newcomer Award
CNBLUE’s acceptance speech at the Seoul Music Awards
Golden Disc Award
- Disk Bonsang for First Step (2012), Re: Blue (2014), Can’t Stop (2015) and 2gether (2016)
CNBLUE gave a speech at the Golden Disc Awards
- In 2010, he won the Digital Music Award for the songs ‘I’m a Loner’ and ‘Love’, in 2012 he won the Digital Music Award for the song ‘Intuition’, and in 2014 he won the Digital Music Award for the song ‘I’m Sorry’.
- Popularity Award in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
- 2012 Best Asian Group Award
Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA)
- 2010 Best New Male Vocalist (song ‘Love’)
CNBLUE gave a speech after winning the Mnet Asian Music Awards
- Best Band Performance for “Intuition” in 2011, “Can’t Stop” in 2015, “Cinderella” in 2015, and “You’re So Fine” in 2016
Melon Music Awards (MMA)
- 2010 Best Newcomer Award
CNBLUE gave a speech at the Melon Music Awards
- Musical Style – Best Rock: 2011 “Intuition” and 2014 “Can’t Stop”
Awards and achievements (as a solo artist)
- 2012 SBS Drama Awards – Rising Star Award for Korean Drama “A Gentleman’s Dignity”
Lee Jong Hyun gave his acceptance speech at the SBS Drama Awards
- 2013 22nd Seoul Music Awards Best Original Song Award for “My Love” from the Korean drama “Gentleman’s Dignity”
sign
Lee Jong Hyun’s signature
dispute
- In June 2016, Jonghyun and another member of CNBLUE were investigated for suspected insider trading of FNC shares after learning about the news that FNC Entertainment had signed a famous artist. Jonghyun did not confirm whether the news was reported and bought the shares. However, he soon realized that it was a mistake to sell the shares and kept the matter secret, which got him into trouble. The other member was found not guilty, while Jonghyun was fined 20 million won (12.32 million rupees) for the charges.
- Burning Sun Scandal (February 2018 – February 2019): Lee Seung-hyun, popularly known as “Seungri”, a member of one of the most influential Korean K-pop bands, Big Bang, is also an entrepreneur who owns a club called “Burning Sun”. The club (Burning Sun) was involved in one of the biggest scandals in South Korea, involving many of South Korea’s biggest stars, with allegations of sexual assault, prostitution, drug trafficking, hidden camera footage, tax evasion, and police corruption. Jonghyun was one of the celebrities who was found to be involved in the scandal. Although Jonghyun denied his involvement in the scandal, the 8pm news show reported Jonghyun’s involvement in the scandal; providing evidence that he had chatted with Jung Joon-hyung (singer-songwriter and the culprit of the scandal) in a one-on-one chat room, where they had lewd conversations and made derogatory remarks about women. Later, he admitted to watching a sex video shared by Jung Joon-hyung and making derogatory remarks about women.
- In August 2019, a YouTuber named Park Min-jung posted screenshots of inappropriate messages Lee Jong-hyun had sent her. This exposed Lee Jong-hyun’s involvement in the Burning Sun scandal; FNC Entertainment subsequently issued an official statement on behalf of Lee Jong-hyun, announcing his withdrawal from CNBLUE and apologizing for his behavior and inappropriate behavior.
Favorite things
- Guitarists: Richie Kotzen, Eric Clapton
Facts/Trivia
- His hobbies are acting, singing and playing guitar. He also enjoys fishing and skiing.
- CNBLUE revealed the members’ English names at the concert, and Jonghyun’s English name is “John”.
- Before his debut, he was Ulzzang of BEST NINE. Ulzzang stands for “good-looking person” and the term is very popular in Korea. People who want to be famous sign up for the competition and are chosen by voters.
Lee Jong-hyun in his teenage years
- On the way to the FNC auditions, he met CNBlue member Jung Young-hwa in Seoul, and the two later met Kang Min-hyuk at the auditions, and all three of them eventually passed the auditions.
- Before he became a K-pop sensation, he was a judo athlete who won gold at a judo championship in his hometown during high school. After being defeated in a judo match in just seconds, he realized judo wasn’t for him and turned his attention to music.
- After realizing his love for music, he began to learn piano, and one day he heard British singer-songwriter and guitarist Eric Clapton playing guitar while watching TV, and the idea of learning guitar came to him.
- In December 2013, Jonghyun formed the duo “Romantic J” with fellow label singer-songwriter Juniel. The duo released the single “Love Falls”, with music by Jonghyun and lyrics by Juniel. The song peaked at number 27 on the Melon Chart.
- Jonghyun enlisted in the military in August 2018. In March 2020, it was reported that he would be discharged on March 25, 2020, due to COVID-19 protocols.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education