Get to Know Shinhwa
Shinwha is a South Korean boy band that debuted on March 24th, 1998, under SM Entertainment. The band consists of members, namely Eric, Lee Min-woo, Dongwan, Hyesung, Junjin, and Andy who was activated and has been promoting their group with SM Entertainment for five years. When their contract with SM Entertainment expired in July 2003, they signed a new contract with Good Entertainment. Shinwha worked under Good Entertainment for four years, the period between 2004 and 2008. Then lastly, they have been active under Shinwha Company, from 2011 until now.
Shinhwa’s Members Profiles
Let’s get closer to the legendary K-Pop idols, who are handsome and full of charismatic aura, Shinwha!
Eric
Stage Name: Eric
Real Name: Mun Jung Hyuk
English Name: Eric Mun
Place and Date of Birth: South Korea, February 16th, 1979
Age: 40 years old
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Position: Leader, Main Rapper
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 71 kg
Blood Type: B
Education: Dongguk University
Family: Parents, Two Older Sisters, One Older Brother
Spouse: Na Hye-mi (Married in 2017)
Occupation: Singer, Actor, Producer
Facts about Eric:
- He was born in South Korea but grew up in Fullerton, California-USA.
- He can play the clarinet and the saxophone.
- Eric’s hobbies are rapping, basketball, snowboarding, driving, and fishing.
- He has acted in some k-dramas, such as Another Miss Oh, Phoenix, Que Sera Sera, and more.
- He owns the company Top Class Entertainment that produced the idol group named Stellar.
Lee Min-woo
Stage Name: Lee Min-woo
Real Name: Lee Min-woo
Nickname: Cool guy, Mang Chi (Hammer)
Place and Date of Birth: South Korea, July 28th, 1979
Age: 39 years old
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Position: Lead Vocalist, Main Dancer
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 64 kg
Blood Type: A
Education: Daejeon University
Family: Parents, Older Sisters, Older Brother, Younger Brother
Occupation: Singer, Actor, Entrepreneur
Instagram: @mystyle79
Facts about Lee Min-woo:
- His hobbies are drawing and listening to music.
- He is good at breakdancing and beatboxing.
- He is known as the solo artist M.
- Min-woo signed as a solo artist under Liveworks Company.
- M Rising Entertainment is his own company.
- Had to pay off his family debt.
- Co-CEO of Shinwha Company with Eric Mun.
Dongwan
Stage Name: Dongwan
Real Name: Kim Dong-wan
Place and Date of Birth: South Korea, November 21st, 1979
Age: 39 years old
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Position: Vocalist
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Blood Type: O
Education: Daejeon Business University Music Major
Family: Parents
Occupation: Singer, Actor
Instagram: @danedwkim11
Facts about Dongwan:
- He can play the piano and the guitar.
- He admitted having done plastic surgery after his nose injury.
- Dongwan’s hobbies are snowboarding, mountain climbing, photography, and traveling.
- He acted in many k-dramas, such as Cheer Up, Moorim School, and more.
- Dongwan signed as a solo artist under Liveworks Company.
Hyesung
Stage Name: Hyesung or Shin Hye-sung
Real Name: Jung Pil-gyo
English Name: Steve Jung
Nickname: Sonic
Place and Date of Birth: South Korea, November 27th, 1979
Age: 39 years old
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Position: Main Vocalist
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 65 kg
Blood Type: A
Education: Chung An University, English Major
Family: Parents, Younger Brother
Occupation: Singer
Instagram: @shinhyesung_official
Facts about Hyesung:
- He is fluent in English.
- He is a composer for songs of Shinhwa.
- His hobby is listening to music.
- Hyesung has a black belt in Taekwondo.
- He didn’t go to the military because of his leg injury.
- Hyesung signed as a solo artist under Liveworks Company.
Junjin
Stage Name: Junjin
Real Name: Park Choong-jae
Place and Date of Birth: South Korea, August 19th, 1980
Age: 38 years old
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Position: Lead Rapper, Lead Dancer, Vocalist
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Blood Type: B
Education: Gyeonggi University
Family: Parents, Younger Sister
Occupation: Singer, Actor
Facts about Junjin:
- He starred in the K-dramas Forbidden Love, Banjun Drama, Queen of Housewives, and many more.
- He is also a solo artist.
- Junjin’s hobby is working out.
- Junjin has a tattoo on his back.
Andy
Stage Name: Andy
Real Name: Lee Sun-ho
English Name: Andy Lee (His name before was Jason Lee then SM Entertainment changed into Andy Lee)
Nickname: Bogus
Place and Date of Birth: South Korea, January 21st, 1981
Age: 37 years old
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Position: Rapper, Maknae
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 62 kg
Blood Type: O
Education: Korean Kent Foreign Language
Family: Parents, Older Sister
Occupation: Singer, Producer
Instagram: @andyofficial_
Facts about Andy:
- His hobbies are playing volleyball, basketball, and dancing.
- He is the owner of the company called T.O.P Media that manages some well-known boy bands, such as Teen Top, 100%, and UP10TION.
- Andy was forced to go to hiatus because of his gambling controversy in late 2013.
- He spent his childhood in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California-US.
Shinhwa’s Debut Date
Shinhwa celebrated their 20th debut anniversary ‘Shinhwa 20 Fan Party – All Your Dream’ in late 2018. The band that is known as the legendary idol band in the K-Pop industry, grew up even more and is on the way to their 21st anniversary since their debut in 1998. Shinhwa is the formation band that debuted under SM Entertainment as the first generation K-Pop idols, alongside H.O.T, Fin.K.L, G.O.D, and S.E.S that have the production to win the entertainment market industry these days.
The six members who joined in one band called Shinhwa debuted on March 24th, 1998, under SM Entertainment. They had signed a contract for five years, to 2003, and discontinued their contract with SM Entertainment after it expired in July 2003. After that, they signed a new contract with their new agency Good Entertainment in the same year. Shinhwa contract with Good Entertainment started in 2004, so the members were active with their solo activities while waiting for their new activities with the new agency.
Shinhwa worked under Good Entertainment for four years, between 2004 and 2008. After that, the members took a hiatus as a band because of their military duty. In 2011, Shinhwa started their activities again with their new agency, Shinhwa Company, continuing their career as a band up until today. In the past, Shinhwa proved to their lovely fans Shinhwa Changjo and to the public that they can stand together as a band until now. Is it great, right?
Shinhwa’s Debut Song
Shinhwa made their debut with the single album Resolver, on May 9th, which has three tracks inside the single album, “Resolver,” “Eusha! Eusha!,” and “Sharing Forever.” Unfortunately, their debut song was not very successful and Shinhwa was accused of lacking originality and duplicating their labelmate H.O.T in borrowing certain familiar sound. The debut song “Resolver” underperformed commercially and they almost disbanded that time. The same year, 1998, Shinhwa also faced a problem with the Sokcho submarine incident embroiled in controversies because of the “Eusha! Eusha!” music video that tells a story about a fun trip.
In April 1999, Shinhwa made a comeback with their new single “T.O.P (Twinkling of Paradise)” and received a positive response. The second single “Yo” also was promoted but not rising well as T.O.P. Fortunately, the debut album sold 377,500 copies and charted for 24 weeks on the Korean monthly chart and for the first time, Shinhwa received an award from Mnet Asian Music Awards in The Best Music Video of New Male Group category.
In May 2000 Shinhwa entered history because their album Only One became their first debut at the top chart. The album has three booming title tracks, “Only One,” “All Your Dream,” and “First Love” that was sold in over 423,000 copies. With this album Shinhwa received three awards that year, those are SBS Gayo Popularity Award, KMTV Song Bonsang Award, and The Popular Singer Award.
It would seem that Shinwha’s rise in popularity didn’t stop here. With the release of their fourth album, on June 8th, 2001, especially two singles, “Hey, Come On!” and “Wild Eyes,” they occupied the 11th rank on the end of year chart and the album sold over 430,700 copies.
Shinhwa’s Debut Stage
Shinhwa’s stage at the Music Tank on March 23rd, 1998, was their debut performance live of their song “Resolver” and they were introduced as a band to the public.
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