Kim Ryeo-wook

Kim Ryeo-wook (born June 21, 1987[1]), better known by the mononym Ryeowook, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and musical actor. He is best known as a member of boy group Super Junior and its subgroups, Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M. Along with four other Super Junior members, he is one of the first Korean artists to appear on Chinese postage stamps.[2] He began a solo career in 2016 with first EP The Little Prince.

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.
Ryeowook
김려욱
Ryeowook in July 2019
Born (1987-06-21) 21 June 1987
Incheon, South Korea
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • radio personality
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • keyboard
Years active2005–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websiteryeowook.smtown.com
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Ryeo-uk
McCune–ReischauerKim Ryŏuk
Signature

Career

Pre-debut

Ryeowook was discovered through the CMB Youth ChinChin Festival in 2004 and signed a contract with SM Entertainment soon afterwards impressing the judges with his singing talent.[3] Trained in areas of singing, dancing, and acting, Ryeowook placed particular efforts into his vocal training and music composition. He plays the piano adeptly and he plays accompaniment for fellow members during their solo stages at their concerts.

Before Kyuhyun was added in 2006, Ryeowook was the last to join Super Junior several weeks before their debut in 2005. Having undergone only two months of training, Ryeowook's late addition was rumored to be a replacement of a previous SM trainee that was supposed to debut as a member of Super Junior 05 as the first generation of Super Junior.

2006–09: Debut with Super Junior, K.R.Y and Super Junior-M
See also: Super Junior, Super Junior-K.R.Y., and Super Junior-M

Ryeowook made his debut as part of the 12-member project group Super Junior 05 on 6 November 2005 on SBS' music programme Popular Songs, performing their first single, "Twins (Knock Out)".[4][5] Their debut album SuperJunior05 (Twins) was released a month later on 5 December 2005 and debuted at number three on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts.[6]

In March 2006, SM Entertainment began to recruit new members for the next Super Junior generation. However, plans changed and the company declared a halt in forming future Super Junior generations. Following the addition of thirteenth member Kyuhyun, the group dropped the suffix "05" and became officially credited as Super Junior.[7] The re-polished group's first CD single "U" was released on 7 June 2006, which was their most successful single until the release of "Sorry, Sorry" in March 2009.[8] In the fall of 2007, the group released their second album, Don't Don, which became Super Junior's best-selling album and Korea's second best-selling album of the year.[9]

In late 2006, Ryeowook, along with fellow Super Junior members Kyuhyun and Yesung, formed a subgroup named Super Junior K.R.Y., a group specializing in R&B ballads. The trio debuted on 5 November 2006 on KBS' Music Bank with performing Hyena soundtrack called "The One I Love".[10] Ryeowook made his acting debut in 2007, in the film, Attack on the Pin-Up Boys, a high-school comedy/mystery film, in which he plays the eccentric vice president of the student council.[11] He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Comedic Performance at the Korean Movie Awards.

In April 2008, he was put into seven-member sub-group Super Junior-M, a Mandopop subgroup of Super Junior for the Chinese music industry. They debuted in China at the 8th Annual Music Chart Awards, simultaneously with the release of their first music video, "U" on 8 April 2008. This was followed by the release of the debut Chinese-language studio album, Me in selected provinces in China on 23 April and 2 May in Taiwan.[12]

In November 2012, Super Junior K.R.Y. held a concert tour in Japan, Super Junior K.R.Y. Special Winter Concert. They announced that they would be releasing their first single six years after debut. The teaser for Promise You was released on 21 November 2012, followed by the single on 23 January 2013.[13] It debuted at number two on the Oricon's daily singles chart.[14]

2009–2018: Solo activities

Ryeowook's first composition to be officially released was "Love U More", in the repackaged Sorry, Sorry Version C. He co-wrote the lyrics with fellow Super Junior] member Sungmin. Ryeowook is also credited for musical arrangement in the liner notes of the album.

Ryeowook featured in K.Will's 2009 song "Dropping the Tears". He is also the first member of Super Junior to sing a solo track included in their album, "One Fine Spring Day" was released in Bonamana.

Ryeowook made his musical theatre debut in Temptation of Wolves alongside Park Hyung-sik of ZE:A and Lim Jeong-hee. It ran from 14 July to 30 October 2011 at the COEX Artium.[15]

On 16 and 23 June, following the footsteps of bandmates Yesung and Kyuhyun, Ryeowook joined KBS' Immortal Songs 2 with Sunggyu of Infinite, where singers render their own versions of songs from music legends and winners are selected by voting.[16] He took first place in the 11 August episode where singers Lee Sang-woo and Lee Sang-eun were guests.[17] He recorded his last episode on 16 August, which was broadcast on 25 August.[18]

On 28 September 2014, Ryeowook left for Japan to perform in "The Goddess is Watching (여신님보고계셔)" in Setagaya Public Theatre in Tokyo. He performed from 30 September to 7 October with a total of five performances. He acted as Ryu Sun-ho, a teenage North Korean soldier which suffered from PTSD and was abandoned in an uninhabited island after an unexpected storm with three other North Korean soldiers and two South Korean soldiers. His role as Ryu won him critical acclaim.

On 8 January 2015, it was revealed that Ryeowook had been cast in the musical Agatha in the lead role of Raymond because of his petite frame.[19] In 2015-2016 Ryeowook starred in the theatrical play "The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time" playing the lead role of autistic Christopher, his most challenging role to date.

On 9 September 2018, Ryeowook was selected to guest at world renowned soprano, Jo Sumi's concert.

Ryeowook's career went beyond singing and acting into hosting as he garnered praises for his MC position on Super Idol Chart Show. Shortly after, he undertook yet another variety show hosting gig on Enter K. In 2018, after his army discharge, he hosted KBS's “A Song For You".

2016–present: Solo debut

Ryeowook made his solo debut in 2016.[20]

Ryeowook debut solo album's title is The Little Prince. The release of The Little Prince was not only anticipated as Ryeowook's first official solo album since his debut 11 years ago but it is also because it is the first release under Super Junior's own label, Label SJ, established by SM Entertainment in 2015 during the group's 10th anniversary.[21][22] The title track bearing the same name as the album is a ballad inspired by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novel The Little Prince.[23] The title track "The Little Prince" is a ballad song and a conversation between a man in pain from love and The Little Prince.[24]

In addition to Ryeowook's solo promotions and album release, he held his first solo concert through SMTOWN's The Agit series called "Ever Lasting Star - RyeoWook" from 19 February until 21 February at the SMTOWN's Coex Artium in Samseong-dong, Seoul.[23]

Artistry

Ryeowook possesses a wide lyric tenor vocal range and timbre. He has also been known for his frequent usage of falsettos.[25][26] South Korean operatic singer Sumi Jo, whom he collaborated with for a formal performance, praised his musicianship. She called his skills "outstanding"; acknowledged his professionalism on stage.[27]

With his second EP, Drunk on Love, Young Post noticed a variety of genres and styles interpolated: from a pop ballad-like style; jazz; R&B; and to more of a style reminiscing of lounge music.[26]

Personal life

On 24 February 2012, Ryeowook graduated from Inha University with a major in theater and film studies.[28]

Ryeowook enlisted for his military service on 11 October 2016,[29] and was discharged on July 10, 2018.[30]

On 29 September 2020, Ryeowook confirmed that he is in a relationship with Kim Sun-young, also known as Ari, a former member of the girl group Tahiti. Super Junior's label, Label SJ, released an official statement confirming the relationship on the same day.[31]

Discography

Extended plays
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[32]		 US
World
[33]
The Little Prince
  • Released: January 28, 2016
  • Label: SM Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 15
Drunk on Love
  • Released: January 2, 2019
  • Label: SM Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. "I'm Not Over You (너에게)" - 4:37
  2. "One and Only (우리의 거리)" - 3:38
  3. "Drunk in the Morning (취해)" - 3:30
  4. "Without You" - 3:26
  5. "Something Good" - 3:32
  6. "Sugar" - 3:32
  7. "The 2nd Story (파란별)" - 4:46
 2—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales
(DL)		 Album
KOR
[36]		 JPN
[37]
"The Little Prince" 2016 16— The Little Prince
"One and Only" 2018 —— Drunk On Love
"I'm Not Over You" 2019 ——
"Drunk in the Morning" ——
Japanese
"Sakura no Hana ga Sakukoro"
(桜の花が咲く頃)		 2019 —22 Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Collaborations
Title Year Peak chart
positions		 Sales
(DL)		 Album
KOR
[39]		 US World
[40]
"Wish"
(with TVXQ, Kyuhyun)		 2008 — — Mirotic
"Falling In Love With A Friend"
(with Beige)		 2010 49 — Non-album single
"Cosmic"
(with Bada)		 2016 — — SM Station Season 1
Starry Night
(with Zhou Mi)		 2020 — 23 Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances
Title Year Peak chart
positions		 Sales
(DL)		 Album
KOR
[41]		 KOR
Hot.
[42]
"Smile Again" 2010 —— N/A Home Sweet Home OST
"Biting My Lips"
(with Kyuhyun, Sungmin)		 60— The President OST
"Just Like Now"
(with Donghae)		 97— It's Okay, Daddy's Girl OST
"If You Love Me More" 2011 76— Spy Myung-wol OST
"Start of Something New"
(with Luna)		 2013 —— N/A High School Musical OST
"Maybe Tomorrow" —92 The Queen's Classroom OST
"A Love Story of Country-side Boy" 2019 — — N/A Neighbourhood Album Chung Ju OST
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other charted songs
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales
(DL)		 Album
KOR
[44]
"Like A Star" 2016 141 A Little Prince
"People You May Know" 161
"Poom" 166
"Hello" 174
"Foxy Girl" 189

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRole
2007Attack on the Pin-Up BoysStudent body vice president
2010Super Show 3 3DHimself
2012I AM. - SM Town Live World Tour in Madison Square Garden
2013Super Show 4 3D

Variety shows
YearTitleRoleNetworkNote(s)
2014-2015Super Idol Chart ShowHostMnet
2015-2016Enter KYTN
2015The Friends in SwitzerlandCast memberK-StarWith Leeteuk
2016 Very Private TVFixed castMBC Every 1
Celebrity BromanceCast memberMBC TVSeason 3, with Park Hyung-sik
2018 Sales King TVCast memberChannel A
Global Request Show - A Song For YouMCKBSSeason 5
2019 Neighbourhood AlbumHostTV ChosunWith Lovelyz's Sujeong, KCM, Kwon Hyuk Soo

Musical/Theatre
YearTitleRole
2011Temptation of WolvesJung Tae Sung
2013High School MusicalTroy Bolton
2014Goddess is WatchingRyu Sun Ho
2015-2016AgathaRaymond
Goddess is WatchingRyu Sun Ho
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeChristopher
2018-2019 Flaming SonataJ
2019 Around ThirtyHyungsik
2020 Sonata of the Flame J

Radio
YearNameNetwork
2009KBS News 10KBS 2R
2011–2016Super Junior Kiss the RadioKBS 2FM

Concert
  • Everlasting Star (2016)

Awards and nominations
Further information: List of awards and nominations received by Super Junior
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2007 Korean Movie Awards Best Supporting Actor Attack on the Pin-Up Boys Nominated
Best Comedic Performance Nominated
2012 2011 Golden Ticket Awards[47] Musical Up and Comer Award Temptation of the Wolves Nominated
2015 KBS Entertainment Awards Radio DJ Award Kiss The Radio Won

References
  1. Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  2. "Super Junior-M to appear on postage stamps". Newsen (in Korean). 8 December 2008. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  3. Lee Sul-young (4 June 2009). 디지털케이블TV쇼 개막…케이블TV, 집 밖으로 나오다 [Opening of digital cable TV... Cable TV from houses]. Naver (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. "2005 Super Junior's official debut" Ent.hunantv.com. Retrieved 2011-12-25 (in Chinese)
  5. "SM Unveils 12-Membered Boy Group Named Super Junior" Arirang.co.kr. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 2011-12-25
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  8. "SuperJunior releases third studio album" Archived 2009-03-18 at the Wayback Machine Epaper.jinghua.cn. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 2011-12-25 (in Chinese)
  9. "Super Junior, SG Wananbe first and second place in 2007 album sales". Moneytoday (in Korean). 12 December 2007. p. 1. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
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  19. "김수로의 새로운 도전, 뮤지컬 '아가사' 최정원·려욱 등 화려한 캐스팅 공개" Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine, "Korea Economic Daily", Korea, 8 January 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
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