L (South Korean singer)

Kim Myung-soo (Korean: 김명수; born March 13, 1992), known professionally as L, is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a vocalist of boy band Infinite in 2010 and its sub-group Infinite F in 2014. He left Woollim Entertainment in August 2019 but will continue to be a member of the group.[1]

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.
L
L in 2019
Born
Kim Myung-soo

(1992-03-13) March 13, 1992
Seoul, South Korea
Alma materDaekyung University
Occupation
  • Singer
  • actor
Agent
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocal
  • Guitar
Years active2010–present
LabelsWoollim
Associated acts
Korean name
Hangul
김명수
Hanja
金明洙
Revised RomanizationGim Myeong-su
McCune–ReischauerKim Myŏng-su

Biography

Kim Myungsoo was born on March 13, 1992,[2] in Seoul, South Korea. He has a brother who is two years younger than him. Kim attended Duk-soo High School and graduated from Daekyung University on February 15, 2013, majoring in practical music.[3]

Career

2010–2016: Infinite F and acting activities

In June 2010, L officially made his debut as vocalist and visual of boy group Infinite.[4] In 2011, he made his acting debut in Japanese drama Jiu Keishicho Tokushuhan Sousagakari, which aired on TV Asahi in July.[5] In 2012, he was cast in tvN's romance comedy series Flower Band, as a guitarist of a rock group.[6] He was also cast in MBC's sitcom What's The Deal, Mom?[7]

On May 15, 2013, L released a photo essay book titled L's Bravo Viewtiful, showing photos taken by him on a 93-day journey. The book was a best-seller, and reached No. 1 in pre-orders on online bookstores such as YES24 and Kyobo.[8] In August 2013, he had a cameo in SBS's Master's Sun, playing the younger version of So Ji-sub's character.[9]

In 2014, he was cast in supporting roles in MBC's Cunning Single Lady and SBS's My Lovely Girl.[10][11]

With bandmates Sungyeol and Sungjong he comprised the subgroup Infinite F, which released a single album, Koi No Sign, in Japan on November 19, 2014, and a Korean album, Love Sign, in December 2014.[12]

In 2015, he was cast in his first film Mister Shark, about a boy who befriends a shark.[13]

In 2016, L was cast in the Korean-Chinese web drama My Catman.[14] He also starred in the drama special The Day After We Broke Up, which was his first lead role.[15]

2017–present: Rising popularity

In 2017, L starred in MBC's historical drama The Emperor: Owner of the Mask.[16] His portrayal of a commoner who stands in for the king earned viewers' approval, and he was named Actor of the Month in June by MBC Dramanet.[17]

In 2018, L starred in the legal drama Ms. Hammurabi portraying a judge.[18][19] His performance in the series was well-received, earning him increased recognition.[20][21][22]

In 2019, L starred in the fantasy romance drama Angel's Last Mission: Love.[23] In August 2019, L left Woollim Entertainment.[1]

In 2020, L is set to star in the fantasy romance drama Meow, the Secret Boy as a cat who turns into a human male.[24][25] In December 2020, L starred in historical comedy Royal Secret Agent.[26]

In February 22, 2021, L will enlist for his mandatory military service as a member of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.[27][28] Before his enlistment, he released his debut single album Memory on February 3. He will also hold an online fan meeting on February 20.[29]

Discography
Main articles: Infinite discography and Infinite F § Discography

Singles
Title Year Peak chart position Sales Album
KOR
[30]
As lead artist
"It's All For You" 2013 — N/A Non-album single
"Reminisce" 2018 — Top Seed
"Memory" (기억과 기억 사이) 2021 TBA Memory
Soundtrack appearances
"Love U Like U"
(with Kim Yerim)		 2012 27 Flower Band OST
"It's Okay Even If It's Not Me" (내가 아니어도 좋아) 2017 — N/A The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST
"The Nights That I Miss You" (널 그리는 밤) 2019 — Angel's Last Mission: Love OST
Compilation
"Go Get Her" (그녀를 잡아요)
(with Park Jae-jung)		 2016 — N/A King of Mask Singer Ep. 63
"In the Rain" (빗속에서) —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Songwriting and producing credits
Year Album Artist Song Lyrics Music
Credited With Credited With
2013 Non-album single L "It's All For You" Yes — Yes —
2018 Top Seed L "Reminisce" Yes Jeong Min-ji No —

Filmography

Television series
Year Title Role Network Notes Ref.
2011 Jiu Jiu TV Asahi Japanese drama [5]
Welcome to the Wara Store Himself Tooniverse Voice only [32][33]
2012 Flower Band Lee Hyun-soo tvN [6]
Salamander Guru and The Shadows Himself SBS Cameo, Ep. 3 [34]
What is Mom? Kim Myung-soo MBC [7]
2013 Master's Sun Joo Joong-won (young) SBS [9]
2014 Cunning Single Lady Gil Yo-han MBC [10]
My Lovely Girl Shi-woo SBS [11]
2015 The Time We Were Not in Love Ki Sung-jae Cameo, Ep. 2–4 [35]
2016 One More Time Yoo Tan KBS2, KBS Japan & Netflix Drama special [15]
My Catman Jung Ho-yeon Tencent & MBC Web drama (unreleased) [14]
2017 The Emperor: Owner of the Mask Lee Sun MBC [16]
2018 Ms. Hammurabi Im Ba-reun JTBC [18]
2019 Angel's Last Mission: Love Kim Dan KBS2 [23]
2020 Meow, the Secret Boy Hong-jo [24]
2020-2021 Royal Secret Agent Sung yi-gyeom [36]

Publication

Photobook
Year Title Publisher Ref.
2013 L's Bravo Viewtiful Tokyo [8]
L's Bravo Viewtiful Part. 2 Tokyo

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2013Korea Drama AwardsBest Young ActorMaster's SunNominated
2017Seoul Webfest AwardsBest Rising StarMy CatmanNominated
Special AwardWon[37]
Korea Drama AwardsBest New ActorThe Emperor: Owner of the MaskNominated
The Seoul AwardsPopularity Award, actorNominated
MBC Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated
Best New Actor Nominated
Popularity Award, actor Won [38]
Best Character Award, Fighting Spirit Acting Won
Korea First Brand Awards Male Acting Idol N/A Nominated
2018 12th Soompi Awards Best Idol Actor The Emperor: Owner of the Mask Nominated [39]
6th APAN Star Awards Best New Actor Ms. Hammurabi Nominated [40]
3rd Asia Artist Awards Best Icon N/A Won [41]
2019 2019 Asia Model Award Popular Star (Actor) Angel's Last Mission: Love Won [42]
12th Korea Drama Awards Best New Actor Angel's Last Mission: Love Nominated [43]
33rd KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Nominated [44]
Best New Actor Won
Netizen Award, actor Nominated
Best Couple Award with Shin Hye-sun Won
K-Drama Hallyu Star Won
2020 34th KBS Drama Awards Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Welcome Nominated

References
  1. "울림 측 "엘, 전속계약 종료‥인피니트 해체 NO"(공식입장 전문)". MBN (in Korean). August 19, 2019.
  2. Mark Russell (April 29, 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  3. "5 Infinite Members to Graduate from University Together". enewsWorld. February 15, 2013.
  4. 포토엔,인피니트,긴장되는 첫 무대~ (in Korean). Newsen. June 9, 2010. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  5. "인피니트 엘, 일드 시청률 1위 日 시끌". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). August 9, 2011.
  6. Lee, Nancy (January 6, 2012). "Infinite's L Rocks Out in Flower Boy Band Still Cuts". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
  7. "INFINITE's L may land a role in MBC sitcom". TenAsia. September 3, 2012.
  8. "인피니트 엘 포토에세이, 하루만에 베스트셀러 등극". Star Daily (in Korean). May 16, 2013.
  9. Lee, Eun-ah (July 17, 2013). "INFINITE's L to Make Cameo Appearance in So Ji-sub Drama". TenAsia. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
  10. Jeong, Jee-won (January 20, 2014). "Infinite's L Cast in Cunning Single Lady with Lee Min Jung and Joo Sang Wook". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2014.
  11. "'My Lovely Girl' blends K-pop eye-candy and romance". Kpop Herald. September 15, 2014.
  12. "Infinite F unveils first Korean EP 'Love's Sign'". Kpop Herald. December 15, 2014.
  13. "Infinite L to make silver screen debut". Kpop Herald. August 18, 2015.
  14. "'마이캣맨' 임시완X엘, 채수빈 놓고 아슬아슬 삼각로맨스 '포착'". Xports News (in Korean). September 24, 2016.
  15. "인피니트 측 "엘, 단막극으로 연기돌 도전…연기연습 중"". Osen (in Korean). October 10, 2016.
  16. "Infinite's L to star in drama as Yoo Seung-ho's double". Kpop Herald. November 24, 2016.
  17. "Korean actor Kim Myung Soo has crushes on anime characters with long, wavy hair". The Straits Times. September 28, 2017.
  18. "'Miss Hammurabi' to search for warmhearted justice". Kpop Herald. May 21, 2018.
  19. "JTBC '미스 함무라비' 고아라X김명수X성동일 캐스팅 확정". JTBC (in Korean). January 15, 2018.
  20. "Kim Myung-soo receives praise for role in 'Miss Hammurabi'". Kpop Herald. July 19, 2018.
  21. "A career shift: From Infinite to beyond : After first lead role in a drama, Kim Myung-soo is ready to take on more". Korea JoongAng Daily. July 23, 2018.
  22. "[Interview] "Miss Hamurabi's" Kim Myung-soo (L) Talks about His Future as an Actor and Solo Music". Mwave. July 18, 2018.
  23. "김명수, '단, 하나의 사랑' 출연 확정…천사 된다 [공식]". TV Report (in Korean). December 17, 2018.
  24. "L Confirms Role in KBS's "Welcome"". Hancinema. August 26, 2019.
  25. "Kim Myung Soo and Shin Ye Eun talk about their co-stars in Welcome". JTBC Plus. March 25, 2020.
  26. "Kim Myung Soo, Kwon Nara, Lee Tae Hwan, and Lee Yi Kyung Will Star in New Drama 'Royal Secret Inspector'". ZAPZEE. September 10, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  27. "[단독]김명수, 해병대 합격…내년 2월말 입소". Sports Seoul (in Korean). December 28, 2020.
  28. "[단독]김명수, 2월 22일 해병대 입대..'진짜 사나이' 된다". Spotv News (in Korean). January 22, 2021.
  29. "김명수, 2월 '해병대 입대' 전 온라인 팬미팅 연다 [단독]". Osen (in Korean). January 21, 2021.
  30. Charted songs:
  31. "Gaon Download Chart – March, 2012". n.d. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  32. "인피니트 엘, '와라! 편의점' 애니 캐릭터로 더빙도전". Ilgan Sports (in Korean). January 14, 2012.
  33. Lee, Nancy (n.d.). "Infinite Members Become Voice Actors for 'Wara! Store' Cartoon". enewsWorld. Archived from the original on December 15, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  34. "용준형 도롱뇽도사 카메오, 인피니트 엘+민호와 '꽃도둑 3인방'". The Star (in Korean). February 8, 2012.
  35. "Infinite's L talks about his role in weekend drama". Kpop Herald. July 6, 2015.
  36. "김명수, '암행어사' 출연확정…현대판 킹스맨 암행어사". mk.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  37. "'서울웹페스트 2017' 수상 후보 발표.. 30개국 124개 작품 경합". TenAsia (in Korean). July 7, 2017.
  38. "Winners of the 2017 MBC Drama Awards". Hancinema. December 30, 2017.
  39. "13th Annual Soompi Awards: The Winners". Soompi. April 16, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  40. "이병헌·손예진·아이유 APAN스타어워즈 노미네이트". Star News (in Korean). September 27, 2018.
  41. "BTS win the Daesang at Asia Artist Awards 2018 – and are among Artists of the Year". Metro. November 28, 2018.
  42. "INFINITE's L, Lai Kuanlin, Stray Kids, Lovelyz, And More Win at 2019 Asia Model Awards". Soompi. June 9, 2019.
  43. "'2019코리아드라마어워즈(KDA)' 연기대상 후보..김해숙·최수종·염정아·조정석 등". Sedaily (in Korean). September 27, 2019.
  44. "Winners of the 2019 KBS Drama Awards". HanCinema. December 31, 2019. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
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