Yong Jun-hyung

Yong Jun-hyung (Hangul: 용준형; born December 19, 1989),[1] commonly known as Junhyung, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor. He was a member of the K-pop boy band Highlight (formerly known as Beast) from 2009 until 2019, when he departed the group after admitting to viewing illicit videos.[2][3] The police have stated that he is only being considered a witness at this point in time in the Burning Sun scandal.[4]

Yong Jun-hyung
Junhyung in May 2018
Born	Yong Jae-soon December 19, 1989 Seoul, South Korea
Occupation	Singer-songwriter rapper record producer actor
Musical career
Genres	K-pop R&B hip hop
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Around Us Cube
Associated acts	Xing Highlight

Korean name
Hangul	용준형
Revised Romanization	Yong Jun-hyeong
McCune–Reischauer	Yong Chunhyŏng
Birth name
Hangul	용재순
Revised Romanization	Yong Jae-sun
McCune–Reischauer	Yong Chaesun

As a solo artist he released one extended play, Flower (2013), and one full-length album, Goodbye 20's (2018).[5][6] His also starred in the Korean dramas Monstar (2013) and Coffee, Do Me a Favor (2018).[7][8]

Early life

Junhyung was born in Seoul, South Korea. He changed his birth name Yong Jae-soon (Korean: 용재순) to his current name when he was in 6th grade.[9] In 2007, he joined the boy band Xing, which included Kevin Woo (ex-U-KISS). Junhyung was known by the stage name Poppin' Dragon while in Xing.[10]

Career

Beast/Highlight

Junhyung debuted under Cube Entertainment as a member of the boy band Beast in 2009. The group released their first extended play Beast Is the B2ST on October 14, 2009.[11] The group released a total of eight extended plays and three studio albums.[12][13]

In 2016, Beast left Cube Entertainment, and formed their own label, Around Us Entertainment. The group debuted under the new name of Highlight.[14] As Highlight, they released two extended plays.[15]

Solo activities

In 2010, Junhyung was featured as a rapper in songs by other artists, including Hyuna's debut single "Change,"[16] the Asian remix of Amerie's "Heard 'em All,"[17] and G.NA's single "I'll Back Off So You Can Live Better."[18] In 2011, Junhyung was featured on the songs "Heartsore Story" by Wheesung,[19] "A Bitter Day" by Hyuna,[20] "Be Quiet" by Kim Wan-sun,[21] and "Don't Act Countrified" by ALi.[22]

Junhyung released his first solo single, "Living Without You," on February 3, 2012.[23] The song reached #8 on the Gaon Digital Chart.[24] That summer, he made a cameo appearance on the sitcom Salamander Guru and The Shadows.[25] Later that year, Junhyung produced fellow Beast member Yang Yo-seob's debut solo EP, The First Collage, and was featured on the lead single, "Caffeine."[26]

In February 2013, Junhyung released the single "You Got Some Nerve" with LE of EXID and Feeldog of Big Star.[27] The song reached #13 on the Gaon Digital Chart.[28] Starting in May, Junhyung starred in the Korean drama Monstar, alongside Ha Yeon-soo and Kang Ha-neul.[29] The series aired on Mnet and wrapped up in August.[30] Junhyung won Best New Actor at the 2013 Korean Drama Awards for his depiction of a teen idol in the series.[31]

Junhyung released his debut solo EP, Flower, on December 13, 2013.[32] The EP debuted at #4 on the Gaon Album Chart,[33] and the title track "Flower" peaked at #23 on the Gaon Digital Chart.[34]

In 2015, Junhyung starred in the Cube Entertainment online reality series, Yong Jun-hyung's Good Life, alongside his songwriting and music production partner Kim Tae-joo.[35] From 2016 to 2017, he co-hosted the third season of the variety show Hitmaker alongside comedian Jeong Hyeong-don.[36][37] In 2017, Junhyung was also a cast member on the first season of the variety show It's Dangerous Beyond the Blankets.[38] He returned to the show for the second season in 2018.[39]

Junhyung released his first solo full-length album, Goodbye 20's, on May 9, 2018.[40] The album debuted at #2 on the Gaon Album Chart.[41] That year, he also starred in the Korean drama, Coffee, Do Me a Favor, which is based on the webtoon of the same name.[8]

Departure

On March 11, 2019, Jun-hyung was accused of being a part of the group chatroom with Jung Joon-young where Jung shared hidden camera footage and sexually explicit images.[3][42] On March 12, it was revealed that Jun-hyung's part in the group chat was actually edited in, and it has been confirmed that Jung and Jun-hyung had a one-on-one chat room with each other, but Jun-hyung was not a part of the group chatroom where the hidden camera footage and photos were shared.[43] On March 14, Jun-hyung announced he was leaving Highlight, after he admitted to watching illegal videos sent to him by Jung, who is under investigation for secretly filming women during sex; a part of the Burning Sun scandal.[3][44] The police stated that he is being considered only as a witness at this point in time.[4]

On April 2, Around Us Entertainment announced Jun's military enlistment through an official statement.[45]

Discography

• Goodbye 20's (2018)

Filmography

Reality shows

Year	Title	Network	Role	Notes	Ref.
2015	Yong Jun-hyung's Good Life	Cube TV	Himself	With Kim Tae-joo	[35]

Variety shows

Year	Title	Network	Role	Notes	Ref.
2016–2017	Hitmaker Season 3	MBC Every1	Host	Co-hosted with Jeong Hyeong-don	[36]
2017–2018	It's Dangerous Beyond the Blankets	MBC	Cast member	Ep. 1-4 (Season 1) Ep. 8-10 (Season 2)	[38]

Dramas

Year	Title	Network	Role	Notes	Ref.
2012	Salamander Guru and The Shadows	SBS	Joker	Cameo	[25]
2013	Monstar	Mnet	Yoon Seol-chan	Lead role	[7]
2018	Coffee, Do Me a Favor	Channel A	Im Hyun-woo	Lead role	[8]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2013	7th Mnet 20's Choice Awards	20's Hot Cover Music – "Past Days"	Monstar	Nominated
		20's Booming Star – Male		Nominated
	6th Korea Drama Awards	Best Couple Award with Ha Yeon-soo		Nominated
		Best New Actor		Won
2018	MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards	Artist of the Year	N/A	Nominated	[46][47]
		Song of the Year	"Sudden Shower" (Feat. 10 cm)	Nominated
		Male Artist Award	N/A	Nominated
		Rap/Hip Hop Music Award	"Sudden Shower" (Feat. 10 cm)	Nominated
		Genie Music Popularity Award	N/A	Nominated
	Melon Music Awards	Top 10 (Bonsang)		Nominated
		Best Ballad Track Award	"Sudden Shower" (Feat. 10 cm)	Nominated
	Korea Popular Music Awards	Best Digital Song		Nominated	[48]
		Best Artist	N/A	Nominated
		Popularity Award		Nominated
	Seoul Music Awards	Bonsang		Nominated	[49]
		Popularity Award		Nominated
		K-wave Popularity Award		Nominated
	Golden Disc Awards	Bonsang (Digital)	"Sudden Shower" (Feat. 10 cm)	Nominated	[50]
	Gaon Chart Music Awards	Song of the Year (March)		Nominated

References

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6. Yu, Cheong-hui (2018-04-26). "용준형, 첫 솔로 정규 앨범 'GOODBYE 20's' 예약 판매 시작". Ten Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-11-15.
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50. "33rd Golden Disc Awards Announces Nominees". Soompi. December 7, 2018.

External links

• Yong Jun-hyung at IMDb
• Yong Jun-hyung at HanCinema