Introducing to you guys my current favorite artist: Kim Jong Kook
Name: Kim Jong Kook (김종국)
Birth Date: April 25,
1977
Family: Parents, 1
Older Brother
Education: Myeong Hak
Elementary School, Shin Seong Middle and High School, Han Se University, Dan
Kook University Postgraduate
Hobby/Interest:
Sports (Weights, Soccer, Boxing), Soccer Game
Blood Type: A
Religion: Buddhism
Nickname: Bear
Management Company:JK
Entertainment
Soccer
Team:Entertainer Soccer Team FC Super Reds System
Official Website:Kim
Jong Kook's Official Website
Fan Clubs: Official
Korean Fan Club,Kim Jong Kook Global (KJK Global), KJK Chinese Fan Club,
Papitus
Debut: Sep 1, 1995
Turbo group & Dec 6, 2001 Solo
Turbo Albums:
09/06/1995 -- Turbo
1st album 280 Km/H Speed
08/14/1996 -- Turbo
2nd album New Sensation
11/29/1996 -- Carol
Album X-Mas Dance Party Mix with Turbo
06/24/1997 -- Turbo
Summer Remix
10/22/1997 -- Turbo
3rd album Born Again
10/17/1998 -- Turbo
4th album Perfect Love
07/15/1999 --
Millenium Turbo Dance Megamix
01/27/2000 -- Turbo
5th album E-Mail My Heart
06/19/2001 -- Turbo
History Best
Solo Albums:
09/29/2010 -- Kim
Jong Kook Remake Album 'Song'
01/27/2010 -- 6th album Eleventh Story
10/22/2008 -- 5th album Here I Am
04/13/2006 -- 4th album Kim Jong Kook's Fourth Letter
07/01/2005 -- 3rd album This Is Me
06/18/2004 -- 2nd album Evolution
12/13/2001 -- 1st album Renaissance
Digital Singles :
04/13/2009 -- Kim
Jong Kook Trot Digital Single (Dda Jwo / Give To Me)
03/05/2009 -- Kim
Jong Kook Digital Single (Haengbok Pyeong / Happy Virus ft Shorry J)
11/23/2007 -- Turbo
& Kim Jong Kook Digital Mini Album "2007 Hwesang (Recollection)"
01/04/2008 -- Turbo
& Kim Jong Kook Digital Mini Album "2007 Hwesang (Recollection) part
2"
December 2005 -- Kim
Jong Kook Digital Single (White Love (ft. Mikey)) and 회상 (Hwesang / December (ft. Epik High))
Others:
6/22/2004 -- featured
in Kim Jang Hoon's digital single "Highway Romance"
12/24/2004 --
participated in a various artist recording of "When That Day Comes"
12/01/2005 -- Big 4
Voices of My Dream Digital Single "Untouchable" with SG Wannabe and M
To M
11/15/2006 -- S.101
Digital Single "I'll Follow You (ParamMan ParamMan)" with SG Wannabe
11/16/2010 -- Soya
Digital Single "I Love You Everyday (feat. Kim Jong Kook)"
06/24/2011 -- Mikey
Digital Single "All For You (feat. Kim Jong Kook)"
Awards:
1995-1998
Il Gan Sports TV
Korea Music Daesang Singer Award
Sports Seoul - Seoul
Gayo Daesang Singer Award
KBS Gayo Daesang
Singer Award
MBC Gayo Daesang
Singer Award
SBS Gayo Daesang
Singer Award
2004
Il Gan Sports - 2004
Golden Disk PAVV Popularity Award
Sports Seoul - Seoul
Music Awards Bonsang Award
SBS Music Awards
Bonsang Award
KBS Music Awards
Bonsang Award
MBC Best 10 Singer
Music Awards Bonsang Award
2005
M-net Music Festival
Best Male Solo Award
Golden Disk Bonsang
Award
KBS Entertainer Awards
Best Entertainer
SBS Music Awards
Daesang Award
KBS Music Awards
Daesang Award
MBC Music Awards Most
Popular Singer
Hankook Pangsong
(Korean Programming) Producer's Prize Singer Award
Korean TV Awards
Photogenic Solo Singer Award
Korean Entertainer
Awards Ballad Award
2006
Golden Disk Bonsang
Award
2008
BBF Popular Singer
Award
2009
Seoul Music Awards
Bonsang Award
2010
SBS Entertainment
Award Best TV Star Award
Kim Jong Kook first
debuted in September 1995 as part of the dance duo TURBO. TURBO was well
received and were quite popular in the 1990s with hit songs such as 'Black
Cat', 'Hwesang (December)', and many other dance songs. TURBO disbanded in 2001
and soon after that Kim Jong Kook turned solo.
He officially debuted
as a solo singer with his first solo album released in December 2001. However,
it wasn't until his second solo album with the song 'Han Namja / One Man' in
2004 that Kim Jong Kook became a household name in K-pop. He followed up his
hit 2nd album with an even bigger hit. His 3rd album with title songs 'Walking
In One Spot' and 'Loveable' earned huge success resulting in Kim Jong Kook
sweeping the 3 Daesang (top year end music awards) from all 3 major TV
stations. This achievement is a special one as this is only the second time
since Jo Yong Phil did so in the 1980s that an artist swept all 3 awards of the
major TV stations. In March 2006 Kim Jong Kook received his military service
enlistment letter at the height of his popularity and career. He quickly
finished up all recording for his 4th album and managed to release it in April
2006. Despite him not being able to do any promotion at all, the album sold
well. After more than 2 years of absence Kim Jong Kook came back to the music
world with his 5th album in October 2008 and regained his spot as one of the
top male singers in K-pop.
Earlier in January
2010 Kim Jong Kook released his 6th solo album called 'Eleventh Story'.
'Eleventh Story' symbolizes the 11 albums that he has released so far (5 TURBO
albums and 6 solo albums). Kim Jong Kook has recently released a remake album
in September; this album remakes popular songs of the 1970s-1990s.
Besides being just a
singer, Kim Jong Kook was also active in variety shows. He was a regular
guest/permanent member of SBS X-Man (2004-2006), KBS Shootdori (2006), and SBS
Family Outing Season 1 (2008-2010). Currently he is one of the MCs for SBS's
weekend variety show Running Man.
Variety Shows:
2010- SBS Running Man - Permanent Member and
MC
2008-2010 SBS Family
Outing - Family Member
2004-2006 SBS X-Man -
Regular Guest
2005-2006 KBS Nalara
Shoot Dori - Coach
Miscellaneous:
What other celebs
have to say about Kim Jong Kook?
Talking about the man
"Kim Jong Kook" on Televison Zone [I believe this interview was taken
in 2005 about the time when KJK received the Daesang awards]
U-Know Yun Ho
"The very first
time I was supposed to go on X-man, the camera light didn�t come out. I was sitting
in the corner not knowing what to do. (Kim Jong Kook) showed concern to me and
patted me on my back. He earnestly spoke to me; not knowing that his words that
time gave me so much strength.. Jong Kook sunbaenim cares for all of his
juniors just like a hyung (older brother); I see him as a great Korean man.. It
is well known that he shows concern for the newbies; Jong Kook sunbaenim is
different than the other sunbaenims."
Lee Min Woo
"At the time I
was about to debut under Shinhwa�.I
was at the waiting room when surprisingly a singer from Turbo greeted me; Jong
Kook hyung approached me first. It was very surprising for me as a newbie to
have a sunbaenim showing favor by greeting me first like that. A few years have
passed since then but even now when we are (recording) a program together he
still hasn�t changed and he is still
the same hyung."
SS501 Kim Hyun Joong
"Sunbaenim
showed a lot of concern and spoke words of encouragement to me as a newbie.
During broadcasting in the waiting room he tries to make people laugh. He
gathers all the juniors and gives newbies like me many kind advice and
encouragement.
I'm always thankful
(to him); this time it is only right for Jong Kook hyungnim to receive the
Daesang (year end awards)."
Chae Yeon
"I think about
the first time I became a singer; I was in the recording studio recording with
my idol. I remember when I was young I knew Turbo's schedule and went to the
Dream Concert. I don't know how he
could remember me; (but) he doesn't know how thankful I am that he remembers
me. During Turbo time I like Turbo songs and Jong Kook oppa; (now as) the
singer Chae Yeon, my heart hasn't changed at all."
Park Kyung Lim
"When I was in high school I really liked Turbo. At the
time of school I was in public relations I didn’t like to study and I was crazy
about PR. Eventually/Finally I was able to interview Turbo; at that time Jong
Kook oppa said to me, "This kid! You look like a boy~"*lol*. After a
few years I saw him during a recording and I shouted "Oppa!". Jong
Kook oppa then said, "Oh? This kid, why are you here?" he looked
happy seeing me.
When I was young I was a fan of Turbo, now I am a fan of the person Kim Jong
Kook and a big fan of the singer Kim Jong Kook; I have a lot of good memories
about my school days and I'm always thankful for what Jong Kook has done for
me. Even though we are pretty close now, he is still the oppa that I
like."
Yoo Seung Jun
"I still keep in
touch with Jong Kook and Tae Hyun up to this day and we always (ask each other)
how we're doing. I've been too busy and haven't been able to see them (lately);
I really miss them. Jong Kook's album did really well; I'm happy for it,
thankful for it, and I want to congratulate him on it. As for Tae Hyun I hope
this time his movie will be the best. Jong Kook and Tae Hyun are certainly the
friends that I love the most; I can see that they have both become fine
musicians and fine actors. I miss you Tae Hyun and Jong Kook."
Hong Kyung Min
"Jong Kook is a
serious guy just like in the Han Namja (One Man) lyrics. He will make it
difficult for the woman that he loves as he only thinks about his love one in a
relationship; he is one thick-headed man when it comes to this-- He compares
getting a woman to catching a fish where
can you find such a man? *lol* . This is a thick-headed man who will be
'all-in' to one woman.. He walks together with friends on Lunar New Year not
knowing how strong he is."
MC Mong
"I have always
liked Jong Kook hyung's songs from his Turbo days but now I am honored to have
him as a really close hyung.. I see his warm heart , also when I eat with him
in private when there's no woman around he isn't quiet anymore. Jong Kook hyung is a really just/righteous
person ; he is also well-spoken.. During broadcasting I was really bothered
with the camera not coming out (Jong Kook hyung) immediately came running up
and said "Sorry" like this. Now I feel like he
isn't just a close hyung anymore but a real hyung.. I really want to be like
Jong Kook hyung.."
One Two
Korea's number one
entertainer with the best character is Jong Kook hyung~
Kim Jae Dong
“I most often see
Jong Kook at the company. Regardless of happy time or sad time he always stood
by me. When Seung Jun was getting married he alone went to America; as a
dongsaeng (younger brother) he is really wonderful. At that time I know Han
Namja was number one but he still went. Yoo Jae Suk hyungnim also speak well of
Jong Kook."
Hwang Bo
"Jong Kook oppa
is quiet and doesn't say much to me. He just smiles. He also does that to other
female entertainers. Kyung Lim unni and Eun Hye are the only ones he talked to.
Even to me he spoke in honorific words ~ I would like to be closer to him~~~"
Yoon Eun Hye
"In the beginning we only exchanged greetings but after
the scandal we became really close; we occasionally eat out together and we
also call each other on the phone. He has really good manners and that's what
makes oppa charming.. My mother likes him especially. He has a good
character, and is also fair/just. Is there anyone in the entertainment world
that doesn’t like him?"
Credit to : Soompi, Wikipedia, KJKGlobal and Ybttsi85 Youtube Channel