Kim Hak-chul, better known by his stage name Kim Yeon-woo (; born July 22, 1971) is a South Korean male singer, vocal coach, and professor at . Nicknamed God of Vocals, he is well known for his ballads, smooth singing voice, and ability to hit high notes without difficulty. Kim recorded a number of hit ballads with the South Korean band, Toy, in the mid-to-late 1990s, gathering a sizable cult following. In 2011, Kim achieved widespread fame and recognition in South Korea through his participation on I Am a Singer, along with numerous appearances on variety and entertainment shows.
Career After completing his military service in the Air Force, Kim Yeon-woo participated in the 7th Annual Yoo Jae-ha Music Competition and won the gold prize. In 1996, Kim Yeon-woo became the featured vocal of You Hee-yeol's project band Toy and adopted his stage name Kim Yeon-woo, which was the name of a café You Hee-yeol frequented. You had felt that Kim's birth name Kim Hak-chul did not suit him. They went on to record a number of hits such as Still Beautiful and Remember I Was Next to You.
Since leaving Toy, Kim Yeon-woo has released five solo full albums and two mini albums.
In 2010, Kim was noted in the media thanks to a video of him performing at a university concert back in 2007. He performed in the heavy rain while holding an umbrella, after all the other guest singers had reportedly quit. Because of this, the title of Kim's national concert tour in the summer of 2011 was Yeon-woo in the Rain.
In 2011, Kim was a participant in I Am a Singer. He performed two songs before being voted off. The day after his elimination, the second (and last) song he sang in the contest became number 1 on all music charts in Korea. Kim's popularity started to rise, and he gained widespread recognition from the public, earning the nickname God of Vocals. He also found success in two other guest appearances in the contest. His duet with Kim Kyung Ho was ranked second, and during the Australian contest/concert of the show, Kim was voted first.
In 2012, Kim participated in the second season of . This time he was not voted off, and was able to earn honorary graduation by the end of the contest.
In 2015, Kim sang a duet with Yangpa in the third season of . The performance was ranked first. Kim's popularity rose even more thanks to his participation in King of Mask Singer. Under the stage name CBR Cleopatra, he became the first male Mask King, as well as the first long-term Mask King, staying on the show for 10 consecutive weeks.
Kim is also well known as a vocal trainer. His former students include SG Wannabe's Lee Seok-hoon, Big Mama's Lee Young-hyun, and Brown Eyed Girls' JeA.
Personal life
Kim studied practical music at Seoul Institute of the Arts.
Kim's best friends include You Hee-yeol, Kim Kyung-ho, and Muzie. He is also close with Sung Si-kyung and K.Will.
Several K-pop idols such as B1A4's Sandeul, Shinee's Onew, and VIXX's Ken have mentioned Kim as their role model.
In 2010, Kim married the daughter of a president of a Korean corporation. At the wedding, You Hee-yeol was the master of ceremonies and Sung Si-kyung was the wedding singer.
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Only Me Beside You... (그대 곁엔 나밖에...) Released: March 1, 1998 Label: Danal Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette— Couple (연인) Released: January 6, 2004 Label: IO Music Formats: CD, cassette24 KOR: 25,729Cumulative sales of Couple:
Missing Love (사랑을 놓치다) Released: January 17, 2006 Label: Antenna Formats: CD, cassette21 KOR: 2,359 Mr. Big Released: November 24, 2011 Label: Dio Music Formats: CD, digital download11 KOR: 5,536 Forever Yours (나의 너) Released: May 10, 2018 Label: Dio Music Formats: CD, digital download17 KOR: 2,356
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORJeong (정)(情) Released: January 5, 2010 Label: Noah Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download8Move Released: May 28, 2014 Label: Mystic89 Formats: CD, digital download19 KOR: 2,568
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales(Digital) Album KOR"Only Me Beside You" (그대곁엔 나밖에)1998—Only Me Beside You"Couple" (연인)2004—Couple"Love, That Common Word" (사랑한다는 흔한 말)200659 KOR: 225,337Cumulative sales of "Love, That Common Word":
Missing Love"I'll Give My Life With You" (지금 만나러 갑니다) (feat. Tablo)2008—"Chukga" (축가)(祝歌)2010—Jeong"I Was Happy...Take Care" (행복했다...안녕)201113 KOR: 893,680Cumulative sales of "I Was Happy...Take Care":
Mr. Big"Not A Popular Song" (인기없던노래) (with Don Spike)201229 KOR: 186,014"No Schedule" (with Yoon Jong-shin)201349 KOR: 44,397Monthly Project 2013 Yoon Jong Shin"Antidote" (해독제)201428 KOR: 130,818Move"Move" (feat. Park Kyung of Block B)42 KOR: 87,786Cumulative sales of "Move":
"Melt Away" (눈물고드름)84 KOR: 42,936Cumulative sales of "Melt Away":
rowspan="2" "Ariyo" (그리운 노래 아리요)201566 KOR: 26,794"My Apology Letter" (반성문)2018—Forever Yours
Other charted songs Title Year Peak chart positions Sales(Digital) Album KOR"Sometimes I Cry Alone" (가끔은 혼자 웁니다)201044Bad Guy OST"Lingering Affection" (미련)201110 KOR: 704,342I Am a Singer: 3-1"If You Are Like Me" (나와 같다면)1 KOR: 2,219,404I Am a Singer: 3-2"You Are My Love"24 KOR: 528,778Lie to Me OST"My Love By My Side" (내사랑 내곁에)8 KOR: 864,710Cumulative sales of "My Love By My Side":
I Am a Singer: 호주 특별 공연"I Miss a Thing" (그립다)91 KOR: 81,877Mr. Big"Withdrawal Symptoms" (금단현상)89 KOR: 89,111"Winter Love" (겨울애)78 KOR: 103,517"Fragment" (부스러기)77 KOR: 107,554"Closer" (더 가까이)5 KOR: 961,381Cumulative sales of "Closer":
Brain OST"In The Shade of the Street Tree" (가로수 그늘 아래 서면)201255 KOR: 60,112I Am a Singer 2: 5월 13일"You Let Me Go With A Smile" (미소를 띄우며 나를 보낸 그 모습처럼)89 KOR: 37,128I Am a Singer 2: 5월 27일"Though I Loved You" (사랑했지만)85 KOR: 46,518I Am a Singer 2: 7월의 가수전"This Is The Moment" (지금 이 순간)91 KOR: 40,764I Am a Singer 2: 9월 A조 경연"You In My Mind" (그대 내 품에)86 KOR: 41,516I Am a Singer 2: 9월의 가수전"Addicted to Love" (중독된 사랑)82 KOR: 45,425I Am a Singer 2: 10월 A조 경연"Because It's You" (그대라서)201329 KOR: 97,656Cumulative sales of "Because It's You":
Nine OST"Running In The Sky" (하늘을달리다) (with Yangpa)201595 KOR: 16,598I Am a Singer 3: 6회 듀엣미션"To Be With You"51 KOR: 90,411The Producers OST
Other activities
Variety and competition shows
Year Title Episode(s) Role Notes 2011 I Am a Singer (Season 1) 6–9 Contestant 32 Contestant 2012 1–28 Contestant Honorary graduation 2014 Cool Kiz on the Block 45–52 Member Idol School 1–17 Host 2015 King of Mask Singer 7–16 Contestant As CBR Cleopatra Hidden Singer (Season 4) 8 Singer/Contestant 1–8 Member 2016 Superstar K 1–10 Judge 2021 The Masked Talent MBC Chuseok's special Judge MBC 2022 Fantastic Family SBS
Dramas
Year Title Role 2012 Standby Main cast (as Kim Yeon-woo) 2017 A Korean Odyssey Cameo (Ep. 1) 2019 Welcome to Waikiki 2 Cameo (Ep. 6)
Awards
Year Award Category 1995 7th Annual Yoo Jae-ha Music Competition Gold Prize 2015 MBC Entertainment Awards Excellence Award in Music/Talk Show
References
External links