Aron (singer)

Aaron Kwak (born May 21, 1993), formerly known by the stage name Aron, is an American media personality, singer, and rapper based in South Korea. He began his professional career in 2012 as a main rapper of the South Korean boy group NU'EST. Following his contract's expiration with Pledis Entertainment in 2022, Aron established his solo career as a freelance radio and television host, appearing in various South Korean programs.

Aron
아론
Aron in July 2019
Born	Aaron Kwak[1] (1993-05-21) May 21, 1993 (age 31)[2] Los Angeles, California, United States
Education	Loyola High School
Occupations	Singer rapper media personality
Musical career
Genres	K-pop
Years active	2012–present
Labels	Pledis
Formerly of	NU'EST NU'EST W
Korean name
Hangul	곽영민
Hanja	郭英敏
Revised Romanization	Gwak Yeong-min
McCune–Reischauer	Kwak Yŏngmin
Stage name
Hangul	아론
Revised Romanization	Aron
McCune–Reischauer	Alon
Signature

Early life

Aron was born on May 21, 1993, in Los Angeles, California.^[3] He attended Loyola High School and was on the varsity golf team, earning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2008 from Daniel Murphy High School.^[1][4] He tested within the top 0.5% on the SATs with a score of 2180 out of 2400.^[5] Aron had been accepted into New York University and intended to major in journalism but ultimately did not attend after choosing to become a singer.^[3][5][6]

Career

Pre-debut

While attending the LA Korean Festival in 2009, Aron was invited to take part in the Pledis USA Personal Auditions, where he performed "So Sick" by Ne-Yo and participated in a one-week trial boot camp in South Korea.^[7][8] He subsequently signed with Pledis Entertainment.^[7] After finishing high school, he returned to South Korea and trained for nine months.^[7] Prior to debuting, Aron appeared as a back-up dancer in After School Blue's "Wonder Boy" in 2011. He participated in Pledis Entertainment's Christmas single "Love Letter" and was also featured in an alternate music video for the song as a member of Pledis Boys.^[9] He performed with After School with the rest of Pledis Boys, now dubbed "After School Boys", at the SBS Gayo Daejeon.^[10]

2012–2022: NU'EST

Main article: NU'EST

Along with four other Pledis Boys, Aron debuted in the boy band NU'EST in 2012 as a sub-vocalist. From April 8, 2013, to April 19, 2015, he hosted Arirang Radio's Music Access radio program.^[3] In 2014, he was featured as a guest artist on the song "Got it Figured Out" by Chad Future.^[11][12] From August 14, 2015, to April 24, 2016, he hosted his own radio show, Aron's Hangout, on SBS PopAsia.^[13][14]

From 2017 to 2018, Aron promoted with the other NU'EST members as the sub-group NU'EST W in the absence of Minhyun, who was exclusively promoting with Wanna One at the time.^[15] During the group's activity, he wrote the lyrics for his solo songs, "Good Love" and "Wi-Fi."^[16][17] He was also featured as a guest artist on the song "Loop" by Raina.^[18]

From 2020 to 2021, Aron hosted the radio show "To.Night" on Naver NOW with bandmate Ren.^[19][20]

It was announced on February 28, 2022, that NU'EST's exclusive contract with Pledis Entertainment will expire on March 14, 2022, and that Aron (alongside members JR and Ren) will leave the agency, therefore concluding their 10-year career as a group.^[21]

2022–present: solo activities

On March 21, 2022, Aron announced he was hosting a podcast titled Korean Cowboys with South Korean television personality Joel Lane.^[22]

In May 2022, Aron was introduced as a host for the second season of Real Korea 5, a lifestyle channel. Within the same month, Aron held his first solo fan meeting at the Yonsei University's Centennial Memorial Hall to celebrate his 30th birthday with the fans.

In July 2022, Aron became a co-host of the Arirang TV talk show After School Club.

In November 2022, Aron opened his private messaging service thru Wonderwall's "Fromm".

Discography

For Aron's works with NU'EST, see NU'EST discography and NU'EST W.

As featured artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales (DL)	Album
		KOR [23]
"Got it Figured Out" (Chad Future feat. NU'EST's Aron)	2014	—	—	Chad Future: The First Mini Album
"Loop" (밥 영화 카페) (Raina feat. Aron of NU'EST)	2017	55	KOR: 33,454+[24]	Loop
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Filmography

See also: NU'EST § Filmography

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2022–present	After School Club	Host		[25]

Radio shows

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2013–2015	Music Access	DJ	[3]
2015–2016	Aron's Hangout		[13][14]
2020–2021	To.Night		[19][20]

Web shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2022-present	Korean Cowboys	Co-host	Podcast	[26]

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
The Fact Music Awards	2018	Fan N Star Hall of Fame Award	Aron	Won	[27]

References

1. "The Brainiacs 뇌섹돌 인.증. 아론, SAT 성적표&영어 공부법 공개!" [The Brainiacs: Aron's SAT score report & English studying method revealed!]. Problematic Men. Episode 170 (in Korean). South Korea. August 28, 2018. Event occurs at 2:00-2:10. TVN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2020. Jun Hyun-moo: A Catholic boys' school... / Aron: Yes, [my mom] sent me there on purpose. / Text: Loyola High School: Private Catholic boys' high school with 153 years of history in Los Angeles.
2. "아론 (뉴이스트)" [Aron (NU'EST)]. Genie Music (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
3. Hong, Grace Danbi (April 5, 2013). "NU'EST Aron Transforms into a Radio DJ". Mwave. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
4. "The Brainiacs 골프, 수영, 배구까지 섭렵한 아론?! 뇌섹남들도 감탄" [The Brainiacs: Aron, diversively talented in golf, swimming, and basketball?! The Brainiacs admire him]. Problematic Men. Episode 170 (in Korean). South Korea. August 28, 2018. Event occurs at 0:35-0:45. TVN. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2020. Text: Daniel Murphy High School, 2008 Varsity Golf, Rookie of the Year, Aaron Kwak / Aron: Rookie of the year. / Jun Hyun-moo: Award for rookies? / Aron: Yes. / Hyun-moo: In 2008? / Aron: Yes. Freshman in high school, in 2008.
5. ""출연요청 1위" '문남' 뉴이스트W 아론, 상위 0.5% 성적표 공개". Osen (in Korean). August 28, 2018. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
6. "The Brainiacs 문남 역대 최고! 타일러&아론의 잉글리시 타임☆" [The Brainiacs: Munnam Best Ever! Tyler & Aron's English time]. Problematic Men. Episode 170 (in Korean). South Korea. August 28, 2018. Event occurs at 1:15-1:30. TVN. Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020. Aron: So, um... I was accepted into New York University when I was in high school, but it wasn't like, the journalism... that part of the school, but I-I went in as undeclared, and I was going to study journal... journalism... So, I got accepted, but I never went.
7. "OUR K-POP IDOL JOURNEY". Korean Cowboys. Episode 2. South Korea. April 1, 2022. Event occurs at 3:16-4:20. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022. Aaron: I was casted in 2009 in LA at a festival called JangTuh. [...] I got casted and there and I went to an audition. I sang "So Sick" by Ne-Yo. [...] But um, they actually called me — very similar to you — like, a week later, saying, "We wanna fly you out to Korea, you know, put you on, like, a training system for a week, and then, you know, like, we'll decide if we wanna sign you or not." So, I think that winter I went to Korea — came to Korea for like a week or two — trained, and I signed my official contract. And then [I] went back to the States, finished high school, came to Korea, trained for nine months, and debuted as a member of the K-pop group NU'EST.
8. ""러브의 심장 저격"…'주간아' 뉴이스트, 완전체로 돌아와 재미도 5배 [종합]". Xport News (in Korean). May 1, 2019. Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
9. "애프터스쿨 보이즈, 5인조 연말데뷔..팀명 미정" (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
10. "플레디스 보이즈, 애프터스쿨과 SBS '가요대전' 출격". Naeil (in Korean). December 29, 2011. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
11. "Got It Figured Out (Feat. Nu'est Aron)". Genie Music (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
12. "Chad Future(채드 퓨처)". Bugs! (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
13. Aron (August 14, 2015). "NU'EST's Aron to host his own SBS PopAsia radio show". SBS PopAsia. Archived from the original on May 19, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
14. Aron (April 24, 2016). "NU'EST's Aron's Hangout - The Season Finale". SBS PopAsia. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
15. "NU'EST、Wanna One参加のミンヒョン除き4人組ユニット『NU'EST W』としてデビュー！". TV Report (in Japanese). July 18, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020 – via KStyle.
16. "NU'EST W、ニューアルバム「W, HERE」のトラックリストを公開…ソロ曲＆SEVENTEEN ウジがプレゼントした楽曲も". Osen (in Japanese). September 26, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020 – via KStyle.
17. "NU'EST W、ニューアルバム「WAKE, N」ハイライトメドレーを公開…4人それぞれのソロ曲にも期待". Osen (in Japanese). November 22, 2018. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020 – via KStyle.
18. "'투맨쇼' 뉴이스트 아론 "인기 믿기지 않아, 멤버들 자랑스럽다"". Newsen (in Korean). August 2, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
19. Park, Sang-jin. "뉴이스트 아론&렌, 네이버 NOW.'To.Night' 첫 방송" [NU'EST Aaron & Ren, Naver NOW.'To.Night' first broadcast] (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 11, 2021.
20. Park, Dong-sun (January 5, 2021). "뉴이스트 아론·렌, 네이버 NOW. '투나잇' 종영소감 전해…"또 다른 소통, 행복한 시간"" [NU'EST Aaron, Ren, Naver NOW. Delivering the end of 'To.night'... "Another communication, happy time"] (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 5, 2021.
21. Kim, Ye-na (February 28, 2022). "뉴이스트, 10년 활동 마무리…JR·아론·렌, 소속사 떠난다". Yonhap (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
22. Treñas, Cessi (April 19, 2022). "5 former K-pop idols who became YouTubers or podcast hosts, from GFriend's Yerin and Nu'Est's Aron, to Produce 101 darling Hong Eunki of Rainz and Ladies' Code's Ashley". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
23. "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on March 9, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
24. Total downloads for "Loop":

    • "2017 Download Chart – Week 31". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
25. Baek Yoon-ki (July 25, 2022). "뉴이스트 출신 아론, '애프터 스쿨 클럽' 새 MC" [Aaron from NU'EST, new MC for 'After School Club] (in Korean). Edaily. Retrieved July 25, 2022 – via Naver.
26. Kim Na-young (March 28, 2022). "뉴이스트 아론, 자체 제작 팟캐스트 '코리안 카우보이스' 론칭" [NU'EST Aaron launches self-produced podcast 'Korean Cowboys] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022 – via Naver.
27. "All the winners & performances from The Fact Music Awards". SBS PopAsia. April 25, 2019. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.