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South Korean singer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kim Hyung-soo (Korean: 김형수; born December 30, 1981),[1] better known by his stage name K.Will (Korean: 케이윌), is a South Korean singer. The name is a combination of the first letter 'K' of his last name 'Kim' and the English word 'Will'.[2] He debuted in 2007 and has since become known for his chart-topping ballads.[3] He has also been dubbed the "Prince of OST" for his frequent Korean drama soundtrack appearances.[4][5]
K.Will | |
|---|---|
 K.Will in 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kim Hyung-soo |
| Born | December 30, 1981 Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | Official website |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김형수 |
| Revised Romanization | Gim Hyeong-su |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Hyŏngsu |
K.Will has released four full-length albums: Left Heart (2007), Missing You (2009), The Third Album (2012–2013), and The Fourth Album (2017–2018).[6][7][3]
Prior to his debut, K.Will trained to be a singer for five years under producer Bang Si-hyuk.[8] He also worked as a "guide vocal," singing demos of songs that would ultimately be recorded by other artists including TVXQ, g.o.d. and Rain.[9] During this time, he was dubbed the "male Mariah Carey," after a video of him singing Carey's songs became popular on South Korean websites.[10]
K.Will released his debut album, Left Heart (왼쪽 가슴), on March 6, 2007 via Bang's label Big Hit Entertainment. Producer Park Jin-young composed the album's title song, which reached number 3 on the Melon digital chart shortly after its release.[11][12]
In January 2008, K.Will left Big Hit and joined his agent Kim Shi-dae's new company Starship Entertainment. On December 2, 2008, he released the digital single "Love 119", featuring rapper MC Mong.[13] The single reached number 1 on various online music charts.[14]
K.Will released his first extended play, Dropping the Tears (눈물이 뚝뚝), featuring a title track of the same name, on March 31, 2009.[15] The song topped online music charts the day after its release.[16] On November 5, he released his second album, Missing You (그립고 그립고 그립다).[17] The album's title song was a success on South Korean charts.[18] K.Will held his first solo concert, a sold-out performance at Yonsei University in Seoul, on December 25.[19]
On March 10, 2010, K.Will released the single "Present" (선물), featuring Eun Ji-won. The song was an instant success, topping real-time online music charts following its release.[20] That May, K.Will held a sold-out solo concert in Tokyo, followed by a concert in Osaka in July.[21][22] In December, he also sold out two solo concerts in Seoul.[23]
On January 21, 2011, K.Will released the single "Amazed" (기가 차), featuring rapper Simon D and Hyolyn of girl group Sistar. The song rapidly reached the top of several music charts.[24] On March 10, K.Will released his second mini album, My Heart Beating (가슴이 뛴다), featuring the lead single of the same name.[25] The single was an "all-kill", topping all major South Korean real-time music charts simultaneously.[26] It was K.Will's first number 1 single on the weekly Gaon Digital Chart.[27] The single also marked the first time K.Will won first place on a South Korean music chart television show, with his April 3 win on Inkigayo.[28]
K.Will held his third solo concert in Seoul on June 25, 2011, featuring guests Wheesung, Lee Hyun and Sistar.[29] He held his annual Christmas concert over three days in December, featuring special guests Wonder Girls and Orange Caramel.[30] He also finished out the year as a contestant on the TV show Immortal Songs 2, which he left in January 2012 after setting a record of five consecutive wins in the singing competition.[31]
On February 14, 2012, K.Will released his third mini album, I Need You (니가 필요해).[32] The title song of the same name peaked at number 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart,[33] while the album's pre-release single, "I Hate Myself" (내가 싫다), reached number 2.[34] On October 11, K.Will released The 3rd Album, Part 1, including the title track "Please Don't..." (이러지마 제발). The song was an instant success on South Korean music charts.[35] The music video, starring Ahn Jae-hyun, Seo In-guk, and Dasom, received both domestic and international attention for its twist ending featuring a same-sex crush.[36][37][38]
On April 4, 2013, K.Will released The 3rd Album, Part 2, with the lead single "Love Blossom."[39] The song was another hit, debuting at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart.[40] K.Will released his fourth mini album, Will in Fall, on October 18.[41] The lead single, "You Don't Know Love" (촌스럽게 왜 이래), was his third number 1 hit on the Gaon Digital Chart.[42]
On June 25, 2014, K.Will released his fifth mini album, One Fine Day, featuring the lead single "Day 1" (오늘부터 1일), which peaked at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart.[43][44] He released his fifth mini album, [Re:] and its lead single "Growing" (꽃이 핀다), on March 25, 2015.[45] The song was an instant hit in South Korea, and also performed well on Chinese digital charts.[46][47]
In 2016, K.Will again topped the charts. His digital single "You Call It Romance" (니가 하면 로맨스), featuring Davichi, ranked number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart following its January release.[48] That March, his song "Talk Love" (말해! 뭐해?), from the soundtrack to the television series Descendants of the Sun, reached number 1 on the chart.[49]
K.Will released The 4th Album Part 1 [Nonfiction] on September 26, 2017, along with an accompanying music video for the title track "Nonfiction" (실화).[50] On October 28, 2018, K.Will revealed the tracklist for The 4th Album Part.2 [想像; Mood Indigo],[51] and an album teaser was released three days later.[52] The album was released on November 6, with K.Will co-producing each song.[53][54]
In February 2020, K.Will renewed his contract with Starship Entertainment.[55]
On August 12, 2022, it was announced that K.Will will begin the nationwide Here and Now tour, to be held in October.[56]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Soul Special | Park Ju-ho | Web series | [63] |
| 2011 | Spy Myung-wol | Himself | Cameo in episode 10 | [64] |
| 2015 | Hyde Jekyll, Me | Himself | Cameo in episode 18 | [65] |
| The Producers | Himself | Cameo in episode 9 | [66] |
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | Immortal Songs 2 | Contestant | [31] |
| 2014-2015 | Real Men | Cast member | [67] |
| 2016 | Vocal War: God's Voice | Contestant | [68] |
| 2017 | King of Mask Singer | Contestant as "Cute Baby Seahorse" | [69] |
| 2019 | Super Hearer | Hearer | [70] |
| 2021 | Tomorrow's National Singer | Judge | [71] |
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2024) |
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cyworld Digital Music Awards | 2011 | Song of the Month - March | "My Heart Beating" | Won | |
| Daegu International Musical Festival Awards | 2017 | Best New Performer | K.Will (for Notre-Dame de Paris) | Won | [72] |
| Gaon Chart Music Awards | 2012 | Artist of the Year in Digital Music - February | K.Will | Won | |
| Golden Disc Awards | 2007 | Rookie Artist of the Year | Nominated | ||
| 2009 | Digital Bonsang | "Dropping the Tears" | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | Album Bonsang | Missing You | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Digital Bonsang | "My Heart Beating" | Won | ||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| 2013 | Digital Bonsang | "I Need You" | Won | ||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| 2014 | Digital Bonsang | "Love Blossom" | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Digital Bonsang | "Day 1" | Won | ||
| Song of the Year | Nominated | ||||
| Korea Entertainment Arts Awards | 2010 | Male Ballad Singer Award | K.Will | Won | [73] |
| Korean Video Festival | 2009 | Photogenic Award | Won | [74] | |
| MAMA Awards | 2007 | Best New Artist | "Left Heart" | Nominated | [75] |
| 2010 | Best Vocal Performance - Solo | "Missing You" | Nominated | [76] | |
| 2011 | "My Heart Beating" | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | "I Need You" | Won | |||
| Best Male Artist | K.Will | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Best Vocal Performance - Male | "Love Blossom" | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | "Day 1" | Nominated | |||
| Melon Music Awards | 2009 | Top 10 Artist (Bonsang) | K.Will | Won | [77] |
| 2012 | Best R&B/Ballad Award | "Please Don't" | Won | [78] | |
| 2013 | "You Don't Know Love" | Won | [79] | ||
| Seoul Music Awards | 2012 | R&B Ballad Award | K.Will | Won | |
| 2013 | Won | ||||
| 2014 | Won | ||||
| TV Writers Association | 2007 | Top Rookie Singer Award | Won | [80] | |
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