Jun Jin's bio

Jun Jin literal meaning: "moving forward/advance") is a member of the longest running Korean male group to date, Shinhwa (신화). He debuted as a dancer and rapper in Shinhwa in 1998 but started singing small parts in 2002; the release of Shinhwa's 5th album. However, he is advancing in his own singing career with the release of his solo single album on November 18, 2006. Besides singing, he has also acted in several dramas and sitcoms.

Beginnings with Shinhwa

Backed by his high school friend, An Chil Hyun, Jun Jin was able to make it through the audition as a member for Shinhwa. He debuted with them as a rapper, alongside Eric Mun and Andy Lee. However, in the release of Shinhwa's fifth album "Perfect Man," he began singing small parts. He would still continue to sing small parts with the release of Shinhwa's later albums until the band switched to a different label, Good Entertainment. Under Good Enter, Jun Jin advanced further, singing a solo song entitled "Painfully Loving You." Jun Jin soon released a single, "Sarangee Ohji Anahyo" (Love Doesn't Come), thus starting his solo career.
[edit] Establishing a Solo Career

Jun Jin released his first single in November 2006 titled "사랑이 오지 않아요" (translated to "Love Doesn't Come"), with a total of five songs, including the title song and its instrumental. Surprisingly, he decided to go into ballad even though he is known for his strong dance skills. However, this is because ballads are popular in Korea right now; dance artists such as Baek Ji Young and even Jun Jin's own group Shinhwa have released ballads for their lead singles as well. The single did fairly well on the chart, though not a major hit. In December 2006, Jun Jin was hospitalised; although recommended to stay in the hospital, he quickly left and returned to his promotional schedule.

In early January 2007, Jun Jin filmed a music video with Taiwanese singer Linda Liao. The music video was by the Korean group, The Name, titled "It Could Be Love." He later recorded a duet with Lao, entitled "Forever" and also has a version in Mandarin. He later released a repackage version of "Love Doesn't Come," which included the duet with Lao. The repackage version fared better in sales, selling 44,724 at the end of 2007. In mid-2007, Jun Jin left his group's management company and set up his own call JF Story Entertainment to concentrate on his solo career more.

His first full solo album was released on April 25, 2008. Titled New Decade, the first single from the album was "Wa". The single encountered controversy when the music video was given a 19+ rating due to sexual content, in effect banning the video from major networks.

After going on a hitatus, he joined the cast of popular reality TV show We Got Married and was paired up with actress, Lee Shi Young. The couple was dubbed "Gundam Couple" due to Lee Shi Young's obsession with Gundam.

He later released a mini album before starting mandatory military service titled "Fascination". The title-track "Hey Ya" featuring Son Dam Bi and Big Tone did fairy well on the charts but a track on the mini album titled "Like A Fool" featuring his "wife" Lee Shi Young managed to fair better on the charts. The album was a mild success.

Acting career

Jun Jin starred in the hit 2004 KBS drama "Forbidden Love" in 2004, alongside popular actress Kim Tae Hee. He also starred in various other banjun dramas as well. In 2009, he and the other members of Infinite Challenge appeared in an episode of MBC drama Queen of Housewives.

Other activities

Jun Jin appeared the top-rating comic-variety programme Infinite Challenge firstly in April 2008 as a replacement of Haha, with receiving its host of the programme as 'the 7th member' officially in June 2008, and later he joined We Got Married in early 2009 with actress Lee Shi Young as his "wife", whom he had a relationship with outside the show, though his act officially finished on May 3, 2009 due to its restructuring of the show's format. close