Kim Jung-woo (Korean김정우; born February 19, 1998), known mononymously as Jungwoo, is a South Korean singer. He is a member of the SM Entertainment South Korean boy group NCT and its sub-units NCT 127 and NCT DoJaeJung.

Jungwoo
Jungwoo in 2023
Born
Kim Jung-woo

(1998-02-19) February 19, 1998 (age 26)
Gunpo, South Korea
EducationGimpo Jeil Technical High School
OccupationSinger
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2017–present
LabelsSM
Member of
Formerly ofSM Rookies
WebsiteOfficial website
Korean name
Hangul
김정우
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Jeong-u
McCune–ReischauerKim Chŏngu

In September 2023, Italian luxury fashion house Tod's announced Jungwoo as their first male ambassador in South Korea.

Early life

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Kim Jungwoo was born on February 19, 1998, in Sanbon-dong, Gunpo, South Korea, and right after he was born, they moved to Gimpo, where he was raised.[1]

He attended Gimpo Gochang Middle School and Gimpo Jeil Technical High School Computer's Department of Computer Applied Machinery.[2]

Career

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2014–2017: Pre-debut

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Jungwoo started training in 2014 after passing the SM's Saturday Open Auditions. He trained alongside SM Rookies and NCT members. Fans have been familiar with Jungwoo as an SM trainee as he was often seen together with SM Rookies and noticed him performing during the SM Rookies Show.

On April 18, 2017, Jungwoo was introduced in the new batch of SM Rookies, SR17B. On the same day, he appeared in label-mate Super Junior member Yesung's music video, "Paper Umbrella" as his first public appearance.[3]

2018–2019: Debut with NCT, Hiatus

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In January 2018, it was announced that Jungwoo, alongside SM Rookies "3 Lucky People", Kun and Lucas, will be debuting with NCT.[4] Jungwoo debuted on February 18, 2018, as part of NCT U for the lead single of NCT's debut studio album NCT 2018 Empathy, "Boss".[5][6] In October of the same year, he joined the Seoul-based unit NCT 127 with the title "Regular" for their first studio album Regular-Irregular, with the position of dancer and vocalist.[7]

In August 2019, in the middle of NCT 127's first world tour, it was announced that Jungwoo will be taking a temporary break due to health concerns after his noticeable absences from the group's activities.[8]

2020–present: Comeback, solo activities

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In January 2020, SM Entertainment confirmed that Jungwoo will be returning with NCT 127 for their 2nd studio album Neo Zone and title "Kick It (영웅)".[9][unreliable source?][10][unreliable source?] Jungwoo confidently continued working with NCT 127 activities for their 2nd repackage album, Neo Zone: The Final Round, and Japanese EP, Loveholic (EP), while filming multiple variety web shows together.

On September 14, 2020, Jungwoo with Taeil, Haechan, and Jeno competed on MBC's Idol Star eSports Championship - Chuseok Special for the KartRider tournament. Jungwoo proved to be a KartRider ace on the Speed Category for individual and team rounds by initially leading the races but fell short on the last seconds of the races. However, NCT team won 1st place for the Item Team Race category.[11] In the last quarter of 2020, the 2nd studio album of NCT, NCT 2020 Resonance, was released. Jungwoo participated in the tracks, "Volcano" (reunited with members of "Boss" unit), "Dancing in the Rain", and NCT 127's "Music, Dance" for Part 1. For Part 2, he participated in the additional songs, "All About You", "Raise the Roof", and one of the lead track, "Work It". As part of the NCT 2020 Project, Mnet broadcast the variety show, NCT World 2.0. In the Sports Meet episode, Jungwoo was awarded the MVP title after successfully jumping over 2.3 meters high vaulting box.[12]

2021 continued to be a busy year for Jungwoo. He appeared on the 11th season of NCT's variety show, NCT Life, for the first time, where he traveled with NCT 127 members to Gapyeong for the summer.[13] In July 2021, Jungwoo was announced as one of new hosts for Show! Music Core with Stray Kids' Lee Know, joining former Iz*One member Minju. He debuted as an MC on August 14, where he performed Sung Si-kyung's "Smiling Angel" (미소천사).[14][15] Later that year, he was nominated alongside his co-hosts for the 2021 MBC Entertainment Awards Rookie Award.[16] From September to December, Jungwoo returned on stage with NCT 127 for their 3rd studio and repackage albums, Sticker and Favorite, NCT U with the title track "Universe (Let's Play Ball)" of NCT's 3rd studio album Universe, and participated in the collaboration track "Goodbye" for 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express with SNSD Sunny and NCT Dream Renjun.

In 2022, Jungwoo actively participated every month on the programs for NCT's variety show on YouTube, The NCT Show.[17][18][19] With the return of MBC's Idol Star Athletics Championships after 2 years in September 2022, Jungwoo, along with Sungchan, and Shotaro, were selected as representatives for NCT, where they competed against other male groups and won the gold medal for Men's Archery Team category.[20] Jungwoo also joined the reality show, Welcome to NCT Universe, to guide the new SM Rookies to the world of "Neo City".[21][22]

Alongside his fellow NCT 127 members, Doyoung and Jaehyun, Jungwoo debuted in a new NCT fixed sub-unit NCT DoJaeJung on April 17, 2023, with their debut EP Perfume.[23] August of the same year, Channel TEO launched "Welcome Ghost Club" featuring Jungwoo as part of their pilot project, Fantastic Lab. Welcome Ghost Club is a mystery adventure YouTube series where club president, Jungwoo, hunts for ghosts to debunk the broadcasting industry myth, "Seeing ghosts bring prosperity".[24] The following month, Italian luxury fashion house, Tod's, announced Jungwoo as their first-ever Korean male ambassador. Following the announcement, Jungwoo was featured and further introduced as Tod's Ambassador in W Korea September issue.[25][26]

Take One Company released the NCT Zone OST "Do It (Let's Play)" for the NCT adventure mobile game in January 2024. The official soundtrack is sung by Jungwoo alongside Xiaojun, Jeno, Yangyang, and Chenle.[27] At the same month, Peripera revealed Jungwoo and Doyoung as the new faces of the cosmetic brand. The duo was initially introduced with the new Lucky Lottery Collection.[28]

On March 23, 2024, Jungwoo's official soundtrack "Smile Good Bye" for Fubao and Grandfather Season 2 was released. The soundtrack contains the message of remembering and supporting Fubao, a popular giant panda born in South Korea returning to China. It gives a deep lingering feeling and comfort to all the fans, like Jungwoo, who love Fubao.[29][30]

In June 2024, KBS KPop Youtube channel announced a new web variety program, NOPOGY, featuring Jungwoo and Monsta X Shownu. The program focuses on visiting old traditional Korean restaurants where the two hosts gets to taste the restaurants' signature meals or specialties, while having fun conversation with their exclusive guests.[31]

Discography

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
Collaboration
"Goodbye" (12월의 인사)
(with Sunny, Renjun)
2021 [A] 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express
Soundtrack appearances
"Do It (Let's Play)"[27]
(NCT U - with Xiaojun, Jeno, Yangyang, Chenle)
2024 NCT Zone OST
"Smile Good Bye" (이젠 웃으며, 안녕)[29] 2024 [B] Fubao and Grandfather Season 2 OST
"—" indicates that the song did not chart or was not released in that region.

Filmography

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Television shows

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2021–2023 Show! Music Core Co-Host with Lee Know [14]

Web shows

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2021–present Kim Jungwoo's Finding this Person 7 Episodes [30]
2023 Welcome Ghost Club 2 Episodes, TEO [24]
2024 NOPOGY (노포기) KBS KPop, with Shownu [31]

Music video appearances

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Year Song title Artist Ref.
2017 "Paper Umbrella" (봄날의 소나기) Yesung [3]

Awards and nominations

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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.
MBC Entertainment Awards 2021 Rookie Award Show! Music Core Nominated [16]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Goodbye" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at number 85 on the Gaon Download Chart.[32]
  2. ^ "Smile Good Bye" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 16 and 63 on the Circle BGM Chart and the Circle Download Chart, respectively.[33][34]

References

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  1. ^ Ji, Dong-hyun (October 12, 2022). "잘 모르지만 알고 보면 비주얼 '아웃풋' 최고라는 경기도 '군포' 산본 출신 스타 5인". Insight (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "'NCT' 김포 출신 정우 팬클럽...저소득 청소년 생리용품 전달" (in Korean). Gimpo Times. February 19, 2022. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Kwon, Soobin (April 18, 2017). "예성, 두번째 솔로앨범 공개...SM루키즈 정우 뮤비 출연" [Yesung, second solo album released... Appeared in SM Rookies Jungwoo's music video] (in Korean). News1star. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Park, So-hyun (January 31, 2018). "NCT, 신개념 콘텐츠 'Year Book' 공개...새 멤버 정우·루카스·쿤, '시선집중'" [NCT unveils new concept content 'Year Book'... New members Jungwoo, Lucas, and Kun, 'attention']. Xportsnews. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
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  20. ^ Ha, So-na (September 10, 2022). "'아육대' 양궁돌 NCT, 이변 없이 금메달" ['Idol Star Athletics Championships' archery idol NCT, wins gold medal] (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 24, 2024.
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  32. ^ 2022년 1주차 Download Chart [Week 1 of 2022 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). December 26, 2021 – January 1, 2022. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  33. ^ 2024년 12주차 BGM Chart [Week 12 of 2024 BGM Chart]. Circle Music Chart (in Korean). March 17–23, 2024. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  34. ^ 2024년 12주차 Download Chart [Week 12 of 2024 Download Chart]. Circle Music Chart (in Korean). March 17–23, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.