Kai (singer)

Not to be confused with Kei (singer) or Kay (singer).

Kai

Kai at the 5th Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards in February 2016
Born Kim Jong-in
(1994-01-14) January 14, 1994
Suncheon, South Jeolla, South Korea
Occupation
  • Singer
  • actor

Musical career

Genres K-pop
Years active 2012—present
Labels S.M. Entertainment
Associated acts
Korean name
Hangul 김종인
Hanja 金鍾仁
Revised Romanization Gim Jong-in
McCune–Reischauer Kim Chong-in
Stage name
Hangul 카이
Revised Romanization Kai
McCune–Reischauer K'ai

Kim Jong-in (born January 14, 1994), better known as Kai, is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group EXO and its sub unit EXO-K.

Early life

Kai was born on January 14, 1994,[1] in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. He began dancing when he was eight years old. He originally did jazz dance, but after watching The Nutcracker he began to train in ballet[2] while in the third grade.[3] He stated that his parents initially wanted him to learn Taekwondo and the piano. He began training in hip-hop after joining S.M. Entertainment.

Kai graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in February 2012.

In 2014, during EXO 90:2014 show, Kai stated that he wanted to become a singer after watching Shinhwa.[4]

Career

EXO

Main article: Exo (band)

Kai was the first EXO member to be formally introduced to the public through teaser trailers. His first teaser was released on December 23, 2011.[5] He appeared in twelve more trailers released in the following three months, and had his first televised performance alongside fellow EXO members Luhan, Chen and Tao as well as other S.M. Entertainment artists at the year-end music program SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 29, 2011.

Solo activities

In October 2012, Kai participated in the promotional group Younique Unit alongside labelmates Eunhyuk, Henry, Hyoyeon, Taemin and Luhan. The group released a single titled "Maxstep" as part of the collaboration between S.M. Entertainment and Hyundai.[6] Later in December 2012, he joined the dance group S.M. The Performance, along with fellow member Lay, TVXQ's Yunho, Super Junior's Eunhyuk and Donghae, SHINee's Minho and Taemin.[7] The group first made its appearance at the event SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 29, and performed their single "Spectrum". The single was officially released the next day.[8]

In September 2013, Kai participated in a dance performance for Mnet's dancing program Dancing 9, along with Lay and Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon, performing the songs "Centipede" of Knife Party and "Coco" of Gent & Jawns.[9]

In August 2014, Kai was featured in the song "Pretty Boy" from SHINee member Taemin's debut album.[10]

In January 2016, he made his official acting debut as the male lead in the web drama Choco Bank.[11] The drama went on to achieve record breaking views.[12]

On November 2, 2016 it was announced that Kai will star in a web drama titled First Seven Kisses for Lotte Duty Free alongside Lee Min-ho, Lee Joon-gi, Lee Jong-suk, Ji Chang-wook, Park Hae-jin and Ok Taec-yeon.[13]

Personal life

On April 1, 2016, Kai was confirmed to be in a relationship with Krystal, a member of labelmate girl group f(x).[14]

Discography

Main article: Exo discography

Songs

Title Year Peak charts
position		 Sales
(DL)		 Album
KOR
Gaon
[15]		 US

World

[16]

As lead artist
"Deep Breath" 2014 — — Exology Chapter 1: The Lost Planet
Collaborations
"Maxstep"
(as part of Younique Unit)		 2012 — — N/A PYL Younique Volume 1
"Pretty Boy"
(Taemin featuring Kai)		 2014 33 — Ace
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Videography

Main articles: Exo videography and Exo filmography

Dramas

Year Title Role Network Notes
2012 To the Beautiful You Himself SBS Cameo
2015 EXO Next Door Himself Naver TV Cast Recurring; Fictional version of himself
2016 Choco Bank Kim Eun-Haeng Lead role
TBA First Seven Kisses TBA Main role

Variety shows

Year Title Role Network Notes
2012 Asian Hero Guest Channel V Thailand
Asia Lover True Music
2013 Star King Guest SBS
Immortal Songs 2 KBS Episodes 116, 118 and 119
Idol Star Athletics Championships Competitor MBC
We Got Married Guest MBC Episode 32 with Suho visiting Taemin & Naeun couple
Dancing 9 Mnet with Lay
Hello Counselor KBS Episode 145 with Lay
2014 Running Man Guest SBS Episode 209
2015 Guerilla Date Guest KBS
After School Club Guest Arirang Episode 165
Oh! My Baby SBS Episodes 85 and 86
You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook KBS2 Episode 277 with EXO
2016 Yummy! Yummy! Letv with Sehun

Radio shows

Year Title Role Network Notes
2013 Sukira Kiss the Radio Special DJ KBS Cool FM with Suho
2015 Lee Guk-joo's Youngstreet Guest DJ SBS Power FM

Hosting

Title Role Network Date(s) Notes
Inkigayo Special MC SBS 27/5/2012
M! Countdown Mnet 4/12/2012 with Suho
Inkigayo SBS 11/8/2013
2013 MelOn Music Awards Main MC MBC Every 1 14/11/2013 with Suho, Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Lee Yu-bi

Music video appearances

Year Song Artist Notes
2008 "HaHaHa Song" TVXQ Guest appearance
2012 "Twinkle" Girls' Generation-TTS Guest appearance
"Maxstep" Younique Unit
2014 "In Summer" (remake) Deux Exo 90:2014 MV remake

References

  1. ↑ Hwang Hyo-jin (1 May 2012). "EXO-K: My name is 카이, 세훈" [EXO-K: My name is Kai, Sehun]. TenAsia (in Korean). Retrieved 2016-07-04.
  2. ↑ deedeegii. "EXO's Kai Transforms into a Ballerino for The Celebrity". Soompi. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  3. ↑ "Kai discusses his friend in HOTSHOT and learning ballet". allkpop. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  4. ↑ "EXO's Kai proves to be a fan boy of Shinhwa + S.M.ROOKIES perform Shinhwa's 'Wild Eyes'". allkpop. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  5. ↑ "SM unveils first member, Kai, of mysterious rookie group". Newsen (in Korean). 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  6. ↑ "SM Entertainment's dance unit 'Younique' releases "MAXSTEP" MV". allkpop. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  7. ↑ "Group SM The Performance". Jpopasia. 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
  8. ↑ "DANCE UNIT SM ENTERTAINMENT 'SM THE PERFORMANCE' MERILIS "SPECTRUM"". Wordpress. 2012-12-30. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  9. ↑ "Hyoyeon performs a special stage with EXO's Kai and Lay on 'Dancing 9'". Allkpop. September 28, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Taemin reveals track list for solo debut album 'Ace'". 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  11. ↑ crystalcove. "EXO's Kai Makes Official Acting Debut With Lead Role in Web Drama". Soompi. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  12. ↑ "EXO Kai and Park Eun Bin's web drama 'Choco Bank' achieves record-breaking views". allkpop. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  13. ↑ "[단독]이종석·이준기·지창욱·박해진 뭉쳤다…'첫키스만 여섯번째' 출연". Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  14. ↑ Bahk Eun-ji (April 1, 2016). "Romance blooms for EXO's Kai, f(x)'s Krystal". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  15. ↑ Peak positions on Gaon Digital Chart:
  16. ↑ "World Digital Songs : Page 1". Billboard.
  17. ↑ 2015년 01주차 Download Chart [1st Week of 2015 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ "2014년 35주차 Download Chart (see #29)". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.

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