Stage name
Hangul
키
Revised Romanization
Ki
McCune-Reischauer
K'i
Birth name
Hangul
김기범
Hanja
金基范
Revised Romanization
Gim Gi-beom
McCune-Reischauer
Kim Ki-bŏm
Kim Ki-bum (Hangul: 김기범; Hanja: 金基范; born September 23, 1991), better known by his stage name Key (Hangul: 키), is a South Korean idol singer, rapper, dancer, actor, radio host, MC, and promotional model. He is a member of South Korean boy group Shinee under the label of SM Entertainment, as a vocalist, lead dancer, and lead rapper.
Career edit:
Pre-debut edit:
Key was a varsity water-skier in Dae Gu Yeong Shin Middle School. He has also appeared in Super Junior's Wonder Boy music video as an extra dancer and is known for his multilingual talents since he spent six weeks on an exchange in America.
Shinee edit:
Main article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinee
Key was discovered at the 2006 S.M. National Tour Audition Casting. In 2008, he was chosen as a member of the group Shinee, the 5-member boy group debuted on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo.
Solo edit:
Key featured in label-mate Xiah's solo performance of "Xiahtic" in TVXQ's concert, 2009: The 3rd Asia Tour Mirotic, in Seoul. In 2010 Key was featured in the song "치유 (Healing)" on TRAX's mini album "Trax Mini Album Volume 1".
Later, it was also announced that Key would have a part in Girls' Generation's song "Hwaseongin Virus (Boys & Girls)" (Korean: "화성인 바이러스 (Boys & Girls)") on their second studio album Oh!. Key featured in Girls' Generation's first live album The 1st Asia Tour: Into The New World Album in the song "Barbie Girl" with Girls' Generation's Jessica Jung. Key also featured in Im Yoona's solo performance in Girls' Generation 1st Asia Tour: Into the New World in Shanghai with the song "If You Find A Cool Guy, Please Introduce Me." Also sings many American songs, like 'Firework' by Katy Perry, 'Take a Bow' by Rihanna, 'Judas' by Lady Gaga, 'TiK ToK' by Ke$ha, and 'My First Kiss' by 3OH!3 with f(x)'s Krystal and SHINee's own Taemin.
Key collaborated with Leeteuk of Super Junior on a song called "Bravo" for drama History of a Salaried Man. He also had a rap part in EXO's song "Two Moons" on their debut mini album MAMA and BoA's song "One Dream" as the theme song for SBS 'Kpop Star with labelmate Henry of Super Junior-M.
Acting edit:
Key debuted as an actor in 2011 on Moon Night 90 as Lee Hyun Do along with fellow member, Taemin.
Key was cast as Frank Abagnale Jr., rotating with Um Ki Joon, Kim Jeong-hoon, Park Kwang-hyun and label-mates Super Junior's Kyuhyun with SNSD's Sunny and CSJH The Grace's Dana, in the Korean production of Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can, marking his theatrical debut. The musical ran from March 28 to June 10 at the Blue Square, Samsung Card Hall, in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Key also cameo in SBS Sitcom "Salamander Guru and The Shadows" appeared in episode 4.
On October 24, 2012 it's announced that Key will be participating in the return of the Korean adaption of the broadway musical Catch Me If You Can. The production will start on December 14, 2012 and continue until February 9, 2013 at the Opera House in the Seongnam Arts Center. The cast mainly remains the same with Kijun Um,Kyuhyun, Dana, and Sunny along with the addition of Beast's Dongwoon.
Television shows edit:
Key has also appeared on television shows such as Idol Maknae Rebellion as a guest star alongside his Shinee group mates Taemin, Onew, and Jonghyun in two episodes. Together with other idol group members: Dongho from U-KISS, Shorry J from Mighty Mouth, Jinwoon from 2AM, Yunhwa from T-Max, Seunghyun from F.T. Island and in the later part, Mir from MBLAQ. Key was part of the cast of the show Raising Idol; the show was also known as 'Keydol' by his fans.
Personal life edit:
Key was raised by his grandmother since he was born. His mother was very sick after giving birth and his father was busy with work so he could not take care of him.
He is known to be the most sociable member with the most celebrity phone numbers, and also known to be close to the '91 line. The group contains people from popular groups such as Kara's Nicole, 2AM's Jinwoon, FT Island's Jaejin, Beast's DongWoon, MBLAQ's Mir, Infinite's Woohyun, After School's Nana, Miss A's Min.
GULF SHORES, Ala.. -- When the bookers for the Hangout Music Festival were securing talent for this year's lineup, they must've been asking, "How wo...
