Birth name
Lee Jin-ki (이진기)
Also known as
Leader Onew, Dubu, Ontokki
Born
December 14, 1989
Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Genres
K-Pop, dance-pop
Occupation(s)
Singer, actor
Instruments
Piano
Years active
2008–present
Labels
SM Entertainment
EMI Music Japan[1]
Associated acts
Shinee
SM Town
Career
Shinee
Main article: Shinee
Onew was discovered at the 2006 S.M. Academy Casting. Onew received great appreciation from Lee Soo-man, SM Entertainment's founder, at Girls' Generation's debut showcase. Lee Soo-man noticed him and wanted to hear Onew sing during a one time on the spot audition. He signed the contract with SM the day after he auditioned.
In 2008, he was chosen as a member of the group Shinee, and the 5-member boy group debuted on May 25, 2008 on SBS's Inkigayo.
Solo
Onew contributed to singles for Lee Hyeon-ji (for "Vanilla LOVE" and "Vanilla Love Part 2"), Girls' Generation member Jessica for the song "One Year Later" in the Tell Me Your Wish (Genie) mini-album and a duet with Kim Yeon-woo for the song, "The Name I Loved" from the third mini album by Shinee, "2009, Year Of Us."
Onew recorded a song titled "In Your Eyes" for drama series To The Beautiful You. The song was released for the albums To The Beautiful You OST Part 2 on August 22, 2012.
Onew also sang the OST "Moonlight" for drama "Miss Korea". The song was released on January 3, 2014.
Acting
Onew starred in various musicals starting in 2010, debuting in the musical Hyeongjeneun Yonggamhaetda (형제는 용감했다, "Brothers were Brave") alongside singer Lee Ji-hoon. He then starred in the Korean production of Rock of Ages playing the lead role, Drew.
He has also showcased his acting skills via television having a cameo role as a clumsy doctor in the drama Dr. Champ. He appeared in the drama's final episode. He also had cameo role's in the dramas Athena: Goddess of War, Oh My God x2, Pure Love and for sitcom "Royal Villa".
Composing
Onew wrote the lyrics for the song, "Your Name" from Shinee's 2nd studio album Lucifer.
Television shows
In addition to music, Onew became an MC on two programs — KBS's Yahaengsung (야행성, "Nocturnal") and MBC's Show! Music Core. In January 14, 2014, his participation in the Borneo edition of the reality show Laws of the Jungle was confirmed. He was also in the cast for the Brazil edition, but had to leave and be substituted because of schedule conflicts.
Personal life
Onew graduated from the Gwangmyeong Information Industry High School. In his senior year in high school, Onew had ranked as the second top student in his grade. Furthermore, Onew had the highest national score for their high school SATs exam. He is currently attending Chungwoon University, his major being broadcasting music.
On June 2009 during the finale of the show Music Bank, Onew fainted after a massive light fixture toppled and almost hit him. Onew was able to avoid the accident because Kyuhyun and Siwon from Super Junior prevented the fixture from hitting him.
Onew was scheduled to perform with the rest of the Shinee members at KBS 2TV's K-pop festival special, Music Bank in Paris on 2 February 2012, but was unable to, due to an ankle injury.
On October 2013, he injured his neck, during Shinee promotions. He refrained from dancing during the rest of promotions for Everybody.
In June 2014, Onew underwent throat surgery to remove vocal cord polyps and restoration of vocal mucosa.
Philanthropy
Fans of Onew showed up to one of Onew's performances in "Rock of Ages" with 1.44 tons of rice. Onew donated the 1.44 tons of Dreame rice to help feed North Korean children, and according to a Dreame representative, the rice was delivered to an Incheon storehouse on the 16th October 2010 and was sent to North Korea on the 22nd. Onew had also donated 770 kg of Dreame Rice to the Children in Need in South Korea in May 2010 when he was in the "Brothers are Brave" musical.
