The Korean Legend of Rock Kim Kyung-ho
Notorious for his four-octave vocal range and long silky hair, Kim Kyung-ho (Korean: 김경호) is a South Korean singer who is often referred to as the “legend of rock” for his efforts in making rock music popular in South Korea. Amidst all the other more popular music genres, this singer born on June 7th, 1971, stands out with his distinctive music choice. The legendary singer has been in the industry for 31 years and he makes frequent appearances on South Korean variety shows.
What else do we need to know about Jung Kyung-ho? Scroll down this article below to get all the details!
Full Profile
Born on June 7th, 1971, in a small city called Mokpo, South Korea, Kim Kyung-ho is best known as the charismatic National Rock Star with a strong stage presence. Later on, he stole the public attention with his long hair and feminine look that would eventually grant him a new nickname: Rock Unnie or National Sister.
He first appeared on Korea’s music scene in 1989 on an annual competition for talented youths hosted by KBS. In his college years, he also joined the MBC University Music Festival in 1991 where he got a bronze award for his self-composed song “Long Goodbye” (which was later included on his first-ever album).
In 1995, he released his self-titled debut album, Kim Kyung Ho. While the album was not commercially successful, it earned him some recognition among Korean rock music fans. Two years later, in 1997, he embarked to release a more novel second album, still with his name attached, Kim: Kyungho 1997. The second album was received much better by the public, to the point that one of the songs “People Who Make Me Sorrow” rose to the top of music charts and became the stepping stone that made him popular. After the success of the second album, he began to rise to mainstream success and released numerous hit songs such as “Forbidden Love,” “Heartless,” “Until the Day We Love Beautifully,” “My Love,” “Even in the Haven,” “Though I Love You,” “Wine,” “Father,” etc., as well as a special album.
His success is not limited to his released albums. In 2002, he also collaborated on the soundtrack of the Korean drama series Empress Myeongseong and 2004 (of which he covered Within Temptation’s song “Mother Earth”).
Unfortunately, after several years of popularity and public success, things took a downturn for Kim Kyung-ho in 2003 when he was diagnosed with cord nodules, which affected his singing. He was also diagnosed with Avascular necrosis in 2007.
Background information:
- Name: Kim Kyung-ho (Hangul: 김경호, Revised Romanization: Gim Gyeong-ho, McCune–Reischauer: Kim Kyŏngho)
- Date of Birth: June 7th, 1971
- Origin: Mokpo, South Korea
- Genres: Hard rock, Korean ballad
- Occupation(s): Singer-songwriter, producer
- Instruments: Vocals, guitar, piano
- Years active: 1989–present
- Spouse: 2014-2018
- Website: kimkyungho.com
Discography
Studio Albums
- Kim Kyung Ho (Release Date: December 1st, 1995)
Tracklist:
- Last Prayer (마지막 기도)
- Long Separation (긴 이별)
- Freeman (자유인)
- First Separation (첫 이별)
- Being A Man (남자라는 건)
- Life (목숨)
- For the First Time (나 이제서야)
- The Worst Day (최악의 날)
- A Boy Under the False Accusation (누명쓴 아이)
- Fall Asleep on the Raining Road (비가 오는 거리에서 잠든다)
- Kim:kyungho 1997 (Release Date: June 30th, 1997)
Tracklist:
- Dracula
- Fate
- Aria of the Sad Soul (for Elise)
- The Lord of All Creation
- AID & AIDS
- People Who Make Me Sorrow
- Our Son
- Late Regret
- Forbidden Love
- Last Prayer
- To Pinocchio
- Waiting for You
- Kim Kyung Ho III – 00:00:1998 (Release Date: August 31st, 1998)
Tracklist:
- Shout
- Fly High to Follow Your Dreams
- Grief of Farewell
- The Name That I’d Call Out with My Last Breath
- The Voice of Conscience
- Unfulfilled Love
- The Castle of Eternity
- Exodus
- Vesuvius
- My Love, Even in the Heavens
- Higher to the Top
- Kim Kyung Ho IV – For 2000 AD (Release Date: April 30th, 1999)
Tracklist:
- For 2000 AD
- Through It Away! (버려!)
- Inerasable Trace (화인)
- Love Sadder than the Separation (이별보다 슬픈 사랑)
- 1052
- Non-Stop
- When My Love Calls You (내 그리움 널 부를 때)
- Love That We Can Never Achieve (이룰 수 없는 사랑)
- Come To Me (내게로 와)
- Heartlessness (비정)
- Rock ‘N Roll
- Till I Beautifully Love You (To You; Forbidden Love)
- Kim Kyung Ho V – 와인 (Release Date: July 1st, 2000)
Tracklist:
- escape
- Wine (迗 人)
- Blood
- Delete
- Dear Freddie
- Asparagus
- Masquerade
- Always Waiting For You
- Shadow of My Passionate Affections
- Good-bye to my love
- Tragedy
- Kim Kyung Ho VI – The Life (Release Date: August 13th, 2001)
Tracklist:
- Survival Game
- Shout
- To you precious
- The Life
- Rock The Night
- sacrifice
- Yesterday
- My All
- I loved it but
- Sacrifice (Instrumental)
- Sacrifice (music video)
- Kim Kyung Ho 7 – Open Your Eyes (Release Date: August 11th, 2003)
Tracklist:
- OASIS
- Father
- Now
- Wisdom for you
- Time Is Up
- Open Your Eyes
- Break Free
- I would rather
- To the last one (To You)
- Hi
- Now (Club Remix Ver 1.0)
- Kim Kyung Ho 7.5 – 시작: How (Release Date: July 12th, 2004)
Tracklist:
- Man On The Silver Mountain (Remake)
- How?
- Please Forgive Me
- Leave it
- I’ll give you my love (Remake)
- Everybody
- I can not talk. (Remake)
- Night at night (Remake)
- Judgment Day
- Come to me (Live)
- Oasis (Live)
- I love you (Live)
- Now (Live) With Park Sang Min
- Father (Remix)
- Wisdom for you (Remastering)
- Remastering
- My All (Remastering)
- Kim Kyung Ho 8 – Unlimited (Release Date: February 23rd, 2006)
Tracklist:
- Rock And Light
- Warrior
- Love, in pain
- I believe you loved it.
- Guardian Angel
- Summer Candles
- Party
- My farewell
- A breathing love
- Working For The Weekend
- Season of Loss
- Road Movie
- Summer Candles (Radio Version)
- Kim Kyung Ho Vol. 9 – Infinity (Release Date: November 30th, 2007)
Tracklist:
- Poison
- As if it were you
- Habit
- Portrait of a young day
- Sad Song
- I, Who Cannot Forget You
- Insomnia
- Rain is Who You Are and Flow
- Nanana
- Make It Go Away
- Tunnel
Mini-Albums
- Kim Kyung Ho – Another Story (Release Date: February 29th, 2008)
Tracklist:
- 마치 너인 것처럼
- 널 잊지 못하는 내가 (Live)
- 독 (毒) (Live)
- 마치 너인 것처럼 (Live)
- 마치 너인 것처럼
- Kim Kyung Ho – Chapter Zero (Release Date: April 10th, 2009)
Tracklist:
- Still Wanting You
- People Who Make Me Sorrow
- Reach for the Sky
- Too Hard Too Furious
- Come to Me
- Kim Kyung Ho 9.5 – Alive (Release Date: June 22nd, 2009)
Tracklist:
- Face to Face
- I want to bring her back (데려오고 싶다)
- Promise U
- Misty Rain (는개비)
- The Story of Rain And You (Featuring Park Wan-kyu) (비와 당신의 이야기)
- Rush (질주)
- Kim Kyung Ho 10 – 공존 (Release Date: February 22nd, 2013)
Tracklist:
- If you can hear love
- I wait for you
- Promise
- Sunset
- Tears of the Moon
- Get On Your Feet
- If you hear love (Inst.)
Single Albums
- Kim Kyung Ho -너를 지켜줄 거야 (Release Date: September 19th, 2008)
Tracklist: 너를 지켜줄 거야 (법무부 캠페인 광고 삽입곡)
- Kim Kyung Ho -질주 (Release Date: October 9th, 2008)
Tracklist: 질주
- Kim Kyung Ho 10 – Part 2 공존 (Release Date: May 15th, 2017)
Tracklist:
- 시간의 숲
- Don’t Be Quiet
- FOURever: Kim Kyung Ho, Kim Jong Seo, Kim Tae Won and Park Wan Kyu (Release Date: March 22nd, 2018)
Tracklist: Promise
Live Albums
- Kim Kyung Ho: Live (Release Date: Late 1997)
- Kim Kyung Ho – Best & Live (Release Date: January 2002)
- KIMKYUNGHO 20th ANNIVERSARY ALBUM (Release Date: October 2014)
Activities & Shows
Variety Shows
Year | Title | Network | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | I Am a Singer 1 | MBC | Contestant, episodes 26–40 |
2012 | Hidden Singer Pilot | JTBC | Contestant, episode 2 |
I Am a Singer 1 | MBC | Contestant, episodes 41-47 | |
Top Band 2 | KBS2 | Judges | |
2013 | Dancing with the Stars 3 | MBC | Contestant, episodes 1-12 |
2014 | Immortal Songs | KBS2 | Contestant, episodes:
|
2015 | Contestant, episodes:
|
||
King of Mask Singer | JSTV | Contestant as “The Last Samurai”, episodes 8,10 and 11 | |
I Am a Singer 3 | MBC | Contestant | |
2016 | Duet Song Festival 1 | Contestant w/ Han Byung Ho, Episodes:
|
|
Fantastic Duo Season 1 | SBS | Contestant Episodes 29 and 30 | |
Immortal Songs | KBS2 | Contestant, episodes:
|
|
King of Mask Singer | MBC | Contestant as “The Lamp Genie”, episodes 59–60 | |
Duet Song Festival | Contestant with Han Byung-ho, episodes 15 and 18-19 | ||
Vocal War: Voice of God | SBS | Contestant, episodes 15 -16 | |
2017 | Immortal Songs | KBS2 | Contestant, episodes:
|
2018 | Hidden Singer 5 | JTBC | Comeback Special Guest (June 10th) and Ep. 6 Panelist (July 22nd) |
Immortal Songs | KBS2 | Contestant, episodes:
|
Concerts
Date | Title | Place | Country |
---|---|---|---|
March 3rd, 2018 | Sudden Concert | Shinhan Card Fan Square Live Hall | Seoul, South Korea |
April 21st, 2018 | The Vocalists (Joint Concert) | Suseong Artpia | Daegu, South Korea |
May 19th, 2018 | Combat in Busan | Busan Sohyang Theater | Busan, South Korea |
June 2nd, 2018 | Combat in Seoul | Yonsei University Grand Hall | Seoul, South Korea |
July 7th, 2018 | Harmony Concert | Kenton Node Hotel Complex | Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |
August 15th, 2018 | Rock Forever | Blue Square IMarket Mall | Seoul, South Korea |
August 25th, 2018 | Combat in Goyang | Goyang Oulim Nuri Arts Center | Goyang, South Korea |
Events
Date | Events | Place |
---|---|---|
March 14th, 2018 | Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics (Sports Presentation) | Jeongson Alpine Center |
April 14th, 2018 | Cherry Blossom Festival | Rivera Country Club Hwaseung |
April 29th, 2018 | Wonju MBC Danjong Festival Closing Concert | Yeongwol Kangwando |
May 11th, 2018 | Korea, China, and Japan Cultural Exchange Event | Busan, East Asian Cultural City |
May 12th, 2018 | Busan Lotus Lantern Festival | Busan Citizens Park |
June 8th, 2018 | Korean Traditional Music Symphony Orchestra | Anseong |
June 15th, 2018 | ‘One The Full’ Donghae Music Festa | Donghae |
July 20th, 2018 | A Midsummer Night’s Rock Concert with Kim Kyung Ho | Hadong |
July 21st, 2018 | MR Live at Sumjin River Festival | Songlim Park, Hadong |
August 3rd, 2018 | Night Pool Party | Haeundae Beach, Busan |
August 18th, 2018 | Summer Cool Concert | Ham-an |
September 1st, 2018 | K-Rock Festival | Soyosan Dongducheon |
TV Broadcasts
Date | Network | |
---|---|---|
March 18th, 2018 | KBS1 Open Concert | Kim Kyung Ho Band with Kwak Dong Hyun |
May 26th, 2018 | UBC Dran Concert | Kim Kyung Ho Band |
June 5th, 2018 | KBS1 Open Concert | Kim Kyung Ho with FOURever: Kim Tae Won, Kim Jong Seo, and Park Wan Kyu |
June 24th, 2018 | KBS1 Open Concert | Kim Kyung Ho with Kwak Dong Hyun |
August 10th, 2018 | KBS1 Open Concert | Kim Kyung Ho with FOURever: Kim Tae Won, Kim Jong Seo, and Park Wan Kyu |
Awards & Nominations
Golden Disk Awards
Year | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Bonsang Album | People Who Make Me Sorrow | Won |
1998 | Bonsang Album | My Love Even in the Heavens | Won |
1999 | Popularity Award | Until the day we love beautifully | Won |
Mnet Asian Music Awards
Year | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2000 | Best Rock Performance | “Wine” (와인) | Nominated |
2001 | “Sacrifice” (희생) | Nominated |
Seoul Music Awards
Year | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Bonsang Album | People Who Make Me Sorrow | Won |
1998 | Bonsang Album | My Love Even in the Heavens | Won |
Marriage
November 8th, 2014, was a happy day for Kim Kyung-ho! On that day, the legendary rocker was having his wedding. He released an announcement along with a few images from his wedding.
The wedding consulting firm named Now Wed that worked with Kim Kyung Ho, revealed, “It was a quiet wedding with only family members and close acquaintances. The couple looked very happy during the wedding.”
It was revealed that actor Lee Soon-jae officiated the wedding, while Yurisangja‘s Lee Se-joon performed the nuptial song.
Kim Kyung-ho’s wife is a Japanese woman working in finance who is 13 years his junior. They were introduced to each other through a mutual friend in 2011.
Divorce
Sadly, in August 2018, it was reported that the Korean rock star and his Japanese wife had divorced in June 2018.
Kim Kyung-ho’s agency stated, “Kim Kyung-ho and his wife split up in June last year.”
The agency furthermore explained that they filed for divorce due to cultural differences and personalities.
Kim Kyung Ho’s marriage ended after three years and seven months since he married his wife, who is 13 years younger, in 2014.
Source: Korea Times