Meet The Icon of Korean Ballad and R&B SG Wannabe
SG Wannabe is a Korean trio that gained popularity for their superb voices and everlasting ballad and R&B hit songs. Their debut album gained a 90.000 pre-sales album record and sold more than 400.000 copies. The trio was well known for the heartbreaking R&B single Saldaga and numerous drama and movie OSTs.
In this article, Byeol Korea will talk about the legendary R&B group, SG Wannabe. So stay tuned!
Full Profile
Kim Yong-jun
Name : Kim Yong-jun
Date of Birth : September 12, 1984
Height : 174 cm
Weight : 67 kg
Management : Stone Music Entertainment
Instagram : @yongjunkim84
Twitter :@sgkimyongjun
Kim Jin-ho
Name : Kim Jin-ho
Date of Birth : May 21, 1986
Height : 175 cm
Weight : 67 kg
Management : Stone Music Entertainment
Instagram : @moksolee
Lee Seok-hoon
Name : Lee Seok-hoon
Date of Birth : February 21, 1984
Height : 178 cm
Management : C9 Entertainment
Instagram : @lee.seokhoon
Chae Dong-ha
Name : Chae Dong-ha
Birth Name : Chae Do-sik
Birth – Death : June 23, 1981 – May 2011
Height : 182 cm
Weight : 73 kg
Education : Seoul Arts University
Facts :
- SG Wannabe stands for Simon & Garfunkel Wannabe.
- SG Wannabe is famous in Japan
- The trio released a special album in Japanese version
- Due to the popularity of K-Pop music in 2009, SG Wannabe changed and adapted their music style to the K-Pop genre.
- Kim Yong-jun was sentenced to a jail term of eight months suspended on 1 year of probation and 80 hours of social service due to causing a car accident.
- MBC and KBS blocked SG Wannabe from appearing in their programs after Kim Yong-jun’s car accident scandal. The ban was relieved in 2015.
- SG Wannabe’s group logo has changed multiple times.
Career
SG Wannabe made their debut by releasing their first album, SG Wannabe+, on January 20, 2004. The album instantly became a hit and gathered 90,000 pre-sales copies. SG Wannabe’s first album was produced by Lee Kyung-sub and Park Keun-tae, two of the most famous music producers at the time. The title single for the album was Timeless. By the end of 2004, SG Wannabe gained numerous music awards, an indication of their huge music potential.
During their debut years, they promoted their albums as no-face singers with each member using western names: Whyme for Kim Yong-jun, David for Chae Dong-ha, and Charles for Kim Jin-ho. After serious consideration, they started using Korean names instead of western names. Initially, SG Wannabe refused to do live performances and appear on music stages. As a result, their first music videos showed famous actors and actresses rather than the members of the group. They asked fans to listen to their music rather than paying attention to their visual appearance.
The trio released the second album, While You Live (Saldaga), which consisted of 13 songs. The second album was released on March 29th, 2005, and was known for its title hit singles, While You Live (Saldaga) and Sin & Punishment. SG Wannabe ranked as the highest-selling artist in 2005, with more than 400,000 copies. At the end of the year, the group received the highly esteemed music award, Artist of the Year Award.
Aside from releasing highly popular singles and albums, SG Wannabe is also involved in various drama and movie soundtracks. The trio collaborated with many artists to produce new singles, and are featured in other artists singles.
The leader, Chae Dong-ha, decided to leave the group in 2008 to pursue a solo career. Later, he was replaced by Lee Seok-hun. Sadly, Chae Dong-ha was found dead in his house on the morning of May 27th, 2011. According to investigation, he was pronounced dead because of suicide.
Kim Yong-jun was the first SG Wannabe member to join military service in 2012. A year later, Lee Seok-hun enlisted to the military service, while the third member, Kim Jin-ho, decided to pursue a solo career. After completing military sevice and going through a hiatus, the trio announced their comeback in August 2015.
Discography
Studio Albums
| Title | Album details | ||
| SG Wanna Be+ | Produced: January 20, 2004
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| Saldaga | Produced: March 3, 2005
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| The 3rd Masterpiece | Produced: April 4, 2006
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| The Sentimental Chord | Produced: April 6, 2007
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| My Friend | Produced: April 24, 2008
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| Rainbow | Produced: March 11, 2009
Label: Pony Canyon Korea |
||
| Gift From SG Wannabe | Produced: April 23, 2009
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| SG Wannabe by SG Wannabe 7 Part.I | Produced: October 19, 2010
Label: IS Entermedia Group, Mnet Media |
||
| SG Wannabe by SG Wannabe 7 Part.II | Produced: March 14, 2011 (KOR)
Label: IS Entermedia Group, CJ E&M |
Compilation Albums
| Title | Album details | ||
| Classic Odyssey | Produced: September 16, 2005
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| The Precious History | Produced: November 18, 2006
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| Story In New York | Produced: November 26, 2007
Label: Mnet Media |
Live Performance Albums
| Title | Album details | ||
| SG Wannabe Official Box 1st+ | Produced: March 3, 2007
Label: Geneon Universal Entertainment |
||
| SG Wannabe Tokyo Tour 2007 Live DVD | Produced: October 26, 2007 | ||
| SG Wannabe 2006 Live Concert DVD | Produced: October 3, 2008
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| SG Wannabe – The Gift From SG Wannabe 2009 Live Concert DVD | Produced: July 5, 2010
Label: Mnet Media |
EP
| Title | Album details | ||
| The Voices Remix | Produced: July 26, 2005
Label: Mnet Media |
||
| The Voice | Produced: August 19, 2015
Label: CJ E&M |
Singles
| Title | Year | Album | |||
| “Big4 Of Voices In My Dream” (with Vibe, M to M, Kim Jong Kook) |
2005 | Non-album single | |||
| “S.101” (with Kim Jong Kook) |
2006 | Non-album single | |||
| “Compared to Beatles” | 2007 | Music Is My Life Part. 2 | |||
| ” Like The First Time” | 2008 | Cho Young Soo All Star Vol. 2 Part 3 | |||
| “SG Wannabe & Sook Hee” (with Sook Hee) |
2009 | SG Wannabe & Sook Hee | |||
| “Winter Tree” | 2010 | Non-album single | |||
| ” (Running)” (with Uhm Ji-won) |
Road For Hope | ||||
| “Get Along Together” | 2008 | Non-album singles |
OST
| Title | Year | Album |
| “The Story” | 2004 | Magic OST |
| “The Story” (Ballad version) | ||
| “Even though I Met Another Lover” | 2005 | Sad Love Story OST |
| “Against Fate” (With Kim Jong-wook) | 2008 | East of Eden OST |
| “I Love Her” | 2011 | Flames of Desire OST Vol 4 |
| “People Like You” | Thorn Birds OST Part 1 | |
| “By My Side” | 2016 | Descendants of the Sun OST Part 8 |
| “Confess” | Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo OST Part 8 | |
| “Our Conversation” | 2017 | Chicago Typewriter OST Part 3 |
Other Projects
| Year | Album Artist | Information | Track Title | Notes |
| 2004 | M to M | Tell Me That You Love Me | – | Features Kim Jin Ho |
| 2005 | Jang Yun-jeong | – | “Letter” | Features Chae Dong Ha |
| M to M | Antique Voice
Produced: September 3, 2005 |
“Three Letters” | Features Kim Jin Ho & Chae Dong Hae | |
| “Name” | Features Kim Jin Ho | |||
| “I’ll Pull” | Features Kim Yong Jun | |||
| “I Thought To Love” | Features Kim Jin Ho & Chae Dong Ha | |||
| 2006 | SeeYa | The First Mind
Produced:February 17, 2006 |
“Because of Love” | Duet with SeeYa |
| Various Artists | 2006 World Cup Cheering Album | “2006 Arirang” | – | |
| Girl Friends | Another Myself | “All For You” | Features Chae Dong Ha and Kim Yong Jun | |
| 2007 | M to M | The Colorful Voices | “Hand in Hand” | Features Kim Jin Ho |
| 2008 | Various Artists | Yeon Ga 2008
Produced: April 3, 2008 |
“I Miss You” | Also in My Friend album |
| TGUS | – | “Rainbow” | Features Kim Jin Ho | |
| SeeYa | Brilliant Change
Produced: September 26, 2008 |
“Go” | Features Kim Yong Jun | |
| “Way Back Home” | Features Kim Jin Ho | |||
| So Ji-sub | G So Ji-sub’ | “Foolish Love” | Chae Dong Hae | |
| Various Artists | Aid North Korean Children | “Cry with Us” | – | |
| Various Artists | – | “Good Smile” | Lee Seok Hun | |
| 2009 | Various Artists | Love. Separation. Nostalgia…
Produced: February 10, 2009 |
“Never Ending Story” | – |
| MC Mong | Humanimal
Produced: July 23, 2009 |
“Butterfly Effect” | – | |
| Various Artists | July Project | “Secret” | Features Lee Seok Hun | |
| “Sharing the Beauty” | ||||
| 2010 | Kim Jin Pyo | Romantic Winter | “Romantic Winter” | Features Kim Jin Ho |
| Im Hyun Gi | – | “Loving” | Features Kim Jin Ho | |
| Various Artists | Road For Hope
Produced: November 5, 2010 |
“Gift” | – |
Music Videos
| Title | Year |
| “Timeless”
“I Loved You To Death” “Don’t Know Why” |
2004 |
| “Saldaga”
“Sin and Punishment” “Craze” “My Heart’s Treasure Chest” “Dreamy Conversation” (Acoustic Version)” |
2005 |
| “Nae saram: Partner For Life”
“Slowpoke” “Untouchable” “Gone with the Wind” “Even If I Could See You” “Ordinary People” “Song of Love” |
2006 |
| “Arirang”
“One Summer Day’s Dream” “Stay” “First Snow” “A Christmas Story” |
2007 |
| ” Lalala”
“Smooth Break-Up” “I Miss You” |
2008 |
| “I Love You”
“Cry Baby” |
2009 |
| “Sunflower” | 2010 |
| “Just” | 2011 |
| “Love You”
“Good Memory” |
2016 |
Others
| Year | Album Title | Track |
| 2004 | Magic OST Various Artists |
“The Story” |
| 2005 | Big4 Of Voices In My Dream Various Artists |
“Untouchable” |
| “Gone with the Wind” | ||
| 2006 | The First Mind SeeYa’s 1st album |
“Because of Love” |
| S.101 Digital single |
“Only Wind, Only Wind” | |
| Must Have Love’ Collaboration single by SG Wannabe’s Kim Yong Jun and Brown Eyed Girls’ Ga-In |
“Must Have Love” | |
| “Must Have Friends” | ||
| 2007 | Insooni is Pretty OST Various Artists |
“Always” |
| All Star Vol. 1 Various Artists |
“Gasiri” | |
| Samsung’s Music is My Life Part2 Various Artists |
” Compared to Beatles “ | |
| 2008 | East of Eden OST Various Artists |
“Against Fate” |
| City Hall OST Various Artists |
“Lighten Up” | |
| All Star Vol. 2 Part.3 Various Artists |
“Like The First Time” | |
| “A Flower” | ||
| Yeon Ga 2008 Various Artists |
“I Miss You” | |
| Brilliant Change SeeYa’s 3rd album |
“Go” | |
| Aid North Korean Children Various Artists |
“Cry With Us” | |
| 2009 | We Got Married Kim Yong-jun |
“Couple” |
| “Swamp of Love and Hate” | ||
| Birth of the Rich OST Various Artists |
“Sun Shine” | |
| 2010 | All Star Vol. 2.5 Various Artists |
“I Love You” |
| Coffee House OST Part.2 Various Artists |
“Page One Part.I” | |
| Romantic Winter Kim Jin-pyo’s mini album |
“Romantic Winter” | |
| Road For Hope Various Artists |
“Gift” |
Latest News
SG Wannabe’s Kim Jin-ho expressed his gratitude to medical worker that are dealing with coronavirus patients. The workers expressed their difficulties in dealing with people suffering from the virus. Even though they tried very hard to cure some patients, some of the patients didn’t recover. The condition made them depressed. The medical workers expressed their hardships and wrote it on Kim Jin-ho’s latest music project website. The worker wrote “In this hard time, this music become our hope for miracle. Thank you Kim Jin-ho.” Kim Jin-ho replied and thanked the worker for sending letters to him. He wrote “Anytime, please visit us and I will gladly prepare to sing for you.”
That was all the information about SG Wannabe, their discography, and music achievements. Don’t forget to share your opinion about the legendary ballad and R&B group in the comment section below.
