Taegoon
Encyclopedia
Taegoon is a Korea
n pop
singer and dancer. His first television appearance was on the talent search program Battle Shinhwa in 2005. He reached the final round of the competition and was the last one to leave the group. Four years later, after completing hundreds of auditions he was finally able to start a career.
, South Korea
, the older of two children. He discovered an interest in dancing and performing when he was only a few years old. Taegoon began dancing as a child and attended an arts-oriented high school. He majored in Dance at Korea National University of Arts
, but dropped out to pursue a career in singing. In an attempt to enter the music industry, Taegoon auditioned for the music competition Battle Shinhwa
,. Before taking part in the show, he shaved his head, stating in an interview that he wouldn't let his hair grow until he achieved his dream of becoming a singer.
While participating in Battle Shinhwa, he developed a special relationship to Kang Won-Rae, one of the judges. After he failed to make it into Battle Shinhwa (now known as Battle
), he received a call from Kang Won-Rae who told him that he danced beautifully and that he wanted to get to know him. Together they went to countless auditions, but Taegoon was unsuccessful. He felt ashamed and did not have any further contact with Kang Won-Rae. Taegoon has had difficulties with his fitness level and weight. Most agencies told him he weighed too much, so he lost weight by drinking only water until he lost 20 pounds.
and made his debut in January 2009 after failing hundreds of auditions. With production from Sound Of Strike and Bang Shi Hyuk, his first mini album
was released. He performed for the first time on the January 17, 2009 episode of MBC Show! Music Core. The song was moderately successful, and Taegoon received countless endorsement offers, which is rare for a new singer. He was signed as a model for EXR
's Dressed to Kill clothing brand. (In which, Jaejoong
of TVXQ
featured in the music video in order to help a friend.) While promoting the lead single Call Me
, he was heavily criticized for his heavy use of backup vocals during live performances Because of the difficulties Taegoon was facing at this time, he quickly ended promotions for the album and went back into training. Taegoon's senior in the industry Wheesung
learned of the comments about Taegoon's singing skills and offered to help. While training with Wheesung, Taegoon was required to sing Call Me over 1,000 times in order to improve his abilities. He also had to control the amounts of sleep he got, his diet, and the time he spent rehearsing and report back to Wheesung daily. After the time spent training, Taegoon began to record his next single. As a gift, Wheesung wrote and composed two songs for Taegoon.
, Japan
, and other countries. In March 2009, shortly before releasing his second mini album Rising Star
, Taegoon held a showcase and fan meeting in Bangkok
, Thailand
. Because of his album sales in other countries, he started studying the Japanese
, Chinese
, and English languages. On May 13, 2009, Taegoon released his second mini album, Rising Star
. The single chosen for promotion was 슈퍼스타 (Superstar) (feat. 낯선). The single reached similar success to the previous, and the criticism towards his singing abilities had died down. Before ending promotions for the album, a remix version of the song, which sampled Holiday
by Madonna
, was released and promoted for a short time. In July 2009, Taegoon began his foray into Japan
by holding his first fan meeting and mini concert in Tokyo
which sold out, despite the fact that he had never previously released music or performed there before. Over the summer he continued his activities in both Japan and Korea while preparing for his next release. Shortly before the release of his third mini album, Taegoon held a special event for his Japanese fans and spent one night and two days with them at Mount Fuji
in Japan. He also released a special album exclusively in Japan, CALL ME / Rising Star, which was a compilation of his first two mini albums in a two disc set. After returning to Korea he released the third mini album and began promoting the single 속았다 (Betrayed) (Narration Of 이요원) on September 17, 2009. During the period of promotions for this single, Taegoon also began activities outside of singing like appearing on variety shows and talk shows. After several months, activities for the album ended. He went back to Japan and successfully held several special performances in Japan before holding his first official concert, TAEGOON White Love 2009. The concert was held in Tokyo
, Japan
on December 11, 2009 and sold out. Taegoon then began preparing for his first full length album. In April 2010 it was announced that Taegoon would begin his acting career by starring in the movie Piano Above the Sea.
Japanese
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer and dancer. His first television appearance was on the talent search program Battle Shinhwa in 2005. He reached the final round of the competition and was the last one to leave the group. Four years later, after completing hundreds of auditions he was finally able to start a career.
Early life
Taegoon was born in GongjuGongju
Gongju , also spelt Kongju, is a city in South Chungcheong province, South Korea. It is located at .- History :Gongju was formerly named Ungjin and was the capital of Baekje from AD 475 to 538. In this period, Baekje was under threat from Goguryeo...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the older of two children. He discovered an interest in dancing and performing when he was only a few years old. Taegoon began dancing as a child and attended an arts-oriented high school. He majored in Dance at Korea National University of Arts
Korea National University of Arts
Korea National University of Arts is a national university in Seoul, South Korea. Korea National University of Arts was established in 1993 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea as the only national university of arts with an aim to serve as a leading institution which cultivates...
, but dropped out to pursue a career in singing. In an attempt to enter the music industry, Taegoon auditioned for the music competition Battle Shinhwa
Battle (Korean band)
Battle is a Korean boy band that debuted on December 17, 2006 with the release of their first single "Crash". They are most popular for winning the reality show, Let's Coke Play! Battle Shinhwa! The group includes Ryu, Tae-hwa, Lio, Chris, and Hwi-chan...
,. Before taking part in the show, he shaved his head, stating in an interview that he wouldn't let his hair grow until he achieved his dream of becoming a singer.
While participating in Battle Shinhwa, he developed a special relationship to Kang Won-Rae, one of the judges. After he failed to make it into Battle Shinhwa (now known as Battle
Battle (Korean band)
Battle is a Korean boy band that debuted on December 17, 2006 with the release of their first single "Crash". They are most popular for winning the reality show, Let's Coke Play! Battle Shinhwa! The group includes Ryu, Tae-hwa, Lio, Chris, and Hwi-chan...
), he received a call from Kang Won-Rae who told him that he danced beautifully and that he wanted to get to know him. Together they went to countless auditions, but Taegoon was unsuccessful. He felt ashamed and did not have any further contact with Kang Won-Rae. Taegoon has had difficulties with his fitness level and weight. Most agencies told him he weighed too much, so he lost weight by drinking only water until he lost 20 pounds.
Early career
Taegoon joined Logi EntertainmentLogi Entertainment
Logi Entertainment is a Korean company, established in April 2005, which specializes in producing music and entertainment.- External links :*...
and made his debut in January 2009 after failing hundreds of auditions. With production from Sound Of Strike and Bang Shi Hyuk, his first mini album
1st Mini Album
1st Mini Album is the debut mini-album by South Korean singer Taegoon produced by Crown J.This band Called Kara and is one of the most famous bands. -Singles:...
was released. He performed for the first time on the January 17, 2009 episode of MBC Show! Music Core. The song was moderately successful, and Taegoon received countless endorsement offers, which is rare for a new singer. He was signed as a model for EXR
EXR (clothing)
EXR KOREA Co., Ltd. is a clothing designer and retailer, based in South Korea.EXR was founded as a subsidiary of SungWoo Hightech in 2001. Thanks to the successful product positioning in the niche market of sportswear industry, EXR has become one of the premium clothing brands in Korean fashion...
's Dressed to Kill clothing brand. (In which, Jaejoong
Hero (singer)
Kim Jaejoong , also known by his stage name Hero, is a Korean singer-songwriter, actor, and director....
of TVXQ
TVXQ
TVXQ, an acronym for Tong Vfang Xien Qi , is a South Korean pop group formed in 2003 under SM Entertainment. In South Korea they are known as Dong Bang Shin Ki , often abbreviated by international fans as DBSK; they were later introduced in Japan as Tohoshinki under the Avex sub-label Rhythm Zone...
featured in the music video in order to help a friend.) While promoting the lead single Call Me
1st Mini Album
1st Mini Album is the debut mini-album by South Korean singer Taegoon produced by Crown J.This band Called Kara and is one of the most famous bands. -Singles:...
, he was heavily criticized for his heavy use of backup vocals during live performances Because of the difficulties Taegoon was facing at this time, he quickly ended promotions for the album and went back into training. Taegoon's senior in the industry Wheesung
Wheesung
-EPs:*2006: Against All Odds*2008: 스마일 프로젝트 Vol.2 'Love Seat*2009: 휘성 with D.O*2009: Insomnia*2010: Realslow Is Back*2010: Winter Night*2011: Words That Freeze My Heart-OSTs:*2006: 중천의 기억*2009: 우리집에 왜 왔니...
learned of the comments about Taegoon's singing skills and offered to help. While training with Wheesung, Taegoon was required to sing Call Me over 1,000 times in order to improve his abilities. He also had to control the amounts of sleep he got, his diet, and the time he spent rehearsing and report back to Wheesung daily. After the time spent training, Taegoon began to record his next single. As a gift, Wheesung wrote and composed two songs for Taegoon.
Growing success and continued releases
Shortly after his debut, Taegoon attracted international fans from ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and other countries. In March 2009, shortly before releasing his second mini album Rising Star
Rising Star (album)
Rising Star is the second mini-album by South Korean singer Taegoon. It was released on May 13, 2009. Taegoon received intensive vocal training from Wheesung during the preparations of this album and worked closely with him during the production. Wheesung also wrote and composed the songs "슈퍼스타"...
, Taegoon held a showcase and fan meeting in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. Because of his album sales in other countries, he started studying the Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, and English languages. On May 13, 2009, Taegoon released his second mini album, Rising Star
Rising Star (album)
Rising Star is the second mini-album by South Korean singer Taegoon. It was released on May 13, 2009. Taegoon received intensive vocal training from Wheesung during the preparations of this album and worked closely with him during the production. Wheesung also wrote and composed the songs "슈퍼스타"...
. The single chosen for promotion was 슈퍼스타 (Superstar) (feat. 낯선). The single reached similar success to the previous, and the criticism towards his singing abilities had died down. Before ending promotions for the album, a remix version of the song, which sampled Holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, was released and promoted for a short time. In July 2009, Taegoon began his foray into Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by holding his first fan meeting and mini concert in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
which sold out, despite the fact that he had never previously released music or performed there before. Over the summer he continued his activities in both Japan and Korea while preparing for his next release. Shortly before the release of his third mini album, Taegoon held a special event for his Japanese fans and spent one night and two days with them at Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
in Japan. He also released a special album exclusively in Japan, CALL ME / Rising Star, which was a compilation of his first two mini albums in a two disc set. After returning to Korea he released the third mini album and began promoting the single 속았다 (Betrayed) (Narration Of 이요원) on September 17, 2009. During the period of promotions for this single, Taegoon also began activities outside of singing like appearing on variety shows and talk shows. After several months, activities for the album ended. He went back to Japan and successfully held several special performances in Japan before holding his first official concert, TAEGOON White Love 2009. The concert was held in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on December 11, 2009 and sold out. Taegoon then began preparing for his first full length album. In April 2010 it was announced that Taegoon would begin his acting career by starring in the movie Piano Above the Sea.
EPs
Korean- 1st Mini Album1st Mini Album1st Mini Album is the debut mini-album by South Korean singer Taegoon produced by Crown J.This band Called Kara and is one of the most famous bands. -Singles:...
(2009) - Rising StarRising Star (album)Rising Star is the second mini-album by South Korean singer Taegoon. It was released on May 13, 2009. Taegoon received intensive vocal training from Wheesung during the preparations of this album and worked closely with him during the production. Wheesung also wrote and composed the songs "슈퍼스타"...
(2009) - The 3rd Mini Album (2009)
Japanese
- CALL ME / Rising Star (2009)
Films
| Year | Title | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Piano Above the Sea | Jung Woo Hyuk |
Concerts
- 2009: TAEGOON Premium Week 2009 in Sanrio PurolandSanrio Purolandis an indoor theme park located in Tama New Town, Tokyo, Japan that attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year.Opened on December 7, 1990, the theme park is run by the Sanrio company, and hosts various musicals, restaurants, attractions, and theme rides using popular characters such as Hello...
(Japan) - 2009: TAEGOON Premium Week 2009 in Nakano Zero Hall (Japan)
- 2009: TAEGOON White Love 2009 (Japan)
- 2010: TAEGOON Spring Concert 2010 (Japan)
Fan meetings
- 2009: TAEGOON 1st Stage (Japan)
- 2009: Thanks Free Fanmeeting (Japan)