Lai Kuan-lin

In this Taiwanese name, the surname is Lai.
Lai Kuan-lin
Lai in March 2019
Born (2001-09-23) 23 September 2001 (age 23)
Taipei, Taiwan
Other namesEdward Lai
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • actor
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2017–present
Labels
Formerly of
Chinese name
Chinese賴冠霖
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLài Guānlín
Wade–GilesLai Kuan-lin
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLōa Koan-lîm
Korean name
Hangul라이관린
Signature

Lai Kuan-lin, also romanized as Lai Guanlin and better known mononymously as Guanlin, (Chinese: 賴冠霖; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lōa Koan-lîm; Hangul: 라이관린, born 23 September 2001) is a Taiwanese rapper, singer, and actor. He is known for finishing seventh in Produce 101 Season 2 and was a member of the South Korean boy band Wanna One.[2] He also formed a duo with Pentagon's Wooseok as Wooseok x Kuanlin in March 2019, under Cube Entertainment.

Early life

Lai was born in Taipei, Taiwan. Under his English name Edward Lai, he lived in Los Angeles, US for five years until he returned to Taiwan. He attended Lin-kou High School.[citation needed]

Career

2017–2018: Produce 101 and Wanna One

Main articles: Produce 101 (season 2) and Wanna One

Lai was recruited by Cube Entertainment during the Cube Star World Audition in Taiwan in 2016. In 2017, Lai participated in the second season of Produce 101, representing Cube Entertainment. He ranked seventh during the final episode with 905,875 votes,[3] securing him a place in the show's project boy group Wanna One under YMC Entertainment.

In November 2017, Lai appeared in labelmate Jeon So-yeon's music video for her single "Jelly".[4]

As well as being active as a Wanna One member in South Korea, Lai is also active in China, receiving an offer from skincare brand Dr. Jart to be their brand ambassador,[5] resulting in a great success for the company with over 900 million KRW (US$800,000) of the endorsed product being sold in 56 minutes.[6]

2019–2024: Solo and Retirement

After Wanna One's disbandment on 31 December 2018, Cube Entertainment announced that Lai would focus on solo activities in China and that he would debut in a new boy group later in the year. He was confirmed to be the guest on variety show Happy Camp.[7][8]

In January 2019, Lai was confirmed as male lead in Chinese drama A Little Thing Called First Love.[9][10] Lai, alongside Yoo Seon-ho and Ha Neul were chosen as new models for TBJ clothing brand.[11]

On 20 February 2019, Cube Entertainment announced that Lai would participate in a new group project alongside Pentagon's Wooseok titled Wooseok x Kuanlin.[12] The unit released their debut extended play, 9801 on 11 March, with the title song "I'm A Star".[13][14][15] Lai held his first fanmeeting 'Good Feeling' on 6 April at Olympic Hall in Seoul.[16] Followed by Bangkok (20 April), Singapore (30 April), Taipei (4 and 20 May) and Hong Kong (11 May).[17][18][19][20]

In July 2019, Lai requested to terminate his contract with Cube Entertainment. One of the claims Lai made was that Cube Entertainment had sold his artist management rights in China to a third party without notifying him. After the legal dispute, Lai moved his career to China. On 17 June 2021, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in Lai's favour and ended his contract with Cube Entertainment.[21]

In June 2020, Lai was cast in youth drama Don’t Think About Interrupting My Studies as the main lead, Lin Xiao Ran alongside Li Landi as Nan Xiangwan.[22]

In 2021, Lai debuted as film director in the short film “Em Chu Em Nie Zi Bo (Winter & Spring are Fighting).” This won for the month of June 2021 in the Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards. Edward Lai won best director while the short film won Best of Fest, Best Cinematography, Best Leading Actress and Best Costume Design.[23]

In June 2024, Lai photographed with a female companion, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship. Two days after the photos surfaced, he announced his decision to "switch career paths" and retire from the entertainment industry.[23][24]

Endorsements

In 2018 and 2019, Lai Kuan-lin became an ambassador for Dr.Jart+,[5] MGTV International APP,[25] Chinese Social Assistance Foundation[26] and Green Carpet Action (Marie Claire x China Green Foundation).[27] He has endorsed Nongfu Spring (农夫山泉), TBJ,[11] L'Oréal[28] and Downy,[29] KM Pharmaceutical (XYLIS),[30] Perfect Diary, VIVLAS Lipstick, Wolong Nuts and elleair.[citation needed]

In March 2021, Lai announced support for cotton from Xinjiang in mainland China, after some companies had expressed concerns about human rights abuses. The premier of Taiwan, Su Tseng-chang, later said that some of Taiwan's celebrities were selfish for expressing support for Xinjiang's cotton, and said that generations of people had worked hard in Taiwan to achieve democracy and its respect for human rights.[31]

Discography

See also: Wanna One discography and Wooseok x Kuanlin § Discography

Filmography

Television series

Year Title Original title Role Network Notes Ref.
2019 A Little Thing Called First Love 初恋那件小事 Liang Younian Hunan TV Lead role [9]
2021 Don't Disturb My Study 别想打扰我学习 Lin Xiao Ran Mango TV Lead role [22]
2022 Love The Way You Are 爱情应该有的样子 Xu Guang Xi iQiyi Lead Role

Variety shows

Year Title Network Notes Ref.
2017 Produce 101 Season 2 Mnet Contestant

Concert

Concert participation

Awards and nominations

Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2019 14th Asia Model Awards Asia Special Award — Won [33]
China Youth Public Welfare Award Ceremony Next Generation Influencers for Global Philanthropy — Won
Golden Bud - The Fourth Network Film And Television Festival Best Newcomer A Little Thing Called First Love Won [34]
Cosmo Glam Night Person of the Year (Beauty) — Won [35]
Sina Fashion Awards Popular Idol of the Year — Won [36]

Notes

  1. ^ a b As a member of Wanna One only.

References

  1. ^ "賴冠霖同門「台灣女孩」舒華爆赴陸發展官方微博「個人照」公開". 10 January 2019.
  2. ^ '프듀2' 강다니엘 워너원 최종 센터, 2등 박지훈·11등 하성운(종합). Herald Pop (in Korean). 17 June 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  3. ^ "'[TV와치]'프로듀스101 시즌2' 황민현만 데뷔, 예상못한 뉴이스트 성적". Newsen (in Korean). 17 June 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  4. ^ "'데뷔' 전소연, MV 티저 공개…라이관린·조우찬 지원사격". Sports Chosun (in Korean). 3 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  5. ^ a b 라이관린, 중국 활동 없이도 국내 제품의 중국 브랜드 앰배서더로 기용. Herald Pop (in Korean). 2 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  6. ^ 워너원 라이관린 모델로 한 제품 56분만에 9억 매출 달성. Herald Pop (in Korean). 22 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  7. ^ 워너원 개별 활동 윤곽…솔로가수·연기·활동팀 복귀 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 2 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Wanna One's Lai Kuan Lin heads to China for solo debut". Kpop Herald. 9 January 2019.
  9. ^ a b 赖冠霖演中国版《初恋那件小事》，年内发新单 (in Chinese). Sina Corp. 13 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Wanna One's Lai Kuanlin to make acting debut in China". The Korea Times. 2 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b "워너원 라이관린-유선호-오늘의하늘...TBJ, 10대 워너비 3인 신규모델 발탁" (in Korean). 1 February 2019.
  12. ^ "역대급 유닛 '우석X관린' 탄생…3월 데뷔 확정 [공식입장]". Xports News (in Korean). 22 February 2019.
  13. ^ ""이 유닛 칭찬해" 우석X관린 '9801' 트랙리스트 공개". 2 March 2019.
  14. ^ "[팝's현장]"별짓을 다해"..우석X관린, 브로맨스 케미 폭발..비주얼 유닛 기대↑". HeraldPop. 11 March 2019.
  15. ^ ""우린 충분히 멋있어"…우석X관린, 브로맨스 청춘 케미 '별짓' [쥬크박스]". XSportsNews. 11 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Lai Kuanlin successfully finishing his first domestic fan meeting 'Good Feeling' 라이관린, 국내 첫 단독 팬미팅 'Good Feeling' 성료". Sports Seoul. 8 April 2019.
  17. ^ "라이관린, 5개국 亞 팬미팅 투어 개최 [공식]". SportsDonga. 6 March 2019.
  18. ^ "บินตรงมาลงไทย! แฟนมีตติ้งเดี่ยว "LAI KUANLIN" ทำแฟนคลับฟินสุด". Dara Daily. 27 April 2019.
  19. ^ "[SINGAPORE] Lai Kuanlin Spends a Night of Good Feelings With Singapore Fans". TheSeoulStory. 5 May 2019.
  20. ^ "Lai Guanlin returned to Taiwan to meet and thank his friend: "Without him, there will be no me today". 賴冠霖回台辦見面會 感謝好友：「沒有他，就沒有今天的我"". KKBox. 20 May 2019.
  21. ^ "라이관린, 큐브 엔터와 '전속계약 무효' 본안 소송 승소". Star News (in Korean). 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  22. ^ a b "[단독]라이관린, 中 '별상타요아학습' 출연…소송 속 독자 행보 ing". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Ex-Wanna One member Lai Kuan-lin changes career path". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  24. ^ "宣布退圈遭粉丝痛批 赖冠霖：工作室没有钱 | 联合早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  25. ^ "赖冠霖首演《初恋那件小事》学长男神 网友：期待精彩演绎". 14 January 2019.
  26. ^ "赖冠霖担任中华社会救助基金会爱心大使". CSAF. 14 January 2019.
  27. ^ "赖冠霖成为绿地毯行动公益大使...跟随冠霖守护非遗". 3 April 2019. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  28. ^ "'태양도 질투하는 비주얼'…라이관린, 中 로레알 모델 광고 사진 공개 [엑's 차이나]" (in Korean). 18 March 2019.
  29. ^ 赖冠霖甜蜜少年风参与品牌发布会完美颜值搭配超强时尚感令人称赞 (in Chinese). 29 March 2019.
  30. ^ 케이엠제약, 인기 아이돌 라이관린 광고 제품 출시 (in Korean). 21 May 2019.
  31. ^ Ng, Priscilla. "Taiwan premier hits out at 'rights-ignoring' stars - RTHK". news.rthk.hk. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  32. ^ "2019.03.23 U & CUBE FESTIVAL 2019 IN JAPAN". Etoile (in Japanese). 26 March 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  33. ^ "'2019 아시아모델어워즈' 라이관린, 아시아 특별상 수상 "모든 분들에 감사"". MKCulture (in Korean). 9 June 2019.
  34. ^ "金骨朵网络影视盛典提名揭晓 王一博肖战杨紫等入围". Ynet (in Chinese). 25 November 2019. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  35. ^ "时尚传承 美丽永恒！2019COSMO时尚美丽盛典闪耀上海". Qianlong (in Chinese). 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  36. ^ "2019风格大赏权威发布年度榜单 开启时尚科技交汇平行世界". Sina (in Chinese). 11 December 2019.
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