Park Chan-yeol (Korean: 박찬열; born November 27, 1992), better known mononymously as Chanyeol, is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, actor and model. He is a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group Exo, its sub-group Exo-K and sub-unit Exo-SC, and debuted as soloist on August 28, 2024, with his first extended play (EP) Black Out. Apart from his group's activities, Chanyeol has also starred in various television dramas and movies such as So I Married an Anti-fan (2016), and Secret Queen Makers (2018).
Early life
Park Chan-yeol was born on November 27, 1992,[3] in Yeokchon-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul, South Korea.[4] He attended Hyundai High School in Apgujeong-dong, Seoul. He has an elder sister named Park Yoo-ra, who is a former announcer at South Korean broadcasting station YTN,[5] and MBC. Chanyeol was admitted to a private acting institution when he was sixteen years old, where he became good friends with Block B's P.O.[6]
After watching School of Rock in elementary school, Chanyeol became interested in music and soon began playing the drums.[7][unreliable source?] Chanyeol wanted to be a singer after listening to Unconditional Kismet by Yoo Young-jin.[8]
Chanyeol became a trainee under SM Entertainment after winning second place in the 2008 Smart Model Contest. While training under S.M., he began to turn his focus towards rapping. Prior to his debut, Chanyeol made cameo appearances in TVXQ's "HaHaHa Song" music video and Girls' Generation's "Genie" music video in 2008 and 2010 respectively.[citation needed]
Chanyeol became the last Exo member to be officially introduced to the public on February 23, 2012.[10] He possesses a baritone singing voice.[11] The group official debuted on April 8 with the extended play Mama. He made a guest appearance in Girls' Generation-TTS's music video for their debut single "Twinkle". In October 2013, Chanyeol joined the cast of SBS' reality TV show Law of the Jungle during its filming in Micronesia.[12] He also composed and recorded an original soundtrack titled "Last Hunter" for the show in 2015 after rejoining the show.[13]
In 2014, Chanyeol wrote the rap for the Korean version of the track "Run" from Exo's second extended play Overdose and was featured in label-mates Henry's second extended play and Zhou Mi's debut EP.[14][15] In May 2014, he became a regular cast member of the first season of SBS' reality TV show Roommate. He left the show in September 2014 due to schedule conflicts.[16]
2015–2021: Acting, songwriting and Exo-SC
Chanyeol at 2016 Melon Music Awards
In April 2015, Chanyeol made his big screen debut with a supporting role in the South Korean film Salut d'Amour, which starred Park Geun-hyung and Youn Yuh-jung.[17] He later starred as the male lead alongside actress Moon Ga-young and fellow Exo members in the web-drama Exo Next Door.[18] In June 2015, Chanyeol, along with fellow Exo members Chen and Lay, co-wrote the Korean version of the track "Promise" from Love Me Right, the re-released version of Exo's second studio album.[19] He later wrote the rap for "Lightsaber", Exo's promotional single for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which was subsequently included in their third extended play Sing for You.[20]
In April 2016, Chanyeol wrote and performed the rap for the song "Confession" from Yesung's debut extended play.[21] In Exo's third studio album Ex'Act, which was released in May 2016, he co-wrote the lyrics for the track "Heaven".[22] In June 2016, Chanyeol starred alongside Yuan Shanshan and label-mate Seohyun in the South Korean-Chinese film So I Married an Anti-fan. He and Yuan Shanshan also recorded a duet titled "I Hate You" as the theme song for the movie.[23] In October 2016, Chanyeol and American R&B singer Tinashe were featured in American hip hop group Far East Movement and American electronic musician Marshmello's song "Freal Luv".[24][25] In December 2016, Chanyeol and South Korean singer Punch collaborated on an original soundtrack titled "Stay With Me" for tvN's drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.[26] The song reached number three on South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.
In January 2017, Chanyeol played a supporting role in MBC's drama Missing 9.[27] In February 2017, it was reported that he had allegedly registered himself as a music producer under the pen name "LOEY" with the Korea Music Copyright Association.[28] Later in February, Chanyeol collaborated with South Korean singer Junggigo on a duet titled "Let Me Love You".[29]
In May 2018, it was announced that Chanyeol would be playing the supporting role of Jung Se-joo, Hee-joo's younger brother in tvN's drama Memories of the Alhambra.[30]
On September 14, 2018, Chanyeol with fellow Exo member Sehun released a collaborative single, "We Young", for SM Station X 0.[31]
On April 25, 2019, he released his first solo song "SSFW" through SM Station.[32] On June 28, it was confirmed that Chanyeol along with his fellow Exo member Sehun would debut as the group's second official sub-unit Exo-SC, and they released their first EP What a Life on July 22, 2019.[33][34]
2024–present: Solo debut and continued acting activities
On October 20, 2023, Chanyeol released digital single "Good Enough", his first solo song since "Tomorrow" in April 2021.[36]
On February 7, 2024, it was reported that Chanyeol joined the Netflix series' The Frog which will be released on August 23.[37]
On July 27, SM announced that Chanyeol would debut as a soloist in August 2024, and he would embark on his first solo concert titled "2024 Chanyeol Live Tour: City-scape", starting in Seoul on September 6 and 7.[38] Chanyeol released his debut EP Black Out on August 28, 2024, along with the single of the same name.[39]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory Notes: BillboardKorea K-Pop Hot 100 was introduced in August 2011 and discontinued in July 2014
Collaborations
List of collaborations, showing year released, selected chart positions, sales figures, and name of the album
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory Notes: BillboardKorea K-Pop Hot 100 was introduced in August 2011 and discontinued in July 2014
Soundtrack appearances
List of soundtracks, showing year released, selected chart positions, sales figures, and name of the album
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory Notes: BillboardKorea K-Pop Hot 100 was introduced in August 2011 and discontinued in July 2014
Other charted songs
List of other charted songs, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album
^Did not enter Gaon Digital Chart but peaked at number 92 on Gaon Download Chart[53]
^Did not enter Circle Digital Chart but peaked at number 110 on Circle Download Chart[54]
^"Black Out" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 26 and 78 on the Circle Download Chart and the Circle BGM Chart, respectively.[55][56]
^"Freal Luv" charted at number six on the Gaon International Digital Chart.[61]
^Chanyeol was credited as Loey for the lyrics writing of Exo-SC tracks
^Chanyeol was credited as Loey for composing Exo-SC tracks
^Chanyeol was credited as Loey for the arrangement of Exo-SC tracks
^찬열 is short for 알찬열매, meaning "ripe fruit".[1] His name is of native Korean vocabulary and cannot be written in hanja.[2] Among the Chinese-speaking fandom, his given name is transcribed as 燦烈, loosely translated as "lustrous and fiery".
^The KKBox Music Awards is an annual music ceremony organised by Taiwan-based music streaming service KKBox. Every year KKBox tabulates the streaming statistics from their subscribers and identifies the 10 artists that are most popular to be awarded the coveted "Artist of the Year" awards amongst others.
^Hwang Hyo-jin (May 1, 2012). "Exo-K: My name is 찬열, 백현" [Exo-K: My name is Chanyeol]. TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
^"찬열". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2024.
^Kim Jin-seok (September 21, 2016). "찬열·이선빈, '미씽9' 일부 교체에도 출연 확정". Sports Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
^Lee Seung-mi (March 25, 2021). "[공식]엑소 찬열 주연 '더 박스' 3월 24일 개봉...입대前 마지막 활동" [[Official] EXO's Chanyeol starring'The Box' will be released on March 24th... Last activity before enlistment]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
^Woo, Da-bin (February 7, 2024). [단독] 엑소 찬열, '아무도 없는 숲속에서' 합류...윤계상과 호흡 [[Exclusive] EXO Chanyeol joins 'In the Woods With No One'...Working with Yoon Kye-sang] (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ji, Min-kyung (July 27, 2024). 엑소 찬열, 8월 솔로 데뷔 확정..라이브 투어까지 '열일' 예고 [EXO Chanyeol confirms solo debut in August..Live tour expected to be 'exciting'] (in Korean). OSEN [ko]. Retrieved July 30, 2024 – via Naver.
^Han, Hae-seon (September 28, 2022). "전역' 찬열, 오늘(28일) 돌아온다..엑소 5번째 '군필돌'[스타이슈]" [Discharge' Chanyeol returns today (28th).. EXO's 5th 'military idol' [Star Issue]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022 – via Naver.
^2015년 01주차 Download Chart [1st Week of 2015 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on February 5, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
^Kim Na-young (July 30, 2020). "SM 측 "엑소 찬열, 영화 '더 박스' 출연 확정"" [SM's "EXO Chanyeol confirmed to appear in the movie'The Box'" (official position)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
^Kang Min-kyung (September 23, 2021). "엑소 찬열·김명수, 軍 뮤지컬 '메이사의 노래'로 첫 도전 [공식]" [EXO Chanyeol and Kim Myung-soo, first challenge with military musical 'Meisa's Song' [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2021 – via Naver.
