Lee Ki-seop

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.
Lee Ki-seop
Kiseop with U-Kiss at the press conference for Dream Concert 2013
Born (1991-01-17) January 17, 1991 (age 33)
Seoul, South Korea
Occupation
  • Singer
SpouseJung Yu-na (m. 2019)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
Years active2009–present
Labels
Korean name
Hangul
이기섭
Revised RomanizationI Giseop
McCune–ReischauerI Kisŏp

Lee Ki-seop (Korean: 이기섭; born January 17, 1991), commonly known as Kiseop, is a South Korean singer. He is best known for being a member of South Korean boy group U-KISS[1] formed by NH Media in 2008. He joined U-KISS in November 2009,[2][unreliable source?] before departing the group in May 2019 and later rejoining the group in January 2022.[3]

Early life

Kiseop was born on January 17, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea where he lived with his parents and his older sister. He attended Yatab High School and was known for being a "Yatab Ulzzang", girls would follow him home and ask for his number.[4]

Kiseop was also active in the dance circle during the High School years.[4]

Career

2008: Pre-debut and joining U-KISS

Before debuting, Kiseop auditioned for numerous entertainment companies but he got rejected. He went into depression and thought about committing suicide but his parents helped guide him out of his suicidal stages.[4]

Kiseop's first ever TV appearance was with Girls' Generation on PKL's Wonderful Outing. He was modeling for a friend before he auditioned and got into U-KISS.[4] Before officially joining U-KISS, Kiseop appeared in their debut music video Not Young.[4]

2009–2010: Debut with U-KISS, CountiUkiss, ManManHani

In August 2009, U-KISS started recording new tracks for a follow-up to Bring It Back 2 Old School. The group released the EP ContiUKiss on November 5, 2009.[5][unreliable source?] The same day it was Kiseop's first TV appearance as the new U-KISS member.

The single was produced by Brave Brothers.[6][unreliable source?] A Japanese-language version was released on February 29, 2012, as part of their first Japanese album, A Shared Dream.[7][unreliable source?]

Kiseop has appeared on the second season of Ulzzang Shidae but was taken off the show because of U-KISS' tight schedule.

2011–2013: Acting and Musicals

In 2011, Kiseop started his acting career in an MBC sitcom titled Real School along with his fellow member Eli Kim.[8][unreliable source?] The duo acted in a 40-episode series, transforming into high school students who reside at an "English Village" in an attempt to face and crack their fear of speaking English.[9][unreliable source?][10][unreliable source?]

Kiseop along with bandmates Dongho, Hoon and Soohyun filmed a movie with Jay Park, Kim Soo Ro and Park Yejin with the working title Mr. Idol in February 2011.

In 2012, Kiseop, Soohyun, Eli and Kevin participated in the drama KPOP The Ultimate Audition, having small cameo appearances in three episodes acting as a senior idol group to the main cast.

In 2013, Kiseop participated in his first musical Summer Snow along with his fellow members Soohyun and Kevin.[11] The same year he also was cast in Goong Musical with Hoon from July 11, 2013, to July 15, 2013.[12][unreliable source?]

In 2014, Kiseop was cast again in Goong Musical with his bandmates Soohyun, Hoon and Kevin.[13][unreliable source?]

2019: Departure from U-KISS and Marriage

On May 16, 2019, NH Media announced that Kiseop's contract with NH Media had expired and he had decided not to renew it along with other fellow U-KISS member Eli.[14][unreliable source?]

On August 1, 2019, Kiseop announced through his Instagram that he would be marrying model/actress Jung Yoo Na.[15]

2022: New agency, return to U-KISS

On January 24, 2022, Kiseop signed an exclusive contract with Tango Music, with the announcement stating he is once again part of U-KISS.[3]

Discography

Main article: U-KISS discography

Filmography

TV series

Year Title Role Language
2010 Real School Student Korean, English
2011 KPOP The Ultimate Audition senior idol group (cameo) Korean

Movies

Year
# 		Title Role Language
2011 Mr. Idol Himself (as Wonder Boys) (cameo) Korean

Musicals

  • 2013: Summer Snow (Kevin, Soohyun & Kiseop)[11]
  • 2013: Goong (Kiseop & Hoon)[12]
  • 2014: Goong (Soohyun, Kiseop, Hoon & Kevin)[13]
  • 2016: Cafein

References

  1. ^ KBS World. U-KISS Archived 2010-11-27 at the Wayback Machine. March 13, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2008.
  2. ^ "U-Kiss album released". Archived from the original on 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  3. ^ a b Yoon, Sang-geun (January 24, 2022). 유키스 수현·기섭·훈 2022 새출발..탱고뮤직 1호 전속계약[공식] [U-Kiss Suhyeon, Ki-seop, and Hoon 2022 new start... Tango Music No. 1 exclusive contract [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Kiseop's Profile". greekpop.asiat-world.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  5. ^ "U-Kiss album released". Allkpop. November 5, 2009. Archived from the original on October 13, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  6. ^ "U-Kiss does "Man Man Ha Ni" on Music Core". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  7. ^ "U-KISS reveals PV for "A Shared Dream"". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Teaser for "Real School" starring U-Kiss's Dongho, Eli, and Ki Sub revealed". Archived from the original on 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
  9. ^ "U-Kiss's Dongho, Eli, and Ki Sub to act in new sitcom, 'Real School'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Viewers anticipate "Real School" in MBC's new 2011 lineup". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  11. ^ a b "NEWS | U-KISS(ユーキス) Japan official website". Archived from the original on 2014-04-02. Retrieved 2015-09-30.
  12. ^ a b "U-KISS' Kiseop and Hoon Cast for the Musical "Goong"". Soompi. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Dongjun, Taemin, & U-KISS members to head on over to Japan for 2014 season of musical 'Goong'". Allkpop. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ^ "U-KISS's Agency Announces Departure Of Eli And Kiseop". Soompi. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  15. ^ 기섭 (ᴋɪ sᴇᴏᴘ) on Instagram: "⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ 안녕하세요. 기섭입니다. 먼저 여러분들께 전해드릴 말씀이 있어서 글을 쓰게 되었습니다. 갑작스러우시겠지만 이렇게 글을 쓰게 된 이유는 제가 평생 함께하고 싶은 사람을 만나게 되었기 때문입니다. 그녀는 제 인생에 있어서 두 번 다시없을 소중한 사람입니다. 오랜 시간 동안 늘 한결같이 저만을 바라봐 준 그녀를 위해 지금부터는 제가 그녀의 행복을 책임지고 싶습니다. 그래서, 저는 그녀와 아름다운 나날들을 걸어가기 위해 결혼을 약속하게 되었습니다. 같은 곳을 바라보기로 맹세한 만큼 더 겸손하고 책임감 있는 사람이 되겠습니다. 항상 저를 사랑해주시고 믿어주신 팬 여러분의 감사한 마음... 절대 잊지 않고, 행복하게 살겠습니다. 앞으로 새로운 도전과, 여러분들 앞에 좋은 모습으로 보답하겠습니다. 저희 두 사람이 함께하는 아름다운 나날에 많은 축복과 응원을 보내 주시면 감사하겠습니다. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀-기섭 올림-". instagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 8 August 2019.