Min Kyung-hoon (Korean: 민경훈; born October 6, 1984) is a South Korean singer and television personality. He is the lead vocalist of the rock band Buzz and one-half of the duo Universe Cowards with Kim Hee-chul. His first solo album, Im·pres·sive, was released on December 5, 2007. His second solo album, Picnic, was released on June 27, 2011.[2] He is a regular cast member of South Korean variety show Knowing Brothers (JTBC).
Career
Audition-related and trainee days
During his early childhood, Min never thought that he would become an entertainer. Once he entered high school, he worked with a group of peers who liked to sing. In his third year of high school, Min was recommended to audition for an entertainment company as he was famous among students for both his strong vocals and "flower boy" visuals.
Min went to the audition for AYON Entertainment along with a friend without thinking seriously about it. He auditioned for the company, which would later become Buzz's first agency, in a karaoke room. Once the company heard him sing, they liked him and wanted to immediately sign a contract with him.[3] Min would then record songs under this agency and become a singer.
He signed a contract with the company in late spring 2002 and gave up on both sports and school to focus on singing. Min joined Buzz in June 2002 as the group's vocalist. The band's members practiced instruments together for two years. Min, having been added to the band later, often had to stay up at night and practice his vocals without rest.[4]
Buzz made their official debut with "Morning Of Buzz" on October 11, 2003.[5] Their second studio album "Effect" included songs like "Coward", "Thorn", and "Travel to Me" that gained extreme popularity.[6] In their third album "Perfect", the song "You Don't Know Men" was well received.[7][8][9][10] He was given the nickname "Ssamja" because he made a mistake singing this song. On May 17, 2007, Buzz disbanded temporarily as the members, with the exception of Min, began their mandatory military service.[11] Min was confirmed to continue solo activities while the members are serving the military.[12] On June 25, 2007, Buzz released the single "Love Is My Heart, Part 2".[13]
2007-2014: Solo activity and military life
On December 4, 2007, Min released his first solo album "Im · pres · sive", with the advice of Buzz members and the solicitation of his former agency.[14] The album received a lukewarm reception, as did the digital single, "Day", which was released on December 12, 2008.[15] Until 2009, Min and Buzz took a hiatus. During this time, Min hardly left his house and suffered from severe depression and weight gain. He claims that during this "slump", he drank alcohol as soon as he woke up, and drank again to fall asleep.[16]
Min recovered and returned to music. On February 4, 2010, the mini-album "Reunion" was announced officially. The title song "I Love You" is one of his most popular solo songs. Min released the digital single "It's Alright" on March 29, 2010 and the soap opera My Life Is Beautiful OST "My Eternal Love", but there was no follow-up activity. In October and November 2010, he participated as a guest vocalist by singing his digital single "Wounded" and "Buzz 2" album "Fuzz-Buzz".
On June 27, 2011, Min released his second solo album "Picnic". The album had many new attempts, including fast tempo and lively songs, a change from rock ballads, a genre Min is known for. It had lower album sales compared to the previous album.
On March 6, 2012, after the release of his digital single "Look Back" on March 2,[17] Min suddenly began his military service.[18] He joined the Uijeongbu 306 supporters and served for 21 months.[19][20] While Min was serving in the military band, he performed military band performances and concert train performances.[21] Min finished his military service on December 5, 2013, and fans and Buzz members gathered and congratulated him.[22]
2014-present: Buzz re-union, Knowing Bros and Universe Cowards
On April 8, 2014, Min returned as the singer of Buzz as the band announced their comeback.[23][24]
In fall 2016, Min and Kim Hee-chul released a duet titled "Sweet Dream". The two stars are known as "Universe Cowards" when they promote their music.[26] The song proved successful, topping the South Korean Gaon Digital Chart, an achievement known as an "all-kill".[27] In 2017, "Sweet Dream" won the Best Rock Song award at the MelOn Music Awards.[28]
Following the success of "Sweet Dream", in February 2018, Universe Cowards returned with "Falling Blossoms". It was composed by Lee Sang-joon and Cha Gil-wan and features lyrics written by Min,[29] and peaked at number 15 on Gaon Digital Chart. Billboard described it as "soft pop-rock tune that grows to a soaring, emotional cacophony" and complimented how their music video was one of the most inclusive music videos South Korea's seen in some time.[29]
Starting from November 2018, Min became a fixed cast member of the weekly variety show Problem Child in House after successful pilot episodes.[30]
In December 2020, Universal Cowards collaborated with producer DinDin and Bibi to produce the traditional hip-hop track "Hanryang".
Personal life
On July 10, 2024, it was reported that Min would marry JTBC producer Shin Ki-eun, who previously was a producer on Knowing Bros, in November.[31] The ceremony was held on November 17 at Hotel Shilla in Seoul.[32]
^Lee, So-dam (August 8, 2017). "[뮤직톡톡] "전성기 ing"..버즈, 옛날사람? 여전한 현역 클래스" [[Music Tap] "Prime timing..." Buzz, an old person? An unchanged active class]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved June 18, 2018.
^김, 원겸 (April 20, 2005). "버즈, 국내 밴드위상 높였다" (in Korean). Star News (in Korean). Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^Kim, Ji-yeon (November 23, 2007). "버즈 민경훈, 솔로 컴백 임박 '남성미로 승부'" [Buzz's Min Kyung-hoon's solo comeback is approaching "Masculine beauty victory"]. Osen (in Korean). Retrieved July 10, 2018.
^"민경훈, 1년만 컴백...12일 싱글앨범 '하루' 발매" [Min Kyung-hoon, Comeback after a year... Released a single "Day" on the 12th]. Dailian (in Korean). December 12, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
^Kang, Se-hee (March 4, 2012). "민경훈 입대... 디지털 싱글 '돌아보다' 발매 3월 6일 현역으로 조용히" [Min Kyung-hoon enlistment... Digital single "Look Back" released quietly while enlisting as active duty soldier on March 6]. Kyeongin (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^Jun, Won (March 6, 2012). "민경훈 마지막디지털 싱글 발표하고 오늘(6일) 입대" [Min Kyung-hoon announces his latest digital single and enlists today (6th)]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^Jun, Won (December 5, 2013). "민경훈, 오늘(5일) 현역 만기제대...팬들 품으로" [Min Kyung-hoon, Discharged today (5th) from active duty]. myDaily (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^"[mk포토] 민경훈 입대 '군대 잘 다녀 올게요~'" [[mk Photo] Min Kyung-hoon Enlisted, 'I'll serve in the army well~']. Sports MK (in Korean). March 6, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^Kim, Min-hyo (October 24, 2012). "[포토] 민경훈, 군악대 공연하는거 너무 좋은걸요" [[Photo] Min Kyung-hoon, "It is nice to perform for the military band"]. Data News (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (December 5, 2013). "민경훈 전역, 오늘(5일) 현역복무 마치고 팬들 곁으로" [Min Kyung-hoon discharged today (5th) from active duty and stands beside fans]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved July 6, 2018.
^Ha, Kyung-heon (July 10, 2024). "[단독] 버즈 민경훈, 방송 종사자와 11월 결혼" [[Exclusive] Buzz Min Kyung-hoon marries broadcaster in November] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kim, Myung-mi (November 17, 2024). "민경훈♥'아형' 출신 PD 결혼식 공개…이상민 "몇 번을 울컥했는지" 감동" [Min Kyung Hoon ♥ PD from 'Ah-hyung' wedding revealed... Lee Sang Min "I cried so many times" moved] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved November 17, 2024 – via Naver.
^"K-pop Album Sales Volume". Recording Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
^[설특집] '가(歌)문의 영광' 이특•양세형•민경훈 예능 대세 MC와 대세 걸그룹의 만남 [[Special Issue] Popular entertainment MC Leeteuk, Yang Se-hyung and Min Kyung-hoon meet popular girl groups in "Girl Group Battle"]. People's Daily (in Korean). January 11, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
^Jung Ji-hyun (July 5, 2022). "장도연·민경훈·지연·폴킴, '비밀남녀' MC 확정...26일 첫방송 [공식]" [Jang Do-yeon, Min Kyung-hoon, Ji-yeon, and Paul Kim confirmed MCs for "Secret Man and Woman"... First broadcast on the 26th [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved July 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^"올해의 가수 (음원) 후보자" [Artist of the Year (Song) nominees]. 8th Gaon Chart Music Awards 2018 (in Korean). KMCIA. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
