Sunmi

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.
Sunmi
Sunmi in July 2023
Born
Sun Mi

(1992-05-02) May 2, 1992 (age 32)
Iksan, North Jeolla, South Korea
Other namesMimi
EducationDongguk University
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • bass guitar
Years active
  • 2007–2010
  • 2013–present
Labels
  • JYP
  • Abyss Company
Formerly of
Korean name
Hangul
이선미
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Seon-mi
McCune–ReischauerRi Sŏnmi
Birth name
Hangul
선미
Hanja
宣美
Revised RomanizationSeon Mi
McCune–ReischauerSŏn Mi
Signature

Lee Sun-mi (Hangul: 이선미; born Sun Mi, May 2, 1992), known by her first name, Sunmi, is a South Korean singer and dancer. She is also a songwriter and record producer. She made an album in 2007 as a part of South Korean girl group Wonder Girls. Sunmi left the group in 2010 to go after her education. After three years, Sunmi went back to her job as a singer.

Early life

Sunmi was born on May 2, 1992 in South Korea.[1] She went to Dongguk University.[2]

Sunmi revealed on a 2018 episode of Talkmon that she first decided to become famous when she was 12. Sunmi went to Seoul to try out and was a JYP Entertainment trainee at 14. Her father died three months before she was a part of the Wonder Girls. Sunmi later used her stepfather's last name Lee while in university.[3] She put it together with her first name and last name.[3] This made her new name Lee Sun-mi.[3]

Career

2006–2012: Debut with Wonder Girls and break

In May 2006, Sunmi was the fourth member of Wonder Girls. Wonder Girls was a girl group run by JYP Entertainment. The group made the single "Irony", on February 10, 2007. The Wonder Girls later made their hits "Tell Me", "So Hot" and "Nobody" within two years.[4] Sunmi and the Wonder Girls went on tour with the Jonas Brothers. Sunmi used the nickname Mimi.

In January 2010, JYP said that Sunmi would be leaving the Wonder Girls to go after her education. Sunmi would continue until February.[5] On January 13, 2012, JYP Entertainment said that there were no plans for Sunmi to return to singing and come back as a member of Wonder Girls.[6]

2013–2016: Solo debut with Full Moon, Wonder Girls return

Sunmi in 2013 and 2014

In August 2013, Sunmi had come back to her music career.[7] Sunmi's single, "24 Hours" , was let out on August 26, 2013. It shortly was an all-kill on music charts.[8] Her extended play, Full Moon, was let out on February 17, 2014.[9] The song was at number two on the Gaon Digital Chart and at number three on Billboard's K-pop Hot 100.[10][11] Sunmi was said to have gotten a classy role of "sexy".[12]

On June 24, 2015, JYP Entertainment said that Sunmi would be part of the Wonder Girls again after leaving in 2010. Sunmi played the bass.[13] In August, the group's album Reboot was let out.[14] Sunmi partly wrote and produced three of its tracks.[14]

2017–2021: Wonder Girls final end, Warning, tour, and 1/6

Sunmi performing in 2017 and 2018

On January 26, 2017, it was said that Wonder Girls were to end after problems with Yeeun and Sunmi. Wonder Girls let out their last single, "Draw Me", on February 10, 2017. The song was also a celebration for their tenth anniversary.[15][16] In March, Sunmi signed with Makeus Entertainment. In August, she let out her single "Gashina". It was produced by Teddy Park of The Black Label.[17][18] The song was at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart. Gashina was named the Third Best K-pop Song of 2017 by Billboard.[19]

Sunmi made a single named "Heroine" on January 18, 2018. On September 4, Sunmi let her second extended play. It was called Warning. Sunmi also let out the lead single, "Siren".[20] "Siren" was an all-kill on six local music charts.[21] Warning was named the third best K-pop album of 2018 by Billboard and Bravo.[22][23]

From February to June 2019, Sunmi held her first world tour.[24] It was called Warning.[24] Tickets for the concert in Seoul sold out in five seconds after opening.[25] On March 4, 2019, Sunmi let out a single called "Noir".[26] After ending her world tour, she let out her single "Lalalay" on August 27, 2019.[27]

Sunmi let out her third extended play 1/6 (one sixth) on August 6, 2021. The lead single, "You Can't Sit with Us", was let out on the same day.[28] On October 11, Sunmi let out the new digital single "Go or Stop?".[29]

2022–present: "Heart Burn" and tour

On June 8, 2022, Sunmi's agency said that she would make a new single called "Heart Burn" on June 29.[30][31] On June 30, 2022, the agency said that Sunmi would be having an world tour called "Good Girl Gone Mad". It was held in Europe and America.[32]

Personal life

Sunmi has borderline personality disorder. Sunmi wrote about it in her song "Borderline". "Borderline" was let out in August 2021.[33]

Discography

Extended plays

Videography

Music videos

Title Year Director Ref.
"24 Hours" 2013 Naive Creative Production [34]
"Full Moon" 2014 [35]
"Gashina" 2017 Choi Yongseok

(Lumpens)

[36]
"Heroine" 2018 [37]
"Siren" [38]
"Noir" 2019 [39]
"Lalalay" [40]
"Gotta Go" (Dance Performance) 2020 NOVVKIM (NOVV) [41]
"Pporappippam" Ziyong Kim (Fantazy Lab) [42]
"BORDERLINE" NEWSTONE (KAK STUDIO) [43]
"When We Disco" Naive Creative Production [44]
"Tail" 2021 Paranoid Paradigm

(VM Project Architecture)

[45]
"You Can't Sit with Us" Seong Wonmo (Digipedi) [46]
"Go or Stop?" Pixelzero (PXZO) [47]
"Heart Burn" 2022 Seong Wonmo (Digipedi) [48]
"Stranger" 2023 [49][50]
"Balloon in Love" 2024 Kim Min-jae [51]

Filmography

See also: Wonder Girls § Filmography

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 The Producers Herself Cameo (Episode 3)

Web series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 YG Future Strategy Office Herself Cameo (Episode 4)
2020 XX Customer Cameo (Teaser)

Television shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 Fashion King Korea Contestant (Season 2)
2018 Secret Unnie Cast with Kang Seul-gi (Ep. 3–9)

with Kim Hyo-yeon and Han Chae-young (Ep. 9) with Han Chae-young, Kang Seul-gi and Kim Ye-ri (Ep. 16)

2020 Running Girls Cast member with Hani, YooA, Chungha and Chuu
2020–present Sing Again Judge Season 1–3 [52][53]
2021 Girls Planet 999 Mentor [54]
2023 Boys Planet Star master Episode 2 [55]

Web shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020 RReal World Regular host with her two brothers
2022–2023 Sunmi's Show! Interview Host YouTube SBS [56][57]

Concerts and tours

Sunmi the 1st World Tour: Warning

Tour dates
Date City Country Venue
February 24, 2019 Seoul South Korea Yes24 Live Hall
March 6, 2019 San Francisco United States Regency Ballroom
March 7, 2019 Los Angeles The Fonda Theatre
March 10, 2019 Seattle Showbox SoDo
March 11, 2019 Vancouver Canada Vogue Theatre
March 13, 2019 Calgary The Palace Theatre
March 15, 2019 New York City United States The Town Hall
March 16, 2019 Toronto Canada Queen Elizabeth Theatre
March 18, 2019 Washington, D.C. United States Lincoln Theatre
March 21, 2019 Mexico City Mexico Auditorio Blackberry
April 13, 2019 Hong Kong China KITEC Star Hall
May 10, 2019 Taipei Taiwan Taiwan University Sports Centre
May 23, 2019 Tokyo Japan Tsutaya O-East
May 30, 2019 London United Kingdom Indigo at The O2
June 2, 2019 Warsaw Poland Progresja
June 4, 2019 Amsterdam Netherlands Q-Factory
June 6, 2019 Berlin Germany Huxley's Neue Welt
June 7, 2019 Paris France La Cigale
June 15, 2019 Seoul South Korea Yes24 Live Hall

2022 Sunmi Tour: Good Girl Gone Mad

Tour dates
Date City Country Venue Attendance
August 14, 2022 Warsaw Poland Progresja —
August 17, 2022 Madrid Spain Palacio Vistalegre —
August 19, 2022 Offenbach Germany Capitol Theater —
August 21, 2022 London United Kingdom Troxy 3,000[58]
August 23, 2022 Amsterdam Netherlands Melkweg —
August 26, 2022 Paris France Salle Pleyel —
August 28, 2022 Helsinki Finland Kulttuuritalo —
September 2, 2022 Chicago United States Riviera Theatre —
September 4, 2022 New York City Terminal 5 3,000[59]
September 6, 2022 Toronto Canada Massey Hall —
September 8, 2022 Atlanta United States Tabernacle —
September 10, 2022 Seattle Showbox SoDo —
September 12, 2022 Los Angeles Wiltern Theatre —
September 13, 2022 San Francisco Warfield Theatre —
September 15, 2022 Vancouver Canada Queen Elizabeth Theatre —
October 8, 2022 Seoul South Korea Yes24 Live Hall —

Online concerts

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
Publisher Year Listicle Rank Ref.
Forbes 2018 Korea Power Celebrity 29th [60]
2019 24th [61]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Sunmi, the ex-Wonder Girl and K-pop's most bankable female star". South China Morning Post. September 29, 2018. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  2. ↑ Byeon, Seong-hyeon (February 24, 2011). "[포토] 선미, 동국대 입학식 '새내기 다운 풋풋한 모습!'". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jo, Yoon-sun (February 6, 2018). "'토크몬' 선미, 가슴 아픈 가족사 "父 돌아가신 후 이선미로 개명"" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Wonder Girls at Nine: The Ups and Downs of K-Pop's Enduring Girl Group". PopCrush. February 8, 2016. Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Sunmi to Quit Wonder Girls". The Korea Times. January 23, 2010. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  6. ↑ "No regrets leaving would be a lie: Ex-Wonder Girl Sunmi". The Korea Herald. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Ex-Wonder Girls member Sunmi to make solo comeback". The Korea Herald. August 6, 2013. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  8. ↑ "'All kill' for ex-Wonder Girl". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 28, 2013. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Sunmi to release debut EP this month". The Korea Herald. February 3, 2014. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  10. ↑ "2014년 09주차 Digital Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100 Week of March 8, 2014". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Eyelike: Sunmi brings back 'sexy' with 'Full Moon'". The Korea Herald. February 21, 2014. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  13. ↑ Ho-jung, Won (June 24, 2015). "Wonder Girls confirmed to return as band". Kpop Herald. The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Wonder Girls unveil track list for 'Reboot'". Kpop Herald. July 29, 2015. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  15. ↑ "After nearly ten years, Wonder Girls disband". Korea JoongAng Daily. January 21, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Cover image for final single features Wonder Girls in watercolors". Kpop Herald. February 9, 2017. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Sunmi drops experimental single". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  18. ↑ "EX-Wonder Girls' Sunmi makes solo comeback with 'Gashina". Yonhap News Agency. August 22, 2017. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 26, 2017.
  19. ↑ "The Best K-pop Songs of 2017: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 14, 2017. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Sunmi returns with seductive yet dangerous 'Warning'". Kpop Herald. September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Sunmi dominates music charts with 'Siren'". Kpop Herald. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  22. ↑ "The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 17, 2018. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Das sind die zehn besten K-Pop-Alben des Jahres". Bravo (in German). December 23, 2018. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Sunmi Announces 'Warning' World Tour: See the North American Dates". Billboard. January 16, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  25. ↑ "선미, 첫 월드 투어 서울 콘서트 티켓 5초 매진 기록" [Sunmi's first world tour Seoul concert tickets sold out in 5 seconds]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Naver. January 23, 2019. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  26. ↑ "K-pop queen Sunmi on new song Noir". philstar.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  27. ↑ Jung, Hae-myoung (August 28, 2019). "K-pop diva Sunmi dominates music charts with 'Lalalay'". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  28. ↑ Sun, Mi-kyung (July 20, 2021). 선미, 8월 6일 컴백 확정..3년만 미니앨범 '1/6' 발표[공식]. Maeil Broadcasting Network (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021 – via Naver.
  29. ↑ Lee, Jae-hoon (October 11, 2021). 선미, e스포츠와 협업...'고 오어 스톱?'. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Naver.
  30. ↑ Kim, Jin-seok (June 8, 2022). "선미, 10개월만인 이달 말 컴백 확정... '선미팝; 기대↑" [Sunmi confirms comeback at the end of this month after 10 months... 'Sunmi Pop; expectation↑] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  31. ↑ Baek, Seung-hoon (June 16, 2022). "선미, '솔로 퀸'에서 '써머 퀸'으로...29일 컴백" [Sunmi, from 'Solo Queen' to 'Summer Queen'... comeback on the 29th] (in Korean). iMBC. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022 – via Naver.
  32. ↑ Ji, Min-kyung (June 30, 2022). "선미, 3년 만의 월드투어 개최 확정..유럽+북미 16개 도시 공연" [Sunmi confirmed to hold world tour for the first time in 3 years... Performances in 16 cities in Europe and North America] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2022 – via Naver.
  33. ↑ Suacillo, Angela Patricia (August 11, 2021). "Sunmi – '1/6' review: a retro-inspired deep dive into the K-pop star's mental health". NME. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  34. ↑ NAIVE (December 14, 2015). "선미(Sunmi)_24시간이 모자라(24 hours)_M/V". Tumblr. Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  35. ↑ NAIVE (December 14, 2015). "선미(Sunmi)_보름달(Full Moon)_M/V". Tumblr. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  36. ↑ lumpens (August 22, 2017). "SUNMI – 가시나". Vimeo. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  37. ↑ lumpens (February 6, 2018). "주인공 heroine – 선미 SUNMI". Vimeo. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  38. ↑ lumpens (October 25, 2018). "siren – SUNMI 선미". Vimeo. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  39. ↑ GDWDOP (March 25, 2019). "Sunmi 'NOIR' Music Video". Vimeo. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  40. ↑ @gdwdop (August 28, 2019). "Sunmi – Lalalay". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  41. ↑ @novvkim (February 8, 2020). "SUNMI - Gotta Go (from XX)". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  42. ↑ @yuninmo (July 1, 2020). "SUNMI(선미) 'pporappippam(보라빛 밤)' MV". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  43. ↑ KAK STUDIO (August 19, 2020). "선미 (SUNMI) - BORDERLINE Special Video". Youtube. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  44. ↑ NAIVE (September 12, 2020). "박진영 (J.Y. Park) "When We Disco (Duet with 선미)" M/V". Tumblr. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  45. ↑ @vm_project (February 22, 2021). "Sunmi "꼬리"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  46. ↑ @digipedi (December 25, 2021). "You can't sit with us SUNMI_Abyss Company". Instagram. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  47. ↑ @pxzo.studio (October 12, 2021). "#선미 #sunmi #kia #dwgkia 추후 크레딧 업데이트". Instagram. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  48. ↑ @digipedi.seong (June 29, 2022). "열이 올라요 sunmi". Instagram. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  49. ↑ 선미(SUNMI) 'STRANGER' MV (Music video). Abyss Company. October 17, 2023. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via YouTube.
  50. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  51. ↑ 선미 SUNMI (June 13, 2024). 선미(SUNMI) 'Balloon in Love' MV. Retrieved June 13, 2024 – via YouTube.
  52. ↑ Kang Hyo-jin (October 21, 2021). "'싱어게인2' 윤도현 합류, 이선희→송민호 심사위원 라인업 확정[공식]" ['Singer Gain 2' Yoon Do-hyun joins, Lee Seon-hee → Song Min-ho Jury lineup confirmed] (in Korean). SPOTV news. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021 – via Naver.
  53. ↑ Lee, Seul (November 8, 2023). "'싱어게인3' 최초 슈퍼 어게인→"내 OST가 가장 유명" 참가자까지" ['Singer Gain 3' first super gain → "My OST is the most famous" participant]. X-ports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  54. ↑ Hwang Hye-jin (June 9, 2021). "원더걸스 출신 선미·소녀시대 티파니 '걸스플래닛999' 출연 확정(공식)" [Wonder Girls former Sunmi and Girls' Generation Tiffany confirmed to appear in 'Girls Planet 999' (official)] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021 – via Never.
  55. ↑ Seon Mi-kyung (February 8, 2023). "'보이즈 플래닛' 연습생 전원, 선미와 1회 방송 시청.."벌써 반응 뜨겁다"" [All trainees of 'Boys Planet' watch the first episode with Sunmi.."The reaction is already hot"] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023 – via Naver.
  56. ↑ Jeong Ga-young (June 24, 2022). "[단독] 선미, '쇼!터뷰' 새 MC 된다...제시와 배턴터치" [[Exclusive] Sunmi becomes the new MC for 'Show! Jessie and the baton touch] (in Korean). Sports World. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Naver.
  57. ↑ Oh Ji-won (July 8, 2022). "선미, '쇼!터뷰' 새 MC 확정...14일 첫 공개" [Sunmi confirmed as new MC for 'Show! Interview'... First release on the 14th] (in Korean). YTN. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Naver.
  58. ↑ Kwan, Aimée (August 29, 2022). "Sunmi's 'Good Girl Gone Mad' In London: The Pop Legend Who Feels Like A Friend". &Asian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  59. ↑ Abelman, Devon (October 8, 2022). "The Unexpected Way K-Pop Star Sunmi Transformed Herself Into a Vampire". Allure. Archived from the original on June 8, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  60. ↑ Yang, Mi-sun (March 23, 2018). 한국 연예계의 세대교체 [Generational change in Korean entertainment industry]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via Joins.
  61. ↑ Kim, Min-soo (April 23, 2019). 파워 셀럽 40인은 누구? [Who are the 40 power celebrities?]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2021 – via Joins.

Other websites

  • Media related to Sunmi at Wikimedia Commons