K.Will

2003–2008: Career beginnings and breakthrough with Left Heart

Prior to his debut, K.Will trained to be a singer for five years under producer Bang Si-hyuk.^[8] He also worked as a "guide vocal," singing demos of songs that would ultimately be recorded by other artists including TVXQ, g.o.d. and Rain.^[9] During this time, he was dubbed the "male Mariah Carey," after a video of him singing Carey's songs became popular on South Korean websites.^[10]

K.Will released his debut album, Left Heart (왼쪽 가슴), on March 6, 2007 via Bang's label Big Hit Entertainment. Producer Park Jin-young composed the album's title song, which reached number 3 on the Melon digital chart shortly after its release.^[11][12]

In January 2008, K.Will left Big Hit and joined his agent Kim Shi-dae's new company Starship Entertainment. On December 2, 2008, he released the digital single "Love 119", featuring rapper MC Mong.^[13] The single reached number 1 on various online music charts.^[14]

2009–2011: Missing You, first "all-kill" and Immortal Songs

K.Will released his first extended play, Dropping the Tears (눈물이 뚝뚝), featuring a title track of the same name, on March 31, 2009.^[15] The song topped online music charts the day after its release.^[16] On November 5, he released his second album, Missing You (그립고 그립고 그립다).^[17] The album's title song was a success on South Korean charts.^[18] K.Will held his first solo concert, a sold-out performance at Yonsei University in Seoul, on December 25.^[19]

On March 10, 2010, K.Will released the single "Present" (선물), featuring Eun Ji-won. The song was an instant success, topping real-time online music charts following its release.^[20] That May, K.Will held a sold-out solo concert in Tokyo, followed by a concert in Osaka in July.^[21][22] In December, he also sold out two solo concerts in Seoul.^[23]

On January 21, 2011, K.Will released the single "Amazed" (기가 차), featuring rapper Simon D and Hyolyn of girl group Sistar. The song rapidly reached the top of several music charts.^[24] On March 10, K.Will released his second mini album, My Heart Beating (가슴이 뛴다), featuring the lead single of the same name.^[25] The single was an "all-kill", topping all major South Korean real-time music charts simultaneously.^[26] It was K.Will's first number 1 single on the weekly Gaon Digital Chart.^[27] The single also marked the first time K.Will won first place on a South Korean music chart television show, with his April 3 win on Inkigayo.^[28]

K.Will held his third solo concert in Seoul on June 25, 2011, featuring guests Wheesung, Lee Hyun and Sistar.^[29] He held his annual Christmas concert over three days in December, featuring special guests Wonder Girls and Orange Caramel.^[30] He also finished out the year as a contestant on the TV show Immortal Songs 2, which he left in January 2012 after setting a record of five consecutive wins in the singing competition.^[31]

2012–2016: The 3rd Album and continued chart-topping success

On February 14, 2012, K.Will released his third mini album, I Need You (니가 필요해).^[32] The title song of the same name peaked at number 1 on the Gaon Digital Chart,^[33] while the album's pre-release single, "I Hate Myself" (내가 싫다), reached number 2.^[34] On October 11, K.Will released The 3rd Album, Part 1, including the title track "Please Don't..." (이러지마 제발). The song was an instant success on South Korean music charts.^[35] The music video, starring Ahn Jae-hyun, Seo In-guk, and Dasom, received both domestic and international attention for its twist ending featuring a same-sex crush.^[36][37][38]

On April 4, 2013, K.Will released The 3rd Album, Part 2, with the lead single "Love Blossom."^[39] The song was another hit, debuting at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart.^[40] K.Will released his fourth mini album, Will in Fall, on October 18.^[41] The lead single, "You Don't Know Love" (촌스럽게 왜 이래), was his third number 1 hit on the Gaon Digital Chart.^[42]

On June 25, 2014, K.Will released his fifth mini album, One Fine Day, featuring the lead single "Day 1" (오늘부터 1일), which peaked at number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart.^[43][44] He released his fifth mini album, [Re:] and its lead single "Growing" (꽃이 핀다), on March 25, 2015.^[45] The song was an instant hit in South Korea, and also performed well on Chinese digital charts.^[46][47]

In 2016, K.Will again topped the charts. His digital single "You Call It Romance" (니가 하면 로맨스), featuring Davichi, ranked number 2 on the Gaon Digital Chart following its January release.^[48] That March, his song "Talk Love" (말해! 뭐해?), from the soundtrack to the television series Descendants of the Sun, reached number 1 on the chart.^[49]

2017–present: The 4th Album

K.Will released The 4th Album Part 1 [Nonfiction] on September 26, 2017, along with an accompanying music video for the title track "Nonfiction" (실화).^[50] On October 28, 2018, K.Will revealed the tracklist for The 4th Album Part.2 [想像; Mood Indigo],^[51] and an album teaser was released three days later.^[52] The album was released on November 6, with K.Will co-producing each song.^[53][54]

In February 2020, K.Will renewed his contract with Starship Entertainment.^[55]

On August 12, 2022, it was announced that K.Will will begin the nationwide Here and Now tour, to be held in October.^[56]

Television dramas

Reality television