Jaehyun
재현
Jaehyun in October 2023
Born
Jeong Jae-hyun

(1997-02-14) February 14, 1997 (age 26)
Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea
Other namesJeong Yun-o
EducationSchool of Performing Arts Seoul
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • songwriter
  • actor
Years active2013–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels
Member of
Formerly ofSM Rookies
WebsiteOfficial website
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Yun-o
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Yun'o
Birth name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJeong Jae-hyeon
McCune–ReischauerChŏng Chaehyŏn
Stage name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationJae-hyeon
McCune–ReischauerChaehyŏn

Jeong Yun-o (Korean: 정윤오; born Jeong Jae-hyun (Korean: 정재현); February 14, 1997), professionally known as Jaehyun, is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band NCT and its sub-units NCT 127 and NCT DoJaeJung. Jaehyun is recognized as one of NCT's all-rounders for his unique baritone vocals and skills in rapping and dancing.[1]

First introduced in December 2013 as a trainee under the pre-debut team SM Rookies, he debuted in April 2016 as a member of the rotational unit NCT U and as a member of Seoul-based fixed unit NCT 127 in July 2016. He later joined the fixed unit NCT DoJaeJung in April 2023. NCT are noted as one of the most successful K-pop acts, both domestically and internationally, selling over 32 million[a] records within only seven years.[2][3][4]

As of 2023, Jaehyun has released two solo singles: "Forever Only" and "Horizon", both as part of the NCT Lab project. Apart from music, he has also hosted the radio show NCT Night Night from March 2017 to January 2019 and the television program Inkigayo from October 2019 to February 2021. He later debuted as an actor with a leading role in the college romance television series Dear. M (2022), and he is set to make his feature film debut in the mystery thriller film You Will Die In 6 Hours. As of June 2022, Jaehyun is a global ambassador for the Italian luxury brand Prada; he is considered among the most impactful fashion ambassadors from South Korea.[5][6]

Early life and education

Jaehyun was born on February 14, 1997, in Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea.[7] Although he was born Jeong Jae-hyun (정재현), he later legally changed his name to Jeong Yun-o (정윤오).[7] At the age of five, Jaehyun moved to Connecticut, USA with his parents, where he went by the English name Jay Jeong.[8] As a result, he is fluent in both English and Korean. He revealed that while studying in Connecticut, he was the only Asian student at school.[9][10] Jaehyun returned to South Korea at the age of ten, and said that he struggled adapting to Korean culture.[10]

Jaehyun trained in Taekwondo and received a Black belt.[11] He later became interested in music at a young age due to his parents' influence; he learned to play the guitar and the piano, and later began singing during middle school. His grandmother, a retired professional dancer, was also his guide during dance training.[9] He was also inspired to pursue music by his elementary school teacher, Lee Eun-yeol.[10] Jaehyun attended Shindong Middle School and Apgujeong High School, and later transferred to the School of Performing Arts Seoul in his second year of high school and graduated in 2016.[12][13] He used to be a student council president.[9]

Career

2012–2016: Pre-debut activities

Jaehyun was cast by SM Entertainment in 2012, discovered by street scouts in front of his school. He auditioned with a performance of "Mama" by Exo.[8] On December 9, 2013, he was introduced as a member of the pre-debut trainee team SM Rookies.[14] In 2014, he participated with fellow NCT members on the show Exo 90:2014, where they performed songs from the 1990s.[15] From January 21 to July 1, 2015, he and groupmate Doyoung were hosts of the program Show Champion.[16] In July 2015, he and groupmate Ten both competed in Hope Basketball All-Star.[17] In December 2015, Jaehyun performed "A Whole New World" on Disney Channel Korea's The Mickey Mouse Club.[8]

2016–2018: Debut with NCT

In April 2016, Jaehyun officially debuted as a member of NCT's sub-unit, NCT U, with the singles "The 7th Sense" and "Without You".[18] On July 10, he made his debut as a member of NCT 127 with their first EP, NCT#127.[19] In March 2017, Jaehyun joined the radio show NCT Night Night as a DJ alongside fellow member Johnny.[20] In November 2017, Jaehyun and Dear released the song "Try Again" for the project SM Station.[21] In December, he featured in the music video for Wendy and Baek A-yeon's "The Little Match Girl".[22] In January 2018, Jaehyun released the single "Timeless" alongside a new NCT U lineup as part of the SM Station project.[23]

2019–present: Solo endeavors, acting projects, and NCT DoJaeJung

In October 2019, Jaehyun became one of three hosts for the South Korean music program Inkigayo alongside Minhyuk and Naeun, hosting the show every Sunday.[24] On September 4, 2020, it was confirmed that Jaehyun would make his acting debut as Cha Min-ho, a second-year computer science student at Seoyeon University, in the KBS2 drama Dear. M, which was to be released in 2021.[25] The airing of the drama was postponed indefinitely after lead actress Park Hye-su was accused of school bullying.[26] After a nearly two-year delay, the first six episodes of Dear. M were released globally on June 29, 2022, through the streaming service Viki.[27] Its following episodes were released on July 6, 2022.

On November 2, 2021, Jaehyun was confirmed to star in a KakaoTV web series, a remake of the 2001 South Korean film Bungee Jumping of Their Own, playing the leading role of Im Hyun-bin.[28] On December 9 of the same year, during pre-production, KakaoTV announced the cancellation of the project due to concerns regarding the LGBT plot from the original film's screenwriter.[29]

On August 18, 2022, Jaehyun released his first single "Forever Only" as part of NCT Lab. "Forever Only" was described as an R&B song and featured lyrics written by Jaehyun.[30] It received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number 14 on the United States' Billboard World Digital Songs and at 120 on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart.[31][32] On March 9, 2023, Jaehyun was confirmed to debut alongside fellow NCT members Doyoung and Jungwoo in the new fixed sub-unit NCT DoJaeJung.[33] They released their first extended play (EP) Perfume on April 17, 2023.[34]

On July 3, 2023, it was announced that Jaehyun will make his feature film debut in the mystery thriller film You Will Die In 6 Hours, based on the Japanese novel of the same name.[35] He will portray the lead character Junwoo, starring alongside Park Ju-hyun and Kwak Si-yang.[36] On August 8, he released his second solo single "Horizon" under the now-reconstructed NCT Lab.[37] The song is described as a romantic R&B/Soul track that Jaehyun wrote and composed.[38] It debuted at number 38 on the Circle Digital Chart, as well as at the first and third spots of the BGM Chart and Download Chart, respectively.[32] "Horizon" marks Jaehyun's highest-charting solo single in South Korea.

Other ventures

Endorsements

Following various successful collaborations with Prada, Jaehyun was selected as a global ambassador in June 2022, citing his influence and unique fashion style as a reason.[39][5] In 2023, he modeled for Prada's SS23 campaign, making him the first Korean celebrity to be chosen as a model for the brand's main global campaign.[40] Photographed by David Sims, the campaign draws "upon the characteristics of classic Hollywood and European movies - their images are frames within divergent stories, glimpses of an unseen narrative and an unknown script, a tension again between different views, of different lives" and features Jaehyun alongside actors Vincent Cassel, Louis Partridge, Hunter Schafer, and Letitia Wright and models Guinevere van Seenus and Rachel Williams.[41]

Multiple publications named Jaehyun as one of the most influential fashion brand ambassadors from South Korea, noting Prada's increase in purchases, popularity, and online topicality following Jaehyun's appointment as a global ambassador in June 2022.[42][5][6]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Ref.
TBA You Will Die In 6 Hours Junwoo [43]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Show Champion Host with Doyoung [16]
2017 Law of the Jungle Himself [44]
2019–21 Inkigayo Host with Minhyuk and Lee Na-eun [24]
2022 Dear. M Cha Min-ho Male lead [25][26]
2023 NCT 127: The Lost Boys Himself Documentary; Disney+ original

Radio show

Year Title Notes Ref.
2017–2019 NCT Night Night with Johnny [20]

Discography

See also: NCT discography
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
KOR
[32] 		US
World
[31] 		VIE
[45]
"Try Again"
(with d.ear) 		2017 — — 95 S.M. Station Season 2
"Forever Only" 2022 120 14 — NCT Lab
"Horizon" 2023 38 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Songwriting credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database, unless otherwise cited.[46]

Year Song Artist(s) Album Lyricist Composer
2016 "Fire Truck" NCT 127 NCT#127 Yes No
2020 "Dancing in the Rain" NCT U NCT 2020 Resonance Pt. 1 Yes No
2021 "Lost"[b] Jaehyun — Yes Yes
2022 "Forever Only" NCT Lab Yes No
2023 "Horizon" Yes Yes

Notes

  1. ^ Sum of all album sales based on the main and discography pages of NCT, NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT DoJaeJung.
  2. ^ Unreleased track, performed during NCT 127's Neo City – The Link world tour.

References

  1. ^ Gu, Min-ji (April 25, 2023). "[디패Go] "도재정말, 폼 미쳤다"…'도재정', 신인그룹 끝판왕" [[Dispatch] "DoJaeJung, your form is crazy... Do Jae Jung, the kings of rookie groups."]. Dispatch (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023 – via Naver.
  2. ^ Hyppolite, Shermarie (October 9, 2018). "Get To Know NCT: Kpop's Most Experimental Boy Group To Date". Affinity. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  3. ^ Voon, Talia (January 11, 2022). "SM Entertainment sells nearly 18 million albums in 2021, led by NCT 127, NCT DREAM, EXO, Baekhyun, and NCT". Bandwagon. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  4. ^ Kim, Daniel (December 30, 2021). "SMTOWN 2021 Wrap Up: A Year in Review". SM Global Shop. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Kang, Min-son (June 2, 2023). "샤넬·루이비통·디올·프라다... 명품 브랜드의 '꽃' 글로벌 앰버서더 정리" [Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada... The 'Flower' of Global Ambassadors of Luxury Brands]. Wikitree (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "고물가에도 명품은 못 참지…선호브랜드 1위는? [하우머니]" [The Korean stars loved by luxury brands... what is the effect?]. SBS Biz News (in Korean). SBS. April 27, 2023. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via Naver.
  7. ^ a b Valley, Alicia (February 13, 2021). "The Perplexing Story Of Why NCT's Jaehyun Changed His Name Multiple Times". Koreaboo. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Bell, Crystal (October 24, 2018). "All You Need to Know About Korean Group NCT 127 (Except Their Blood Type)". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Bang, Ho-gwang (July 27, 2022). "NCT 재현의 새롭고 분명한 세계" [NCT Jaehyun's new, clear world]. Elle Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "NCT 127: The Lost Boys | Episode 3". Disney+. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  11. ^ NCT's Jaehyun for Arena Homme+ Korea (in Korean). Arena Homme+ Korea. October 2023.
  12. ^ Kim, So-young (August 19, 2018). "고등학교때 주변 여학생들의 공식 '첫사랑'이었다는 남자 아이돌". Insight (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  13. ^ "고교시절 압구정 슈퍼스타였다는 아이돌". SBS NEWS (in Korean). August 5, 2017. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Choi, Ha-na (November 9, 2018). "'해투4' 보아부터 태용까지, SM 캐스팅 비화 "오디션서 애국가 불러" [종합]" [From 'HaeToo 4' BoA to Taeyong, SM casting secret: "Sing the national anthem at the audition" [Compiled]]. TV Daily. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Mnet [EXO 902014] Ep.03 : 루키즈의 '신화 - 와일드 아이즈' 퍼포먼스!!" [Mnet [EXO 902014] Ep.03: Rookies' 'Shinhwa - Wild Eyes' Performance!!!]. Mnet K-POP. August 29, 2014. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ a b Choi, Ji-hyun (January 16, 2015). "SM루키즈 도영 재현, 쇼챔피언 MC 발탁 됐다" [SM Rookies' Doyoung Jaehyun appointed as Show Champion MC]. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Kwak, Hyun (June 1, 2015). "슈퍼주니어·샤이니·EXO, 인기가수와 함께 하는 희망농구올스타" [Super Junior, SHINee, EXO, Hope Basketball All-Stars with popular singers]. Jumpball (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  18. ^ Son, Ji-hyoung (April 6, 2016). "NCT U confirms lineup, set to unveil singles 'The 7th Sense,' 'Without You'". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  19. ^ Park, Soo-in (July 10, 2016). "NCT 127 전곡 음원 공개, 보너스트랙까지 총 7곡 수록" [NCT 127 All Songs Released, 7 Songs Including Bonus Track]. The Korea Herald (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Son, Ye-ji (March 9, 2017). "SBS 파워FM, 'NCT의 나잇 나잇! 신설 (공식)" [SBS Power FM, "NCT's Night Night!" New Programme (Official)]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  21. ^ Kim, Eun-ae (November 24, 2017). "NCT 재현X디어, 오늘 'Try Again' 발매..환상적인 듀엣" [NCT Jaehyun X D.O release 'Try Again' today...a fantastic duet]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  22. ^ Lee, Ha-na (December 1, 2017). "백아연X웬디, 듀엣곡 '성냥팔이 소녀' 오늘(1일) 공개 '음색여신의 만남'". Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  23. ^ Herman, Tamar (January 12, 2018). "NCT U Returns With 'Timeless' Video". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Kim, Na-gyeong (October 20, 2019). "몬스타엑스 민혁, 오늘(20일) '인기가요' 새 MC로 전격 출격" [MONSTA X's Minhyuk debuts as new MC for 'Inkigayo' today (20th)]. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  25. ^ a b Ji, Min-kyung (September 3, 2020). "'디어엠' 박혜수·NCT 재현·김새론·배현성 캐스팅..2021년 상반기 방송 [공식]" ['Dear M' Park Hye-Soo, NCT Jae-Hyun, Kim Sae-Ron, Bae Hyun-Sung casting...airing in the first half of 2021 [Official]]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Hwang, So-young (March 24, 2022). "[단독] 편성보류 '디어엠', 올 하반기 일본부터 선공개" [[Exclusive] Cancelled 'Dear M' to premiere in Japan later this year]. JTBC News (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  27. ^ Dear M., Viki, archived from the original on June 8, 2022, retrieved June 9, 2022
  28. ^ Suacillo, Angela P. (November 2, 2021). "NCT's Jaehyun to star in TV remake of 'Bungee Jumping Of Their Own'". NME. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  29. ^ Yeo, Gladys (December 13, 2021). "'Bungee Jumping Of Their Own' remake reportedly cancelled over writer's "religious beliefs"". NME. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  30. ^ Jang, In-young (August 12, 2022). NCT 재현, 첫 솔로곡 '포에버 온리' 18일 발매…작사 참여 [NCT's Jaehyun releases his first solo song 'Forever Only' on the 18th... Participate in songwriting]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  31. ^ a b Peak chart positions on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart:
  32. ^ a b c Peak chart positions on the Circle Digital Chart:
  33. ^ Yoon, Hye-young (March 9, 2023). "[단독] NCT 첫 유닛은 도영·재현·정우 '도재정', 상반기 데뷔" [NCT's first unit consists of Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Jungwoo, 'Do Jaejeong', debuting in the first half of the year]. Sports Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  34. ^ Jeong, Ji-won (March 22, 2023). "[단독] NCT 첫 유닛 '도재정', 4월 17일 가요계 출격 확정" [NCT sub-unit 'DoJaeJung' to make their debut on April 17]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  35. ^ Park, Jin-young (July 3, 2023). "SM 측 "NCT 재현, '6시간 후 너는 죽는다' 출연 확정" 영화 첫 도전(공식)" [SM's "NCT Jaehyun Confirms Casting in '6 Hours After You Die'" Movie First Challenge (Official)]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  36. ^ Kang, Bo-ra (July 3, 2023). "NCT 재현·박주현·곽시양, '6시간 후 너는 죽는다' 캐스팅 확정 (공식)" [SM's "NCT Jaehyun Confirms Casting in '6 Hours After You Die'" Movie First Challenge (Official)]. Slist (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  37. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (August 2, 2023). "NCT 재현, 8일 솔로곡 'Horizon' 발매[공식]" [NCT Jaehyun's solo song "Horizon" to be released on August 8th [Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  38. ^ Hwang, Hye-jin (August 4, 2023). "NCT 재현, 솔로곡 'Horizon'으로 선사할 여름의 낭만" [NCT Jaehyun to present romantic summer with solo song 'Horizon']. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Naver.
  39. ^ Jang, In-young (June 20, 2022). NCT 재현, 프라다 앰베서더 발탁 [NCT Jaehyun selected as Prada ambassador]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  40. ^ Jang, In-Young (January 11, 2023). "NCT 재현, 이탈리아 명품 프라다 캠페인 모델 선정". Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023 – via Naver.
  41. ^ "News & Media January 2023: PRADA SPRING/SUMMER 2023 ADV CAMPAIGN". Prada. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  42. ^ Kim, Ji-hye (January 19, 2023). "블랙핑크 제니, 로제, NCT 재현까지! 패션 하우스 캠페인 광고 모델이 된 스타들" [BLACKPINK's Jennie & Rosé, NCT's Jaehyun: Korean Artists Dominate Fashion House Campaigns]. Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  43. ^ Kang, Hyo-jin (July 3, 2023). "NCT재현X박주현X곽시양, 영화 '6시간 후 너는 죽는다' 크랭크인[공식]" [NCT Jaehyun X Park Joo-hyunX Kwak Shi-yang, cranked in the film '6 Hours Later You Die' [Official]] (in Korean). SpoTV News. Retrieved July 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  44. ^ Lee Kyung-ho (August 16, 2017). "추성훈·재현·채경 등, 김병만 없이 '정글' 선발대 출국". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  45. ^ Peak chart positions on the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100:
  46. ^ "Songs Registered Under JAEHYUN (10012907)". Korea Music Copyright Association. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jaehyun (singer).
NCT
Authority control databases
Categories