Kim Hyung-soo (Korean: 김형수; born December 30, 1981),[1] better known by his stage name K.Will (Korean: 케이윌), is a South Korean singer. The name is a combination of the first letter 'K' of his last name 'Kim' and the English word 'Will', which means will.[2] He debuted in 2007 and has since become known for his chart-topping ballads.[3] He has also been dubbed the "Prince of OST" for his frequent Korean drama soundtrack appearances.[4][5]
K.Will has released four full-length albums: Left Heart (2007), Missing You (2009), The Third Album (2012–2013), and The Fourth Album (2017–2018).[6][7][3]
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 UniversityinSeoul, 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 The3rd 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" (오늘부터1일), 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]
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]
^Kim, Won-gyeom (March 7, 2007). "케이윌 "5년 기다리며 처절한 기분도 많았죠"". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
^Yun, Eun-gyeong (March 30, 2009). "유리눈물이뚝뚝 케이윌 뮤비서 성숙한 여인으로 변신". HKN (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
^"'음원 강자' 케이윌, 또1위…"장르 폭 넓어"" ['Music powerhouse' K.Will takes first place again… "Broad range of genres"]. KBS News (in Korean). April 4, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
^Park, Yeong-ung (December 18, 2009). "케이윌, 데뷔 후 첫 단독 콘서트 전석 매진". TV Report (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
^김수경 (October 30, 2018). "'컴백' 케이윌, '상상;무드 인디고' 티저 공개". 텐아시아 (TenAsia) (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
^ abKim, Won-gyeom (August 12, 2022). "케이윌, 10월 전국투어 '히어 앤드 나우' 돌입…3년 만에 대면 콘서트" [K.will begins national tour 'Here and Now' in October... Face-to-face concert for the first time in 3 years] (in Korean). Sports TV News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Yeon Hwi-seon (August 31, 2021). "내일은 국민가수' 측『김범수·백지영·케이윌·이석훈·김준수, 마스터 출연』[공식]" [Tomorrow's National Singer' side "Kim Beom-soo, Baek Ji-young, K.will, Lee Seok-hoon, Kim Jun-su, Master appearance" [Official]]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021 – via Naver.
