Lee Jin-hyuk (Korean: 이진혁, born Lee Sung-joon on June 8, 1996),[1] formerly known by the stage name Wei (Korean: 웨이), is a South Korean singer, rapper and actor. He debuted as a member of South Korean boy band UP10TION in 2015. In 2019, he rose to fame after finishing 14th on Produce X 101. Lee debuted as a solo artist with the release of his first extended play, S.O.L, on November 4, 2019.[2] He debuted as an actor on MBC's drama Find Me in Your Memory as Jo Il-kwon.
Career
Early life
As a child, Lee had an open heart surgery to repair his cardiac valve that did not function properly due to a heart disease.[3]
Lee Jin-hyuk first appeared in UP10TION's pre-debut program “Masked rookie king” in 2015. He was the 9th member to be introduced to the group. He debuted as a member of UP10TION under the stage name Wei. On September 9, UP10TION held a debut showcase at AX Concert Hall in Seoul. UP10TION's debut mini album Top Secret, which includes the debut single "So, Dangerous", was released on September 11, 2015.[4]
2019–present: Produce X 101, solo debut and departure from Up10tion
Along with fellow member Kim Woo-seok, he took a hiatus from UP10TION group activities and competed as a trainee on Produce X 101.[5] He finished the program ranking 11th, but because of the show's rule of the X position, he did not make the final lineup of X1. Officially, he ranked 14th in the finale.
After Produce X 101 completed, Lee held his first ever solo fan-meeting in Seoul, South Korea on August 10, 2019, followed by fan-meetings in Thailand on September 15, 2019, and in Taiwan on October 13, 2019. He is also holding solo fan-meetings in Philippines and Macau on December 14 and 21 respectively.
TOP Media announced that Lee would be debuting as a solo artist on November 4, 2019. His first extended play, S.O.L, was released, accompanied with the music video of the title track, "I Like That". He held his first solo debut showcase at KBS Arena on November 4, 2019, and the showcase was also broadcast live through Vlive app.[6]
Lee released his second extended play Splash! on June 30, 2020, accompanied with the title track "Bedlam".[7]
Lee debuted as an actor on a drama Find Me in Your Memory as Jo Il-kwon and it made him receive a nominee for MBC Drama Awards in the Best New Actor category.[8] As of October 2020, it is confirmed that Lee will take part in the upcoming KBS2 drama Dear. M, set to be released in 2021, as the role of Gil Mok-jin, a second year student studying Psychology at Seoyeon University.[citation needed]
Lee returned with his third extended play Scene26 on April 5, 2021, accompanied with the title track "5K".[9] In 2021, Lee participated in the semi-drama ON AIR - Secret Contract.[10] Later, Lee was confirmed to be joining the 4-episode drama Check Out the Event which aired on MBC.[11] Lee released his fourth extended play Ctrl+V on October 18, 2021, accompanied by the title track "Work Work".[12]
In 2022, Lee joined the Weverse platform.[13] The same year, he appeared in the SBS drama Why Her.[14] On August 5, Lee has released spoiler posters for his 5th mini album 'Sight' (5ight), which was released on August 29.[15]
In 2023, Lee will hold a solo concert '4eVer' at Watcha Hall on February 11–12.[16] Later on February 28, it was announced that Lee would be leaving TOP Media, as well as Up10tion, after deciding not to renew his contract which expired on March 11.[17] On March 27, Lee signed with Bill Entertainment.[18]
^ abHong Se-young (December 30, 2020). "[2020 MBC 방송연예대상] 김강훈 남자 신인상". Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^ abKim Min-ji (March 4, 2021). "려욱·이진혁→산다라박, 라이브 시트콤 '온에어-비밀계약' 라인업 확" [Ryeowook, Jinhyuk Lee → Sandara Park, live sitcom 'On Air-Secret Contract' lineup expanded정]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
^ abPark, Hyun-suk (May 12, 2021). "이벤트를 확인하세요' 이진혁·남규희·김영선·김희창, 개성만점 라인업" [Check out the event’ Jinhyuk Lee, Kyuhee Nam, Youngseon Kim, Heechang Kim, lineup full of personality]. Sports Khan (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kang Min-kyung (February 21, 2022). "[공식] 이진혁, 위버스 합류 "적극적 소통 위해" [[Official] Jinhyuk Lee joins Weverse for “active communication] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abOh, Yoon-joo (October 20, 2021). "이진혁, '왜 오수재인가' 출연 확정…서현진X황인엽과 호흡 [공식]" [Lee Jin-hyuk confirmed to appear in 'Why Oh Soo-jae'... Breathing with Seo Hyun-jin X Hwang In-yeop [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Naver.
^Park, Hye-jin (August 5, 2022). "이진혁, 8월 29일 컴백…미니앨범 '사이트' 발매" [Jinhyuk Lee, comeback on August 29th... Release of mini album 'Site] (in Korean). Dispatch. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abChoi Yoon-jeong (January 12, 2023). "데뷔 4주년 이진혁, 단독 콘서트…'브이단'과 영원 약속" [4th anniversary of debut Lee Jinhyuk, solo concert... 'V-Dan' and Eternal Promise] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jung, Hye-won (February 28, 2023). "이진혁X업텐션 선율→고결, 티오피미디어와 계약 종료 "향후 활동 응원할 것"[전문]" [Lee Jin-hyuk X UP10TION's Sunyoul → Kogyeol, contract termination with TOP Media "We will support future activities" [Full text]] (in Korean). SpoTV News. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (March 27, 2023). "'업텐션 출신' 이진혁, 신생 빌엔터 전속계약 [공식]" [From Up10tion’ Lee Jin-hyeok, exclusive contract with the new Bill Entertainment [Official]] (in Korean). Sports DongA. Retrieved March 31, 2023 – via Naver.
^2021년 상반기 Album Chart [First Half of 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
^2021년 10월 Album Chart [October 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
^Kim, Hye-eun (November 12, 2019). "[단독] '예능 대세' 이진혁, 연기 도전한다…'그 남자의 기억법' 캐스팅" [[Exclusive] 'Entertainment Trend' Lee Jin-hyuk, acting challenge... Casting of 'The Man's Memory']. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
^Park, Soo-in (May 12, 2021). "이진혁 '이벤트를 확인하세요' 출연 확정, 남규희와 커플 호흡(공식)" [Lee Jin-hyuk confirmed to appear in ‘Check the Event’, and Nam Kyu-hee and couple breathing (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
^"[단독]업텐션 이진혁, '디어엠' 캐스팅..재현X배현성과 호흡" [[Exclusive] UP10TION's Jinhyuk Lee, casting for 'Dear M'... Breathing with Jaehyun X Bae Hyunseong]. star.mt (in Korean). 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
^Oh, Sung-hyun (April 29, 2024). 이진혁, '비밀은 없어' 출연...고경표·강한나와 호흡 [공식입장] [Lee Jin-hyuk appears in 'No Secrets'...Go Kyung-pyo and Kang Han-na work together [Official statement]] (in Korean). Xport News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024 – via Naver.
^"[종합] "B급감성·편당 웃음 5회"..정상훈→이진혁 '놓지마 정신줄', 정통 시트콤의 귀환" [[Comprehensive] "B-grade emotion, 5 laughs per episode".. Jeong Sang-hoon → Lee Jin-hyuk 'Don't let go of the spirit', the return of an authentic sitcom]. sports.chosun (in Korean). 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
^Yoo, Seung-mok (March 21, 2019). "프로듀스x101 첫 무대…센터 '손동표' 차지". Money Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
^Kim, Joo-hee (October 15, 2019). "'어서 말을 해' 이진혁, 새로운 허세 캐릭터로 등극". Seoul Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
^Park Chang-ki (October 11, 2021). "[공식] 이진혁, '토요일은 밥이 좋아' 출연 확정…피자 2판도 거뜬한 대식가" [[Official] Jinhyuk Lee confirmed to appear in 'I like to eat on Saturday'... A glutton who can afford two pizzas] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2021 – via Naver.
^Son Jin-ah (January 3, 2022). "갓파더', 이금희·이진혁, 고정 패널 합류(공식)" [‘Godfather’, Lee Geum-hee and Lee Jin-hyuk join the fixed panel (official)] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeon Hyo-jin (July 21, 2022). "김우석·이진혁, 태국 남자 그룹 뽑는다…심사위원 발탁" [Kim Woo-seok and Lee Jin-hyuk to choose a male group from Thailand… Selection of judges] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Seung-gil (September 21, 2022). "성시경·안현모·이진혁·유정, '결혼에 진심' MC 라인업" [Seong Si-kyung, Ahn Hyun-mo, Lee Jin-hyuk, and Yoo-jeong, MC lineup for 'Marriage] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^'치얼업' 테이아 팀, 응원단의 끈끈함 보여주며 베스트 팀워크상 수상! #2022SBS연기대상 #SBSdrama ['Cheer Up' team, showing the tenacity of the cheering squad and winning the best teamwork award! #2022 SBS Drama Awards #SBSdrama] (in Korean). SBS Drama. December 31, 2022. Event occurs at 0:01. Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via YouTube.