Nam Woo-hyun (Korean: 남우현; born February 8, 1991),[1] known mononymously as Woohyun, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor and the main vocalist of South Korean boy group Infinite.[2]
Nam began his solo career in 2016 with released EPWrite.., which charted at number two on Gaon Album Chart and number nine on the Billboard World Albums chart. Since then, he continued to release more solo music, Second Write.. (2018), A New Journey (2019), and With (2021).
Life and career
Early life and career beginnings
Nam Woo-hyun was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from Dong-ah Institute of Media and Arts, majoring in Applied Music.[3] He has an older brother, Nam Boo-hyun, who is the owner of BBQ restaurant Meok & Sam.
Nam initially aspired to be a soccer player. However, he could not pursue this dream and eventually realized his dream of becoming a singer when he was in high school, and auditioned at Woollim Entertainment[4] along with two other agencies, one of which was YG Entertainment,[5] to pursue a career as a solo singer. He passed the audition and was accepted into Woollim with a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Lately" and began training as an idol trainee. He admitted being a little disappointed but worked hard to practice dancing instead.
Nam began his career as a model for a shopping mall alongside Beast's Junhyung and T-ara's Jiyeon. He also competed in the 6th Hello Star Contest performing Lee Hyori's "U Go Girl". In one of his first broadcast appearances, he played the lead role in KooPD's music video for Guigamalo in 2007. Later in 2009, he appeared on Mnet's Girl Punch and sang Lee Seung-gi's "Words That Are Hard to Say".
Nam officially debuted as a member of Infinite on June 9, 2010.
In September 2011, Nam joined Immortal Songs 2 as a fixed member.[6] His first performance on the show aired on October 1. On November 1, it was announced that he would be leaving the show due to Infinite's upcoming Japanese promotions, and his final episode was aired November 5.[7] He later made two more additional appearances on the show, once by himself in January 2012 and again with group mate Sungkyu in December 2012.
2012–2015: Solo activities and Toheart
In 2012, his career in musical theatre began with a supporting role in the musical Gwanghwamun Sonata. Nam and Sungkyu shared the role of Jiyong, the son of the female lead.[8] The musical ran in Korea from January 3 to March 11, 2012, and in Japan from January 4 to 6, 2013. Nam made his first foray into acting in August with a minor role in the drama The Thousandth Man.[9]
In February 2013, he released a duet song titled "Cactus" (선인장) with South Korean Indie Singer, Lucia.[10] It is a cover of Epitone Project's song of the same, and was included as part of a special project album, Re;code.[11]
On February 20, 2014, SM Entertainment announced the formation of a special unit, Toheart, consisting of Nam and Shinee's Key.[12] Toheart debuted with their first mini album and title track Delicious on March 10[13][14] and made their live debut on March 12 through a MelOn Premiere Showcase.[15][16] In April, Nam was cast in a lead role for the KBS drama Hi! School: Love On alongside Kim Sae-ron and group mate Lee Sung-yeol, playing the character Shin Woo-hyun.[17][18] Nam released a soundtrack "When Love Comes" for SBS drama Modern Farmer on October 24, 2014.[19] In December, Nam directed the horror short film What Happened in Hong Kong.[20]
Nam currently plays as a striker for the South Korean celebrity football club, FC Men. Having previously played for FC One, he was recruited to FC Men in early 2015.[21] He made his football debut with FC Men on May 17, 2015, in a charity match against Jeju United FC.[22]
2016–present: Solo debut, military service and departure from Woollim
Nam debuted as a solo artist with his first EP Write.. on May 9, 2016.[23][24] He made an appearance on Immortal Song, scoring 439 points, the highest score among idols in the show.[25]
In 2017, Nam joined the sitcom titled Unusual Men and Women.[26]
In 2018, Nam joined musical comedy I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change in Osaka, Japan.[27] He was also cast on a photography variety show Photo People 2, which was filmed in Tokyo and was broadcast on June 11.[28] Nam appeared in the musical Barnum: The Greatest Showman, in Seoul, South Korea from August to October 2018.[29]
On September 3, 2018, Nam released his second EP, Second Write...[30] The lead single was titled "If Only You Are Fine".[31] Nam appeared on Happy Together 4 as guest on Ep 563,[32] and again as special MC, showing his MC-ing skills.[33]
Woohyun at the 3rd Soribada Best K-Music Awards in August 2019
Nam held his first solo concert Arbor Day from November 2–4, 2018 at the Hannam-dong Blue Square,[34] with all the tickets selling out in two minutes.[35] On December 13, 2018, Nam released a solo digital single "A Song For You",[36] which he performed in his Solo Concert.
Nam starred in the musical The Days at Bluesquare Interpark Hall in Seoul from February 22 – May 6, 2019, as Kang Moo-young, a presidential bodyguard who went missing 20 years ago along with a mysterious female companion.[37]
On February 12, 2019, Nam joined the judging panel of TV Chosun Trot Audition Program Tomorrow's Miss Trot, a competitive survival program for female trot singers, as one of the masters.[38] Nam went on to release his third EP A New Journey on May 7, 2019,[39] with an Asian Concert tour from April to August.[39] Nam also joined the musical Mefisto in a lead role from May to July 2019.[40]
Nam enlisted in the military on October 24, 2019, fulfilling his mandatory military service as a public service worker.[41] He released his second digital single on November 3 as a gift for fans during his military service.[42] On August 5, 2021, he officially completed his service.[43]
On October 19, 2021, Nam made his comeback with his fourth EP With.[44]
On October 7, 2022, Nam became the final member of Infinite to leave Woollim Entertainment after deciding not to renew his contract, though he will still remain as a member of the group.[45]
In March 2023, Nam signed a contract with Jflex.[46]
In early 2023, Nam was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, which threatened both his participation in the already-planned Infinite comeback as well as his career at all as a singer and performer. After recovering from surgery, he joined his groupmates in their promotions and concerts, eschewing the recommendation of his physician to rest. He then continued to work through his recovery preparing for the release of his first full solo album, Whitree, on November 28, and a full slate of promotions that followed.[49]
^"인피니트 남우현, 울림엔터테인먼트 떠난다" [Infinite's Nam Woohyun leaves Woollim Entertainment] (in Korean). Edaily. October 7, 2022.
^Koh Seung-ah (March 20, 2023). "인피니트 남우현, 제이플랙스와 전속계약…한채영·이준영 한솥밥" [Infinite Nam Woo-hyun, exclusive contract with J-Flex... Han Chae-young and Lee Joon-young cooked rice in one pot] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved March 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^Yoo Jung-min (December 6, 2021). "인피니트 남우현X이성종, '심야아이돌' 스페셜 호스트 출격...완벽한 티키타카 예고" [Infinite Nam Woo-hyun X Lee Seong-jong, 'Late Night Idol' special host sortie... Perfect tiki-taka preview] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved December 7, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jeong Hee-yeon (November 1, 2021). "인피니트 남우현, 뮤지컬 '잭 더 리퍼' 캐스팅 [공식]" [INFINITE's Nam Woo-hyun casts for musical 'Jack the Ripper' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved November 1, 2021 – via Naver.
^Kim Hyeon-jeong (April 15, 2022). "5년만 돌아온 '모래시계', 민우혁·온주완·조형균 캐스팅 [공식입장]" [Hourglass' returns after 5 years, casting Min Woo-hyuk, On Joo-wan, and Jo Hyeong-gyun [Official Position]] (in Korean). Xports News. Retrieved April 15, 2022 – via Naver.
