ONEW

South Korean singer and actor Onew is best known as a member of K-pop group Shinee. With his smooth, comforting vocals, he was leader of the quintet, releasing a dozen Korean- and Japanese-language efforts within a decade. In 2018, he issued his solo debut EP, Voice. The album hit the Top Five of the Korean charts, paving the way for 2022′s Dice EP and the full-length Life Goes On.
Born Lee Jin-ki in Gwangmyeong, he was recruited by SM Entertainment in 2006, making his debut as one-fifth of the K-pop boy band Shinee alongside Key, Minho, Taemin, and Jonghyun. Over the course of a decade, they became one of the best-selling groups in Asia, releasing seven Korean-language and five Japanese-language albums. In addition to his duties as leader of Shinee, Onew also contributed his talents to other artists’ records and acted in multiple television shows and films. Ten years after Shinee’s debut album, he released his own debut. Voice showcased his preference for heartfelt ballads and rose to number two on the Korean charts and number eight on the U.S. World Albums list. Soon after the EP’s release, he enlisted for his mandatory military service. While completing his service, he starred in several military-themed musicals, including Shinheung Military Academy and the Korean War-themed Return: The Promise of That Day. Following Onew’s discharge from the military, he rejoined Shinee. He also starred in another musical with 2021′s Midnight Sun and in April 2022 released the Dice EP, again hitting the Top Five of the South Korean charts. That July, he released his debut full-length Japanese album, Life Goes On. ~ Neil Z. Yeung