Kim Ryeo-wook (born 21 June 1987), better known by the mononym Ryeowook, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and musical actor. He is best known as a member of boy group Super Junior and its subgroups, Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M. Along with four other Super Junior members, he is one of the first Korean artists to appear on Chinese postage stamps. He began a solo career in 2016 with his first EP The Little Prince.
Career
Pre-debut Ryeowook was discovered through the CMB Youth ChinChin Festival in 2004 and signed a contract with SM Entertainment soon afterwards, impressing the judges with his singing talent. Before Kyuhyun was added in 2006, Ryeowook was the last to join Super Junior several weeks before their debut in 2005.
2006–2009: Debut with Super Junior, K.R.Y and Super Junior-M
Ryeowook made his debut as part of the 12-member project group Super Junior 05 on 6 November 2005 on SBS' music programme Popular Songs, performing their first single, "Twins (Knock Out)"."2005 Super Junior's official debut" Ent.hunantv.com. Retrieved 2011-12-25 "SM Unveils 12-Membered Boy Group Named Super Junior" Arirang.co.kr. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 2011-12-25 Their debut album SuperJunior05 (Twins) was released a month later on 5 December 2005 and debuted at number three on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts.
In late 2006, Ryeowook, along with fellow Super Junior members Kyuhyun and Yesung, formed a subgroup named Super Junior K.R.Y., a group specializing in R&B ballads. The trio debuted on 5 November 2006 on KBS' Music Bank, performing the Hyena soundtrack called "The One I Love"."Super Junior - K.R.Y. Formed" KBS. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-05 Ryeowook made his acting debut in 2007 in the film Attack on the Pin-Up Boys, a high-school comedy/mystery film, in which he plays the eccentric vice president of the student council.Cathy Rose A. Garcia "Super Junior Hits Big Screen" Korea Times. 8 July 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-03 He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor and Best Comedic Performance at the Korean Movie Awards.
In April 2008, he was put into seven-member sub-group Super Junior-M, a Mandopop subgroup of Super Junior for the Chinese music industry. They debuted in China at the 8th Annual Music Chart Awards at the same time as the release of their first music video, "U", on 8 April 2008. This was followed by the release of the debut Chinese-language studio album Me in selected provinces in China on 23 April and 2 May in Taiwan."Super Junior-M debuts in China new album sweeps music scene (Super Junior-M出道中国 新碟引爆内地歌坛)" Ent.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2011-12-25
In November 2012, Super Junior K.R.Y. held a concert tour in Japan, Super Junior K.R.Y. Special Winter Concert. They announced that they would be releasing their first single six years after debut. The teaser for Promise You was released on 21 November 2012, followed by the single on 23 January 2013. It debuted at number two on the Oricon's daily singles chart.
2009–2018: Solo activities Ryeowook's first composition to be officially released was "Love U More", in the repackaged Sorry, Sorry Version C. Ryeowook made his musical theatre debut in Temptation of Wolves alongside Park Hyung-sik of ZE:A and Lim Jeong-hee. It ran from 14 July to 30 October 2011 at the COEX Artium."Theater: Temptation of Wolves" Korea Herald. 26 August 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-29
On 16 and 23 June, following the footsteps of bandmates Yesung and Kyuhyun, Ryeowook joined KBS' Immortal Songs 2 with Sunggyu of Infinite, where singers render their own versions of songs from music legends, and winners are selected by voting. He took first place in the 11 August episode where singers Lee Sang-woo and Lee Sang-eun were guests. He recorded his last episode on 16 August, which was broadcast on 25 August.
2016–present: Solo debut Ryeowook made his solo debut on 28 January 2016.
Ryeowook's debut solo album's title is The Little Prince. The release of The Little Prince was anticipated not only as Ryeowook's first official solo album since his debut 11 years ago but also because it was the first release under Super Junior's own label, Label SJ, established by SM Entertainment in 2015 during the group's 10th anniversary. The title track, bearing the same name as the album, is a ballad inspired by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novel The Little Prince. The title track "The Little Prince" is a ballad song and a conversation between a man in pain from love and The Little Prince.
In addition to Ryeowook's solo promotions and album release, he held his first solo concert through SMTOWN's The Agit series called "Ever Lasting Star - RyeoWook" from 19 February until 21 February at the SMTOWN's Coex Artium in Samseong-dong, Seoul.
On 2 January 2019, Ryeowook released his second solo album, Drunk on Love.
On 3 May 2022, Ryeowook released his third solo album A Wild Rose.
Artistry With three octaves in his range, Ryeowook is a lyric tenor. He has also been known for his frequent usage of falsettos. South Korean operatic singer Sumi Jo, whom he collaborated with for a formal performance, praised his musicianship. She called his skills "outstanding" and acknowledged his professionalism on stage.
With his second EP, Drunk on Love, Young Post noticed a variety of genres and styles interpolated: from a pop ballad-like style; jazz; R&B; and to more of a style reminiscing of lounge music.
Personal life Education Ryeowook received his secondary education from Deokwon Arts High School and graduated in February 2006. The same year, he entered Inha University and graduated on 24 February 2012, with a major in theater and film studies.Lee, Nancy CJ E&M enewsWorld. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-04-10
Military service Ryeowook enlisted for his military service on 11 October 2016, and was discharged on 10 July 2018.
Marriage Ryeowook first publicly acknowledged his relationship with Ari, a former member of Tahiti, in 2020. On 29 March 2024, Ryeowook announced their forthcoming marriage through an Instagram post, where he conveyed the news to his fans via a handwritten letter. The couple married on 26 May 2024.
Discography Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positions SalesKOR
JPNUSWorld The Little Prince Released: January 28, 2016 Label: SM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 1 — 5 KOR: 44,556 Drunk on Love Released: January 2, 2019 Label: SM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 2 — — KOR: 25,821 A Wild Rose Released: May 3, 2022 Label: SM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 7 14 — KOR: 28,232 JPN: 1,498 "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Single albums Title Details Peak chart positions SalesKOR Runaway Released: June 23, 2026 Label: SM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 7 KOR: 27,306
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR JPN "The Little Prince" 2016 16 — KOR: 279,574+ The Little Prince "One and Only" 2018 — —Drunk on Love "I'm Not Over You"2019 — — "Drunk in the Morning" — — "Hiding Words" () 2022 — — A Wild Rose "Bluebird" () — — "It's Okay" 2023—— rowspan="2" "Lingering"—— "Runaway" 2026 — — RunawayJapanese "Sakura no Hana ga Sakukoro"(桜の花が咲く頃) 2019 — 22 JPN: 5,341+ rowspan="3" "Akane Iro ni Somaru Sora no Shita"(茜色に染まる空の下) 2022 — — "僕のほし" 2026 — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Collaboration singles TitleYearPeak chartpositionsAlbumKORGaon Digital Chart: US World"Falling in Love with a Friend" 2010 49 —"Cosmic" 2016 — —SM Station Season 1"Starry Night"2020 — 23"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Soundtrack appearances TitleYearPeak chartpositionsSalesAlbumKORGaon Digital Chart:
KORHot. "Smile Again"2010 — — rowspan="3" Home Sweet Home OST"Biting My Lips" 60 — The President OST"Just Like Now" (with Donghae) 97 — It's Okay, Daddy's Girl OST"If You Love Me More" 2011 76 — KOR: 64,801 Spy Myung-wol OST"Start of Something New"2013 — — rowspan="5" High School Musical OST"Maybe Tomorrow" — 92 The Queen's Classroom OST"A Love Story of Country-side Boy" 2019 — —Neighbourhood Album Chung Ju OST"Starry Night" 2021 — —Youth of May OST "Goodbye" 2022 — —Everything Was Misunderstanding "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.
Other charted songs TitleYearPeak chart positionsSalesAlbumKORGaon Digital Chart: "Like a Star"2016 141 KOR: 17,532The Little Prince"People You May Know" 161 KOR: 15,523"Poom" 166 KOR: 15,136"Hello" 174 KOR: 13,402"Foxy Girl" 189 KOR: 12,799
Other appearances + List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released and album name Title Year Album"Wish" 2008Mirotic"Where You Are" 2022 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace
Songwriting credits All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's (KOMCA) database unless noted otherwise.
+ Year Song Album Artist(s) Lyrics Music Credit With Credit With 2009 "Love U More" Sorry, Sorry (Repackage) Super Junior — 2016 "Poom" The Little Prince Ryeowook colspan="2" 2019 "Drunk in the Morning" Drunk on Love colspan="2" "The 2nd Story" — colspan="2"
Filmography
Film Year Title Role 2007 Attack on the Pin-Up Boys Student body vice president 2010 Super Show 3 3D Himself 2012 I AM. - SM Town Live World Tour in Madison Square Garden 2013 Super Show 4 3D
Television Year Title Role Notes 2014–2015 Super Idol Chart Show Host 2015The ProducersDJ Cameo in episode 9 The Friends in Switzerland Cast member With Leeteuk 2015–2016 Enter-K Host 2016 Very Private TV Cast member Celebrity Bromance Cast member Season 3, with 2016, 2019 King of Mask Singer Contestant 2018 Sell to Return Member of Thailand team Filling in for Leeteuk Global Request Show: A Song For You Host Season 5 2019 Neighbourhood Album Host Season 2 2021 ONAIR - Secret Contract DJ Aron / Ahn Noo-ri
Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2023 Knight of the Lamp Cast Member with Leeteuk, Donghae, Eunhyuk, shindong and Kyuhyun
Musical/Theatre Year Title Role 2011 Neukdaeui Yuhok( Temptation of wolves) Jung Tae-sung 2013 High School Musical Troy Bolton 2014–2015 Yeosinnimi Bogogyesyeo( Goddess is watching) Ryu Sun-ho 2015 Agatha Raymond 2015–2016 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Christopher 2018–2020Gwangyeom sonataJ 2021 Mary Shelley Polidori 2022 Fan Letter Jung Se-hun
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2007Korean Movie Awards Best Supporting ActorAttack on the Pin-Up Boys Best Comedic Performance 2012 2011 Golden Ticket Awards Musical Up and Comer Award Temptation of the Wolves 2015 KBS Entertainment Awards Radio DJ Award Kiss The Radio
Notes
References
External links