Lee Sun-ho (; born January 21, 1981), mononymously credited as Andy Lee (), is a South Korean singer, rapper, actor and record producer. He is the youngest member of six-member boy band Shinhwa. Besides rapping for his band, Andy has ventured out into television acting, musicals, and solo singing. Andy is also the producer of duo Jumper and boy groups Teen Top, 100% and Up10tion.
Biography
Pre-debut Andy Lee was raised in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States and had been a student at John F. Kennedy High School before moving to Seoul. He then completed high school at Korea Kent Foreign School in Seoul. Lee was the second member to join Shinhwa. He originally planned to be a member of H.O.T. (another Korean boy band) with his friend Tony Ahn. However, his parents pulled their support for him joining H.O.T. because they thought he was too young. Nevertheless, he continued to stay with the management of H.O.T. and was even featured as a rapper on female group S.E.S.'s single I'm Your Girl along with Eric Mun (Mun would later join Lee in Shinhwa as lead rapper).
When Andy was older, his parents let him join Shinhwa. He would continue with Shinhwa until the group's fourth album when he took some time out to study in the U.S. (he later confessed that it actually was due to his care for seriously sick mother). For the group's fifth album Perfect Man he returned and has been with the group ever since. His real English name was actually Jason, but SM Entertainment persuaded him to change it before his debut.
2003: Solo artist In 2003, when the members of Shinhwa began doing solo activities, Lee surprised everyone by being an actor on various dramas, most notably the drama Lovers In Prague. Although he had a very minor role in the drama, it gained many viewers because of his role as a completely different, serious person. He began appearing in many banjun drama as well alongside former Fin.K.L member Lee Jin. The two acted together in numerous other banjun dramas as well as a couple for 6 months, longer than any other couple or actors/actresses did on the show segment for which they gained a lot of popularity due to their perfect match and chemistry. Lee was also an MC on SBS Inkigayo and MBC Goldfish, though in January 2007, he step down from being MC on both SBS Inkigayo and MBC Goldfish in a period of 3 days (SBS Inkigayo on January 28 & MBC Goldfish on January 31).
In 2007, Lee left his group's management to set up his own company, ND (New Dream) Entertainment, concentrating on his solo career. As Shinhwa was on hiatus, Lee return to acting in September 2007 to act as the lead role in a musical "Music In My Heart (Season 3)", a type of project that none of the Shinhwa members have tried to pursue yet. After finishing performances for the musical, Lee released his very first digital single, titled "Irrelevant [or Extraordinary] Imagination" on November 30, 2007, a cover from the group Rollercoaster's song. Due to the help of Park Jin Young (also known as JYP; CEO of JYP Entertainment) and Yubin of Wonder Girls, Lee was able to have a successful single. Yubin rapped while JYP wrote the lyrics for the rap part in the song. With the help, Lee was able to attract a lot of attention for the single. By releasing the digital single as well, Lee became the 5th member in Shinhwa to go solo behind Lee Min-woo, Shin Hye-sung, Jun Jin, and Kim Dong-wan, leaving Eric Mun as the only member to have not yet pursue a solo singing career.
In March 2008, Andy joined MBC's reality show We Got Married where he was a couple with singer Solbi to act out the lives of newlyweds. Solbi and Andy made their official exit from We Got Married on October 5, 2008. He has taken an active career in stage such as playing as playing a 19-year-old in the musical Polaroid in August 2008, as well as live concerts throughout September and October. He has also produced a two-member boy band called Jumper under his company ND Entertainment. They have released two singles titled YES! featuring Eric and 눈이부셔 (Sparkling Eyes) featuring Kang Jiyoung of Kara.
2009-2011: Military service In November 2009, Lee commenced an Asia tour with stops in Taipei, Tokyo and Shanghai and concluded it just after Christmas"Former Shinhwa member Andy to tour Asia" 10Asia. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-05 and held a fan meeting, Andy Farewell Party-Bye for now a week before his enlistment."Andy to meet fans tomorrow before entering military" 10Asia. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 2012-04-05 He enlisted for his mandatory military service on 11 January 2010 for 21 months of active duty at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul."Singer Andy to Start Military Service" Chosun Ilbo. 5 January 2010. Retrieved 2011-11-05 He was discharged on 31 October 2011."Andy of the group Shinhwa speak to fans after completing his mandatory military service in Yongsan, Seoul on Monday" Chosun Ilbo. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-05
In 2010, TOP Media, Andy's agency, debuted its first boy band Teen Top.
2012: Shinhwa comeback and boy band 100% In March 2012, Lee reunited with his Shinhwa bandmates for their comeback after four years, under the management of 'Shinhwa Company'. It is a joint venture agency for members to perform as a group, of which Eric and Lee Min-woo are co-CEOs and the remaining members are shareholders. The Company manages the group as a whole, whilst members' individual activities are managed by their respective agencies."Shinhwa Form Their Own Agency" Chosun Ilbo. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-05 The group released their tenth studio album The Return on 23 March 2012, launched their comeback concerts 2012 Shinhwa Grand Tour: The Return throughout Asia and their first exclusive variety program Shinhwa Broadcast premiered on 17 March 2012 on cable channel JTBC.
In September, under TOP Media, he launched a new seven-member boy band 100% which debuted with the hit single "Bad Guy".
2013: Gambling conviction and hiatus In November 2013, Lee was indicted with illegally gambling on soccer matches, resulting in a fine of 5 million KRW. Shinhwa apologized on-air for Lee's crime in December 2013 and Lee withdrew from all individual and group activities. As part of the hiatus, Lee's previously filmed appearances on broadcast shows such as "Shinhwa Broadcast" were edited out. In February 2014, television station Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) announced Lee would be banned from broadcasting on the network.
In October 2014, Lee was announced to be returning with his group mates in a Chinese concert that was broadcast on Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) Inkigayo in January 2015. Soon after Shinhwa announced its February 2015 comeback with a full-length album, MBC announced it is lifting the ban on Lee.
Personal life On January 19, 2022, Andy wrote a letter announcing his marriage, posting it on his personal SNS. Andy's fiancée is announcer Lee Eun-joo of Jeju MBC, who is 9 years younger than him.
On January 25, 2022, it was confirmed that Lee will be married on June 12, 2022.
Discography
Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positionsTrack listingKOR(RIAK)The First New Dream"The First New Dream info" YesAsia. Retrieved 2012-08-25. repackaged: The First Propose"The First Propose info" YesAsia. Retrieved 2012-08-25.Release Date: January 18, 2008 (SDL-0083) Repackage Release Date: April 29, 2008 (SDL-0108) Label: TOP Media, ND Entertainment Sales: 17,783 2Single Man"Single Man info" YesAsia. Retrieved 2012-08-25.Release Date: October 29, 2009 (KTMCD-0048) Reissue Date: February 22, 2013 (WMCD-0178) Label: TOP Media Language: KoreanN/A
Singles Title Details Album"엉뚱한 상상""Profile" ANDY Official Homepage. Retrieved 2012-08-25. (Extraordinary Imagination)Release Date: November 30, 2007 Label: TOP Media Format: Digital single Language: KoreanThe First New Dream"사랑하면 보내야 하는건데" (If You Love Her, Then Let Her Go)Release Date: August 6, 2008 Format: Digital Single Language: Koreanfrom the musical Polaroid"사랑 하나 (네게 배운 말...)" (ft. Kim Dong-wan)(One Love (You Taught Me))Release Date: January, 2010 Label: TOP Media Format: Single Language: KoreanN/A"You and Me"Release Date: January 21, 2013 Label: TOP Media Format: Digital single Language: KoreanN/A
DVD Title Details Peak chart positionsTrack listingJPN(Oricon)The First... 6日間の小さな奇蹟(The First... The 6 Day Miracle)Release Date: June 6, 2008 (MNPS-54) Label: Format: DVD Language: Korean 186The First ... 6일간의 작은 기적(The First... The 6 Day Miracle)Release Date: June 13, 2008 Label: TOP Media, ND Entertainment Format DVD Language: Korean -The First Propose In TokyoRelease Date: April 7, 2009 Label: TOP Media, ND Entertainment, SBSi Corp. Format: DVD Language: Korean -
Filmography Film Year Title Hangul Notes2002Emergency Act 19"Emergency Act 19" IMDb. Retrieved 2012-08-31.긴급조치 19호with Shinhwa
Television series Year Title Hangul Role Notes2003-4Nonstop 4논스톱 4Sitcom2005Banjun Drama반전드라마DramaLovers in Prague"Lovers in Prague" HanCinema. Retrieved 2012-08-31.프라하의 연인Ji Seung-woo2009Two Wives"Two Wives" HanCinema. Retrieved 2012-08-31.두 아내Yoon Nam-joon
Variety shows Year Title RoleNotes2008We Got MarriedRegular CastAndy was paired with Sol-bi (Season 1, Episodes 1-28)Andy's French Kiss2012Teen Top Rising 100%2018–2019Grandma's Restaurant in Samcheong-dongRegular CastManager, Kitchen Assisten 2022 Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny Cast Member
MC Year Title Hangul Notes2003Beautiful Sunday뷰티풀선데이2005-7Inkigayo인기가요2006-7Golden Fishery황금어장2012E! 'K-STAR' News"Schedule" ANDY Official Homepage. Retrieved 2012-08-25."K-STAR news" SBS E!. Retrieved 2012-08-31."Andy is "K-Star News" new emcee" by Syahida Kamarudin Yahoo! Entertainment Malaysia. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-31.2019 Doldabang 아이돌다방 With Yoo Seon-ho
Musical Year Title Details2007Music In My Heart (Season 3) Dates: September 7 - December 2, 20072008Polaroid"Musicals: Polaroid" Korea Herald. 5 July 2008. Retrieved 2012-04-10. Dates: August 3–24, 2008 Venue: PMC Daehangno Jayu Theater in Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-guSingles Dates: November 13 - December 31, 2008
Awards
Notes A The Gaon Music Chart began releasing data in 2010 after the Music Industry Association of Korea stopped compiling data in 2008. Online sources for charts after September 2008 and before January 2010 are currently unavailable.
References
External links