Kim Jae-joong is a well-known songwriter, top-selling vocalist, and skilled actor from South Korea. Kim is most known for being a member of the Korean pop group ‘JYJ.’ He is also known by his stage names Hero Jae-joong and Jejung. Prior to joining the famed ‘JYJ,’ he was a member of the boy band ‘TVXQ.’ At the age of 15, he was found by an entertainment business (SM Entertainment), and he hasn’t looked back since. He was working many jobs to pay his rent and bills until he finally had the chance to show off his aptitude and skills. He made popular albums including ‘I,’ ‘WWW,’ and ‘No.X’ after achieving the breakthrough he desired. He recorded these albums as a solo artist, but after joining JYJ, he released ‘The Beginning.’ He has also appeared in television dramas such as ‘Protect the Boss’ (2011), ‘Dr. Jin’ (2012), ‘Triangle’ (2014), ‘Spy’ (2015), and ‘Manhole’ (2017), among others. He has won various accolades including SBS Drama Award for ‘Protect the Boss’ and Seoul International Drama Award for the OST of ‘Dr. Jin’.
Childhood and Adolescence
Kim was born Han Jae-joon on January 26, 1986 in Gongju, South Korea. Kim had a difficult childhood because his mother, who claims he was born on February 4, 1986, gave him up for adoption.
He was named Kim Jae-joong after being adopted by a Kim family. Kim developed perseverance and will to succeed in life as a result of the struggles he endured as a child.
He enrolled in Kongju Information High School after attending Gongju Jungdong Elementary School and Kongju National University Middle School, but dropped out in 2001. In 2005, he graduated from Hanam High School with a diploma.
He also attended Kyung Hee Cyber University, where he majored in Digital Media Engineering.
Kim moved to Seoul at the age of 15 to live on his own. He began auditioning for SM Entertainment, and the firm eventually accepted him.
Kim had his own set of difficulties, as he needed to work numerous jobs to pay for rent, food, and the agency (training fee). But he overcame all hurdles to pursue his passion of becoming a singer.
A Career in Music
He joined SM Entertainment in 2001 and became the lead vocalist of the boy band ‘TVXQ’ in 2003. He remained a member of the group until 2010, when he formed a three-member group in Japan named ‘JYJ.’ Yoochun and Junsu, two other members of the group, created the group.
Following his departure from ‘TVXQ,’ he, Yoochun, and Junsu released the band’s first Japanese EP, ‘The…,’ in September 2010. On the Japanese Oricon album, it achieved number one.
‘Thanksgiving Live in Dome,’ their debut concert DVD, also hit the top of the DVD rankings. The band then collaborated with Kanye West on their English debut album, which was released in October 2010.
They released a Korean EP called ‘Their Rooms Our Story’ in 2011. They went on a tour of Asia, North America, South America, and Europe after that. ‘In Heaven,’ their third studio album, was released in September and sold 3,50,000 copies. It was also at the top of the Gaon Charts.
Kim has developed and written a number of songs as a solo artist. He performed “Insa” (Greetings) for the soundtrack of “A Millionaire’s First Love” in 2006.
In 2009, he produced another OST for ‘Heaven’s Postman,’ titled ‘Love.’ He had an appearance in Taegoon’s music video for “Call Me.”
He had an appearance in Ayumi Hamasaki’s ‘Blossom’ music video in 2010. He also recorded an OST for the album ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’ called ‘To You It’s Goodbye, To Me It’s Waiting.’
He released the OST for ‘Dr. Jin’ in 2012, titled ‘Living Like A Dream.’ For the film ‘Code Name: Jackal,’ he produced another OST named ‘Stay.’
He launched his own music videos in 2013, such as ‘Mine’ and ‘Just Another Girl.’ He launched his debut solo album EP, named ‘I/MINE,’ on January 17, 2013, and it quickly rose to the top of the Gaon and Hanteo charts in Korea.
He released two official sound tracks for ‘Triangle’ in 2014, titled ‘But I’ and ‘Coincidence.’
His record debuted at the top of the Taiwanese and Japanese music charts. ‘Mine,’ his track, topped both domestic and international music charts.
His other song, “One Kiss,” reached the top of overseas music charts, cementing Kim’s position as the undisputed king of songwriting and music.
He launched a new version of his record, ‘Y,’ which was a major hit, selling 50,000 copies in its first week.
He released his first full-length solo album, ‘WWW,’ on October 29, 2013. The album’s single ‘Sunny Day’ reached the top of the iTunes EP charts in Japan. ‘WWW: Remove Makeup’ was eventually published as a repackaged version of the album.
‘No.X,’ his second solo album, was released on February 12th, 2016. It was the most popular K-Pop album in China in 2016 and topped the iTunes charts in 39 countries.
In 2016, he released a new video called ‘Love You More.’
Career as an actor
In 2004, he made his acting debut in the film ‘Taegeukgi.’ In the film, he played a soldier in a war setting.
With his TVXQ band colleagues, he also appeared in TV programs such as ‘Banjun Theatre’ and ‘Vacation.’ In 2009, he played a young guy who delivers messages written by the dead to the living in the telefilm ‘Heaven’s Postman.’
In September 2010, he starred in Fuji TV’s Japanese drama ‘Sunao ni Narenakute.’ He starred in the SBS series ‘Protect the Boss’ in 2011, in which he played a talented director who is irritated by life’s problems.
In 2012, he starred in another drama named ‘Dr. Jin,’ in which he played a high-ranking official from the Joseon Dynasty’s police force. When the officer discovers that he is the illegitimate son of the Prime Minister and his concubine from the same dynasty, his life gets problematic.
He subsequently went on to star in the film ‘Code Name: Jackal,’ in which he played a Hallyu star kidnapped by an assassin. The fans of the action-comedy picture praised his comedic abilities.
He played a gangster in the MBC drama ‘Triangle’ in 2014, which he starred in. In 2015, he played an analyst in the thriller ‘Spy,’ which aired on KBS2.
He was cast in the time-travel drama ‘Manhole’ in 2016. He portrayed a man who travels across time to prevent a wedding from taking place.
Other Projects of Kim Jae-joong
He also served as the Executive Director for JYJ’s 2011 world tour’s Asian leg.
On March 31, 2015, he enlisted in the army to complete his necessary military training. He graduated first in his class and served in the 55th Infantry Division in Cheoingun, Yongin, for 21 months before being discharged on December 30, 2016.
Achievements & Awards
At the 14th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix, he received Best Supporting Actor for the Spring Season for his part in ‘Sunao ni Narenakute.’
At the SBS Drama Awards in 2011, he got the New Star Award for ‘Protect the Boss.’
In the same year, he was named the winner of the Shorty Award for Best Celebrity on Twitter.
He earned the Top Excellence Award, Actor at the 5th Korea Drama Awards in 2012 for his role in ‘Dr. Jin.’
For ‘Living Like A Dream,’ he received the Seoul International Drama Award in the category Best Hallyu Drama OST Award in 2013.
At the 7th Korea Drama Awards, he received the Top Excellence Award for Actor for his role in ‘Triangle.’
He received the Excellence Award in 2016 for finishing first in his class during his mandatory military duty.
Personal Experiences of Kim Jae-joong
A man filed a lawsuit against Kim’s legal guardians in November 2001, claiming to be Kim’s biological father and seeking parental rights.
Han, the male, agreed to withdraw all allegations. Kim, on the other hand, stated that he will continue to use his legal name instead of his biological name.
He is now single.
Kim Jaejoong’s Net Worth
Kim Jaejoong has an estimated net worth of $80 million USD as of July 2021, according to SeoulSpace. Is he, however, JYJ’s wealthiest member? Yes, it is true! Kim Junsu is the second richest member, with a net worth of $40 million USD, and Park Yoochun is the least wealthy, with a net worth of $8.5 million USD, according to reports.