Lee Gi-kwang is a professional singer, songwriter, and actor from South Korea. Additionally, he is known professionally as Gikwang or Kikwang. He made his solo stage debut as ‘AJ’, which stands for ‘Ace Junior’. Lee launched his debut mini album ‘First Episode: A New Hero’ on April 4, 2009, which became an instant hit and helped him establish a following among pop music fans. Lee gained additional notoriety as a member of the boy band ‘BEAST’. He joined the band in 2009 as the lead vocalist and primary dancer; in 2017, the group changed its name to ‘Highlight’. He has pursued an acting career after becoming a known face as a member of ‘BEAST.’ He began his acting career in 2009 with a guest appearance on the hit television sitcom ‘High Kick Through the Roof.’
Lee Gi-kwang’s Career
Lee Gi-Kwang began his career as a solo vocalist under the stage name ‘AJ’. In April 2009, he released ‘First Episode: A New Hero,’ a mini-album. He quickly gained popularity among music fans and was hailed as the next ‘Rain’ by the South Korean media. However, his stage name ‘AJ’ caused some confusion and sparked controversy due to its resemblance to Paran’s AJ, a former member of the boy band ‘U-KISS’. To avoid controversy and confusion, Lee changed his name to Gikwang or Kikwang and became more popular.
He became a member of the boy band ‘BEAST’ less than six months after establishing himself as a solo performer. He made his debut as the band’s lead vocalist in addition to being the band’s primary dancer. Lee starred in a number of successful music videos for popular singers, including K.Will’s ‘Present’ and Sunny Hill’s ‘Midnight Circus,’ and also opened for Lady Gaga’s Korean showcase. Lee later collaborated with Ahn Jinkyung on the song ‘Love is Pathetic’, which was included in the mini-album ‘Be the Voice’.
Lee has collaborated on several of the Asian pop music industry’s most popular albums. His major works include songwriting and singing for the 2009 film ‘Beast is the B2ST,’ the 2010 film ‘My Story,’ the 2014 film ‘Good Luck,’ the 2014 film ‘Time,’ the 2015 film ‘Ordinary,’ the 2016 film ‘Highlight,’ the 2017 film ‘Can You Feel It?,’ and the 2017 film ‘ONE.’
Lee has also made television appearances, making his debut in 2009 as a supporting actor on MBC’s ‘High Kick Through the Roof’. Later in his career, he participated in television dramas like ‘My Princess,’ ‘Me Too, Flower!,’ ‘And Mrs. Cop,’ ‘Monster,’ and ‘Circle.’ He has also acted in two films, namely ‘Sammy Adventures 2’ in 2012 and a drama special titled ‘My Friend Is Still Alive’ in 2013.
Apart from his own reality show, ‘Diary of AJ,’ Lee has hosted a variety of other series, including ‘Inkigayo,’ ‘MelOn Music Awards,’ ‘Style log,’ and ‘Show! Music Core.’ Lee won the ‘Popularity Award’ at the 2010 MBC Entertainment Awards for his performance in ‘Hot Brothers,’ and the ‘Best New Actor award at the 2011 MBC Drama Awards for his performance in ‘My Princess.
His Private Life
Lee Gi-Kwang was born on March 30, 1990, in Naju, South Korea, into a loving family. His parents urged him to pursue a career in music after recognizing his passion for singing. He was always fascinated with hip-hop and popular culture. He eventually passed an audition for a trainee position with a famous agency.
He was eliminated after four years of training with ‘JYP Entertainment’ and was later approached by the head of ‘Cube Entertainment’ to become their first-ever trainee. He accepted the offer and was not required to attend an audition. This was the start of his great musical career.
Estimated Net worth
Lee Gi-Kwang is one of the wealthiest and most popular pop singers. Lee Gi-net Kwang’s worth is estimated to be $4 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.