Onew

Onew
Onew for Marie Claire Korea, April 2022
Born
Lee Jin-ki

(1989-12-14) December 14, 1989 (age 34)
Education
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • songwriter
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2008–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly ofSM Town
WebsiteJapan Official Website
Korean name
Hangul
이진기
Hanja
Revised RomanizationI Jin-gi
McCune–ReischauerYi Chinki
Stage name
Hangul
온유
Hanja
Revised RomanizationOn-yu
McCune–ReischauerOnyu
Signature

Lee Jin-ki (Korean이진기; Korean pronunciation: [i.dʑin.ki]; born December 14, 1989), better known by his stage name Onew,[1] is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, and host. Born in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Onew was discovered at the 2006 SM Academy Casting and signed a contract with SM Entertainment the day after his audition. He debuted as the lead vocalist and leader of the South Korean boy band Shinee in May 2008, who went on to become one of the best-selling artists in South Korea.

As a singer, he has participated in the original soundtracks for various TV series and released collaborations with various artists. He made his solo debut on December 5, 2018, with the release of his first extended play, Voice, five days before his military conscription on December 10, 2018. After finishing his military service, he released his second EP Dice on April 11, 2022 and later that year on July 6, he made his solo debut in Japan with the release of his first studio album Life Goes On. He released his first Korean studio album Circle on March 6, 2023. He followed this with the release of his third EP Flow on September 3, 2024. Onew has also contributed to songwriting for both himself and Shinee.

As an actor, Onew was cast in multiple musicals, such as Rock of Ages (2010), Shinheung Military Academy (2019), and Midnight Sun (2021–2022) and participated in various television dramas, mostly known for the roles of Baek Su in JTBC's sitcom Welcome to Royal Villa and the cardiothoracic resident Lee Chi-hoon in the popular KBS2 drama Descendants of the Sun (2016).

  1. ^ "샤이니(SHINee)의 무한도전, 과연 어디까지?" [(Shinee), Infinite challenge, what really happened?]. The Star (Chosun). July 27, 2009. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.