Kai (South Korean singer)

Kai
Kai at Hong Kong Dome Festival
Born	Kim Jong-in January 14, 1994 Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, South Korea
Occupation	Singer dancer actor
Musical career
Genres	K-pop contemporary R&B dance-pop electronic
Years active	2012—present
Labels	S.M. Entertainment
Associated acts	EXO EXO-K SM Town
Korean name
Hangul	김종인
Hanja	金鍾仁
Revised Romanization	Gim Jong-in
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Chong-in
Stage name
Hangul	카이
Revised Romanization	Kai
Signature

Kim Jong-in (born January 14, 1994), better known as Kai, is a South Korean singer, dancer, and actor. He is a member and one of the main dancers of the South Korean-Chinese boy group EXO and its sub unit EXO-K.

Early life

Kai was born on January 14, 1994, in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. He began dancing when he was eight years old. He originally did jazz dance, but after watching The Nutcracker he began to train in ballet^[1] while in the third grade.^[2] He stated that his parents initially wanted him to learn Taekwondo and the piano. He began training in hip-hop after joining S.M. Entertainment.

Kai graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul in February 2012.

In 2014, during EXO 90:2014 show, Kai stated that he wanted to become a singer after watching Shinhwa.^[3]

Career

EXO

Kai was the first EXO member to be formally introduced to the public through teaser trailers. His first teaser was released on December 23, 2011.^[4] He appeared in twelve more trailers released in the following three months, and had his first televised performance with Luhan, Chen and Tao on SBS Gayo Daejeon event on December 29, 2011.

Kai participated in the promotional dance unit "Younique Unit", with Luhan, Taemin, Eunhyuk, Hyoyeon and Henry where they performed the single "Maxstep". The music video was released on October 30, 2012.^[5] Kai was also a member of the dancing group, "S.M. The Performance", with Lay, Yunho, Taemin, Minho, Donghae and Eunhyuk. They performed the dance piece "Spectrum" in 2012.^[6] Also in 2012, Kai appeared in Girls' Generation-TTS's music video "Twinkle" along with Chanyeol, Sehun and Baekhyun.

Solo activities

Kai won the 'Singing Jjang of 10th SM Teen Best Contest'.

In 2008, Kai made a brief appearance in TVXQ's music video, "HaHaHa Song" along with EXO members Suho and Chanyeol.

In 2014, Kai was featured in Shinee member Taemin's song "Pretty Boy".^[7]

In 2016, Kai made his official acting debut as the male lead in the web drama 'Choco Bank'.^[8] The drama went on to achieve record breaking views.^[9]

Personal life

In April 2016, Kai was confirmed by S.M. Entertainment to be in a relationship with Krystal, member of labelmate girl group f(x).^[10]

Discography

Year	Title	Peak chart position	Sales (DL)	Album
		KOR Gaon
2012	"Maxstep" (with Younique Unit)	—	N/A	PYL Younique Volume 1
2014	"Pretty Boy" (Taemin featuring Kai)	33	KOR (DL): 53,588+[11]	Ace
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Videography

Dramas

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2012	To the Beautiful You	Himself	SBS	with EXO-K members
2015	EXO Next Door	Kai	Naver TV Cast	Recurring; Fictional version of himself
2016	Choco Bank	Kim Eun-Haeng		Main Character

Variety shows

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2012	Asian Hero	Guest	Channel V Thailand	with EXO-K
	Top Chinese Music Interview		BTV
	Tooniverse Interview		Tooniverse
	NetEase Interview		NetEase
	Sina Live Chat		Sina
	EXO's Mini Live
	Asia Lover		True Music
	Red Cross Youth Ambassadors	Main
2013	Star King	Guest	SBS	with Baekhyun, Xiumin, Suho, Luhan, S&ehun (July 6, 13 & 27, 2013)
	Immortal Songs 2		KBS	Ep. 116: Baekhyun, Lay, D.O., Chen, Kai, Sehun and Xiumin Ep. 118 - Heartthrob Special Part 1: Baekhyun, Chen, Xiumin, Lay, Luhan, Kai, Sehun and D.O. Ep. 119 - Heartthrob Special Part 2: Baekhyun, Chen, Xiumin, Lay, Luhan, Kai, Sehun and D.O.
	Idol Star Athletics Championships	Competitor	MBC	Team B: Suho, Luhan, Xiumin, Baekhyun, Sehun, Kris, Kai and Tao
	Dancing 9	Guest	Mnet	with Lay
	Hello Counselor		KBS	Ep. 145 with Lay
	We Got Married		MBC	Ep. 32 - with Suho visiting Lee Tae-min and Son Na-eun couple
2014	Running Man	Guest	SBS	Ep. 209 with Sehun
	EXO 90:2014	Main	Mnet	Ep. 1, 3, 6 & 11
2015	SurpLINEs EXO		Line TV	with Sehun, Xiumin, Chanyeol and Tao
	Guerilla Date	Guest	KBS	with Xiumin, Chanyeol, Lay, Sehun and Chen
	After School Club	Guest	Arirang	Ep. 165 with Baekhyun
	Oh! My Baby		SBS	Ep. 85 & 86
2016	Yummy! Yummy!		Letv	with Sehun

Radio shows

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2012	Hong Jin Kyung 2 O'clock	Guest	KBS Cool FM	with EXO-K
	Sukira - Kiss the Radio		KBS Cool FM
	Younha's Starry Night		MBC Standard FM
	Choi Hwa Jung's Power Time		SBS Power FM
	ShimShimTapa		MBC Standard FM
2013	ShimShimTapa		MBC Standard FM
	Cultwo Show		SBS Power FM	with Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Suho, D.O.., Kris, Xiumin & Lay
	Cultwo Show		SBS Power FM	with Suho, Chanyeol, Sehun, Baekhyun and D.O..
	Sukira - Kiss the Radio		KBS Cool FM	with Xiumin
	Sukira - Kiss the Radio	Special DJ	KBS Cool FM	with Suho
	Oven Radio	Main	1theK Originals	Ep. 3 The Star (Chanyeol, Kris, Sehun, Kai & Tao) Ep. 5 The First Snow (Suho, Kai, Kris, Chanyeol & EXO)
2014	ShimShimTapa	Guest	MBC Standard FM	with EXO-K
	Jang Yoon-ju's Rooftop		KBS Cool FM	with Chanyeol
	Park Kyung Lim 2PM Radio		MBC Standard FM	with Baekhyun
2015	Old School		SBS Power FM	with Suho and Chanyeol
	Lee Guk Joo's Youngstreet	Special DJ	SBS Power FM

Hosting

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2012	Inkigayo	Special MC	SBS	(27/5/2012)
2013	Inkigayo		SBS	(11/8/2013)

Music video appearances

Year	Song	Artist	Notes
2008	"HaHaHa Song"[12]	TVXQ	with Suho and Chanyeol
2012	"Twinkle"[13]	Girls' Generation-TTS	with Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Sehun
	"Maxstep"[14]	Younique Unit
2014	"In Summer"[15]	Deux	EXO 90:2014 MV Remake

References

1. deedeegii. "EXO's Kai Transforms into a Ballerino for The Celebrity". Soompi. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
2. "Kai discusses his friend in HOTSHOT and learning ballet | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
3. "EXO's Kai proves to be a fan boy of Shinhwa + S.M.ROOKIES perform Shinhwa's 'Wild Eyes' | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
4. "SM unveils first member, Kai, of mysterious rookie group". Newsen (in Korean). 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
5. "SM Entertainment's dance unit 'Younique' releases "MAXSTEP" MV | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
6. "SM Entertainment's dance unit 'SM The Performance' releases "Spectrum" | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
7. "Taemin reveals track list for solo debut album 'Ace'". 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
8. crystalcove. "EXO's Kai Makes Official Acting Debut With Lead Role in Web Drama". Soompi. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
9. "EXO Kai and Park Eun Bin's web drama 'Choco Bank' achieves record-breaking views | allkpop.com". www.allkpop.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
10. Bahk Eun-ji (April 1, 2016). "Romance blooms for EXO's Kai, f(x)'s Krystal". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
11. "2014년 35주차 Download Chart (see #29)". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
12. TVXQ feat. EXO - Ha Ha Ha Song. 15 December 2011 – via YouTube.
13. GIRLS' GENERATION-TTS_TWINKLE_Music Video. 30 April 2012 – via YouTube.
14. YOUNIQUE UNIT_MAXSTEP_Music Video. 30 October 2012 – via YouTube.
15. Mnet [EXO 902014] 엑소 카이가 재해석한 '듀스-여름안에서' 뮤비/EXO KAI's 'In Summer' M/V Remake. 31 October 2014 – via YouTube.

External links

• Kai at HanCinema