Юно Юнхо: Путь к успеху лидера TVXQ

Korean singer songwriter (born 1986)

Chung Yun ho (hangul=정윤호; born February 6, 1986), better known by his stage name U Know Yunho (유노윤호) or simply U Know, is a South Korean singer songwriter, actor, and a member of the pop duo TVXQ. Born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea, Yunho started his musical training under the talent agency SM Entertainment in 2001 and joined TVXQ in 2003 as the band's leader. Fluent in Korean and Japanese, Yunho has released chart topping albums throughout Asia as a member of TVXQ. He has made occasional acting appearances in television dramas.

Yunho was born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea. He has one younger sister. Several members of Yunho's family worked in the legal industry, and Yunho's own childhood dream was to be a prosecutor. When he was in middle school, he and a few other friends formed the dance team A+, and they competed in various dance competitions around the country. After winning a prize at the 1st Annual SM Best Competition in 1999, Yunho signed with S. M. Entertainment and officially started his training in 2001. His family, who suffered greatly from the 1997 Asian financial crisis, were initially against his decision to become a singer. To provide for himself while he trained in Seoul, Yunho took up various part time jobs in the city, such as doing snow removal in the morning and working as a waiter at night. He spent most of his high school vacations in Seoul training and only returned to Gwangju for school. Sometime later, Yunho suffered a hormonal imbalance in his throat and underwent surgery, which affected his vocal cords. After losing his voice, Yunho considered giving up his training. Throughout his years as a trainee, Yunho was put in four temporary groups all of which later disbanded. In late 2001, at the age of fifteen, Yunho was featured as a rapper and backup dancer in Dana's debut single "Diamond", and briefly toured with her. In 2002, Yunho was selected to be a backup dancer for Shinhwa and was chosen to be part of the project boy band Four Seasons, which consisted of fellow trainees Kim Jae joong, Kim Hee chul, and Kangin. The project group was dropped when Yunho and Jaejoong joined TVXQ in early 2003. Yunho's stage name "U Know", a nickname he has been using since high school, reflected Yunho's position as the leader, who was always trying to understand others.

The final line up of TVXQ consisted of Yunho, Max Changmin, Jaejoong, Park Yoo chun, and Kim Jun su. The group officially debuted on December 26, 2003, during a BoA and Britney Spears showcase. They performed their debut single "Hug", which became a hit in South Korea. TVXQ have been releasing number one albums in Korea since their second studio album Rising Sun (2005), which was also the album that gave the group their first Daesang (대상), or Grand Award, at the Mnet KM Music Festival. Their fourth Korean album Mirotic (2008) was the Album of the Year at the 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival and the 2008 Golden Disc Awards. The album features the group's most well known and best selling single, "Mirotic". In 2005, TVXQ made their Japanese debut with the single "Stay with Me Tonight", debuting at number 37 on the Oricon Singles Chart. They grabbed their first number one single in Japan with "Purple Line" (2008). Their fourth Japanese album The Secret Code spawned two platinum selling singles "Dōshite Kimi o Suki ni Natte Shimattandarō?" and Share the World" (2009), with the latter being a theme song for the anime One Piece. TVXQ was plunged into legal turmoil when members Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu filed an injunction against their Korean agency in July 2009. This led to their much publicized departure from the group in 2010. A year later, Yunho and Changmin returned as a duo, releasing albums in both Korean and Japanese. As a duo, TVXQ set sales records and concert attendance records in Japan, becoming the country's best selling and highest grossing foreign music act.

On May 25, 2015, it was announced that Yunho would release his first Japanese solo extended play U Know Y. Consisting of seven tracks, the mini album includes five songs that were previously performed by Yunho during TVXQ's concerts and solo events in Japan. The new track "Burning Down" was selected to be the album's lead single. Bundled with a DVD that includes a music video and behind the scenes footage, U Know Y received a limited release, and was only made available for purchase to members of TVXQ's Japanese fanclub, Bigeast. The mini album was released on July 8, 2015. On July 20, 2015, Yunho releases the music video "Champagne" with then SM Rookie member, Park Jisung, currently a member of NCT. On May 3, 2019, Yunho announced plans to release his first solo Korean language album. Yunho's debut extended play, True Colors, was announced on May 28 and was released on June 12 alongside its lead single "Follow". On December 17, 2020, Yunho announced that he would make his comeback in January 2021. Yunho's second extended play, Noir, was released on January 18, 2021, alongside its lead single "Thank U". On February 9, 2022, Yunho released his second Japanese extended play You Go Ahead. On August 7, 2023, Yunho will release his third korean extended play Reality Show, alongside its lead single "Vuja De".

Yunho has been given the name "K pop's dancing king" by critics. He was also the only Asian performer invited to Michael Jackson's tribute concert This Is It, and performed in the Korean leg. He trained in Los Angeles and Las Vegas with Genevieve Gleary, Morris Pleasure, and others who once worked closely with Jackson.

In 2014, Yunho was named honorary ambassador of National Assembly Library.

Besides his native Korean, Yunho is fluent in Japanese. He graduated from Myongji University in 2011. He has pursued a master's degree at Chungwoon University. On March 12, 2021, Yunho violated COVID 19 restrictions when he visited a bar with friends in Gangnam after 10 pm. He posted a public apology on his Instagram. On September 2, 2021, Yunho was cleared of criminal charges and paid a small fine for his curfew violation.

While TVXQ was filming a variety show on October 14, 2006, Yunho was rushed to the hospital after drinking a beverage laced with super glue, given to him by an anti fan. The female suspect, whose surname is Ko, was apprehended on October 16. She was a member of an anti TVXQ website for over two years. Yunho contacted the police and requested to not press charges against Ko in spite of the potentially severe consequences of what she did. Ko was the same age as Yunho's younger sister, and Yunho stated that the entire event "affected [him] more mentally than physically" while he was recovering from the shock. Circumstances were unclear as to how the culprit managed to enter the set of the variety show.

Yunho was inducted into the Republic of Korea Armed Forces on July 21, 2015. He received five weeks of basic training at Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, and was the leader of his squad. A completion ceremony for the recruits was held on August 27, and Yunho was awarded with the "Best Recruit" honor. Yunho officially joined the military band for the 26th Mechanized Infantry Division on August 31. He was honored as a Special Warrior on May 9, 2016. Yunho was honorably discharged from service on April 20, 2017.

On March 7, 2022, Yunho donated 50 million won to the Community Chest of Korea for Fruit of Love to help the victims of the massive wildfire that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk and has spread to Samcheok, Gangwon.

Title Year Artist(s) Album Credits "넌 언제나 (You Always)" 2004 TVXQ Tri Angle Co writer (rap) "Love After Love" 2005 Rising Sun "태양은 가득히 (Red Sun)" 2006 SM Town 2006 Summer SMTown "Sky" Tohoshinki Five in the Black "Snow Dream" SM Town 2006 Winter SMTown – Snow Dream "Summer Dream" 2007 Tohoshinki T "Spokesman" Yunho featuring Donghae The 2nd Asia Tour Concert "O" Co writer (music, lyrics) "Wrong Number" 2008 TVXQ Mirotic Co writer (rap) "사랑 안녕 사랑 (Love Bye Love)" "이별 넌 쉽니 (Heartquake)" 2009 Super Juniorfeaturing U Know Yunho and Micky Yoochun Sorry, Sorry "Checkmate" Yunho Co writer (music, lyrics) "Santa Revolution" 2013 U KNOW Y Co writer, co producer "뒷모습 (Steppin')" 2014 TVXQ Tense Co writer (rap) "11월 그리고 (November With Love)" Yunho Spellbound Co writer (music, lyrics) "Shout Out!" "Bang!" U KNOW Y

+ List of soundtrack appearances, with chart positions, showing year released, sales and album name Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR KORSongs USWorld "Waterfall" 2023 — — — RACE OST "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

+ Film Year Role Notes Dating on Earth 2009 Yunho Direct to video Haru: An Unforgettable Day in Korea 2010 Stunt actor Television film for Korean Tourism Chorus City Yunho Short film for Shanghai Expo I AM. 2012 Himself Documentary film Make Your Move 2013 U Know Cameo Ode to My Father 2014 Nam Jin Cameo SMTOWN The Stage 2015 Himself Documentary film

+ Title Year Role Notes Ref. (Reference) Banjun Theater 2005–06 Various roles Main role Nonstop 4 2006 Yunho Guest role (Episodes 62, 64) Vacation Himself Episode: "Cassiopeia" Heading to the Ground 2009 Cha Bong Goon Main role Poseidon 2011 Kang Eun chul Guest role Living Among the Rich Himself Cameo (Episode 1) Welcome to the Show Himself Cameo (Episode 1) King of Ambition 2013 Baek Do hoon Main role Saki Cafe customer Cameo (Episode 11) Diary of a Night Watchman 2014 Kang Moo seok Main role I Order You 2015 Yeo Gook dae Main role Meloholic2017Yoo Eun ho Main role Go Back Salesman Cameo (Episode 2) Tensai Bakabon 3 2018 Hotel porter Cameo Race 2023 Seo Dong hoon Main role Low Life 2025 In production

+ Title Year Roles Notes Ref. (Reference) Explorers of the Human Body 2007 Cast member 2 episodes Kim Yuna's Kiss & Cry 2011 Contestant Dunia: Into a New World 2018 Cast member Invention King 2020 Host & Inventor The Representative 2023 present Host

+ Title Year Notes Ref. (Reference) 72 Hours of TVXQ 2018 Himself Analog Trip 2019 Himself2020 KBS Song Festival 2020 Co host Check This Out 2021 Himself