[OFFICIAL] We Loves Shinhwa! - soompi forums

Background for the Official Thread

Shinhwa

Korean name
Hangul: 신화
Hanja: 神話
Revised Romanization: Sinhwa
McCune-Reischauer: Sinhwa

Shinhwa (신화) is the Korean word for myth or story (the term is used frequently in the studies of ancient Korean lore, particularly as it relates to Shamanism), and is the name of perhaps the most popular Korean boy band still active. The group has six members (all vocalists), and debuted on March 24 1998 under management of the SM Entertainment label.

History

The six-member group debuted on March 24 1998 with a concert performance on Korean music show, KM Music Tank, of their first single, entitled "Hae Gyul Sah" ("Problem Solver").

Shinhwa was formed under the management of SM Entertainment, and in July 2003 signed a new contract with a new record label, Good! Entertainment.

Shinhwa has released seven regular albums, one 'best of' album, and two special albums. They have changed musical styles throughout their career, creating a variation of popular music for fans and general K-pop listeners. Their past styles have included rock, rap, pop, ballad, and R&B. Shinhwa is also famous for their coordinated and well-choreographed dance performances in videos and in concert.

Band members

Shinhwa has six members:

Eric Mun (Korean name: Mun Jung Hyuk 문정혁; 16 February 1979; English rapper)
Lee Min Woo (이민우; 28 July 1979; vocalist)
Kim Dong Wan (김동완; 21 November 1979; vocalist)
Shin Hye Sung (Real name: Jung Pil Kyo 정필교; 27 November 1979; lead vocalist)
Jun Jin (Real name: Park Choong Jae 박충재; 19 August 1980; rapper & vocalist)
Andy Lee (Korean name: Lee Sun Ho 이선호; 21 January 1981; rapper)

Hye Sung was the first to join the group, after auditioning in the U.S.
Then Andy was chosen as he was already known to SM Entertainment as a once-candidate for another Korean boyband, H.O.T, with his friend and H.O.T ex-member Tony An, though he was prohibited by his parents from joining H.O.T. because he was too young at the time.
Eric joined not long after Andy.
Min Woo was discovered in a dance group by a SM scout.
Dong Wan joined after he saw a preview video of the existing Shinhwa members.
Jun Jin made it as the final member through an audition backed by his high school friend, Kangta (ex-member of H.O.T).

Notable achievements and awards

In 2002, Shinhwa made history in Korean music when they released their sixth album, "Wedding," becoming the longest running Korean boy-band in existence. They also have one of the largest active fan clubs, suitably named "Shinhwa Changjo" (신화창조 meaning to create legend) with over sixty thousand "official" fans alone, and even more "unofficial" fans.

On December 10 2004, Shinhwa was awarded the Daesang for Best Artist of The Year for the first time at the Seoul Gayo Daesang Awards. Several weeks later, on December 29, Shinhwa was awarded their second Daesang at the 2004 SBS Gayo Daejun Awards. In 2004, of all musical artists and groups, Shinhwa received the most amount of awards, totalling thirteen, from various places: the m.net KMTV Music Video Festival, Seoul Gayo Daesang, Golden Disc Awards and MBC,KBS,SBS Gayo Awards. The awards other than Best Artist of the Year included Best Male Artist, Best Dance Artist, and Overseas Choice Award.

Shinhwa's second album, T.O.P., (1999)Shinhwa is not only extremely popular in Korea, but internationally as well. They have performed in countries all over the world, including the United States, Australia, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan. Although Shinhwa holds fans all over the world, for now the group is best known in Asia.

In their first visit to Singapore October 2004, for an entire week Shinhwa was the most searched artist in the Yahoo Singapore search engine, becoming the first Korean artist to do so. In their most recent concert in Japan in January 2005, they held the largest Korean artist concert (second only to singer BoA), selling 13,000 tickets within a week.

In July 2004, Shinhwa was selected to represent Korea in the MTV Buzz Asia Awards with the likes of Amuro Namie for Japan and F4 for Taiwan. Shinhwa was also selected to perform the highlight of the awards - the finale performance.

In August 2004, Shinhwa held a Korea-China-Japan summer camp (Shinhwa Summer Story 2004) dedicated entirely for their non-Korean fans, where hundreds of non-Korean fans flew to Korea from all over Asia for the opportunity to spend a few days with Shinhwa.

Commercially, Shinhwa has also been chosen by internationally renowned Swiss watch brand Rado to represent Asia as models in a January 2005 campaign.

Shinhwa activities

SMTown

Throughout the years with SM Entertainment, Shinhwa participated in the label's annual special album, in which SM's best and/or newest singers and groups form a compilation album. This "community" of SM Entertainment performers is famously known as SMTown.

1999 Christmas in SMTOWN
2000 Winter Vacation in SMTOWN
2001 Winter Vacation in SMTOWN
2002 Summer Vacation in SMTOWN
2002 Winter Vacation in SMTOWN
2003 Summer Vacation in SMTOWN

Concerts

The group has given four main concert series so far, including a tour around major cities of South Korea as well as a concert in Japan. In each [concert, aside from performing as a group, each member is also given the chance to show his individual talent.

2001 first Live Concert: The First Mythology
2003 second Live Concert: The Everlasting Mythology (20�23 April 2003)
2003�2004 Winter Story Tour (31 December 2003�14 February 2004)
2004�2005 Winter Story Concert (Seoul: 19 December 2004; Osaka & Tokyo: 21�23 January 2005)

General discography

First Album: 해결사 (Hae Gyul Sah): 5 May 1998 (SM Entertainment)
Second Album: T.O.P: 4 April 1999 (SM Entertainment)
Third Album: Only One: May 2000 (SM Entertainment)
Fourth Album: Hey, Come On!: 28 June 2001 (SM Entertainment)
Concert � Shinhwa 1st Live Concert 2001: April 2001 (SM Entertainment)
Best Album � My Choice: January 2002 (SM Entertainment)
Fifth Album: Perfect Man: 29 March 2002 (SM Entertainment)
Sixth Album: Wedding: 26 December 2002 (SM Entertainment)
Concert � Everlasting Mythology: 27 July 2003 (SM Entertainment)
Special � Winter Story: 30 December 2003 (Good Entertainment)
Seventh Album: Brand New: 27 August 2004 (Good Entertainment)
Special � Winter Story 2004-2005: 20 December 2004 {Good Entertainment)

Solo activities

After moving from SM and signing with Good! Entertainment in 2003, the group members took time to do solo activities. Despite rumours, they did not break up.

Members Andy, Jun Jin, Eric, and Dong Wan chose acted in various TV series and movies.
Jun Jin acted in KBS drama Kumiho Waejon
Andy acted in the MBC sitcom Nonstop IV
Dongwan played the main character in the film Spin Kick, and has appeared in various television dramas such as Beating Hearts and Magic Power Alcohol
Eric played one of the main characters in the highly successful and acclaimed drama Firebird; he also starred in the drama I'm Running and New Employee. His first film-part was that of a killer in A Bittersweet Life.
Min Woo released his first solo album (choosing a different solo stage name: "M"), entitled Un-touch-able, and is presently working on a second solo album, including his Spring 2005 hit "If You...".
Hye Sung collaborated with his close friends Kangta and Lee Ji Hoon, forming a project group named S. The vocal-oriented trio released a project album, Fr.in.Cl.
Hye Sung also released a solo album in May 2005. This album ranked number one on the HMV pre-order sales chart in Japan in February 2005.
Both Shin Hyesung and Lee Minwoo are planning solo concerts in Japan.

Eric and Kim Dongwan have also returned to acting, with Kim Dongwan set to star in a new KBS drama in May, and Eric currently starring in a new MBC drama "Super Rookie" (also known as New Employee), which is rapidly gaining success.

Discography as solo artists

M (Lee Minwoo) Un-touch-able: 22 November 2003 (Good Entertainment)
Group ‘S’ Fr.in.Cl (feat. Shin Hyesung) 25 September 2003 (SM Entertainment)
Single — M (Lee Minwoo) If You...: 10 March 2005 (Good Entertainment)
Shin Hyesung (Love of May): 9 May 2005 (Good Entertainment)
M (Lee Minwoo) IInd Winds: 3 September 2005 (Good Entertainment)

source: answers.com wikipedia

QUOTE(frOsty_pAnda @ Oct 4 2005, 06:52 PM)

i feel that way also. i have never seen a group that was so close with each other. when i see them together, i can see how much they love each other. when they sing, i can tell that they love it n r singing their heart out. Shinhwa has been mi childhood practically. i'm happy when i see them laughing and playing around. don't kno y though. i'm envious of their lightheartness...wish that i could be that happy sometimes.

same here, they make me smile all the time. whenever they joke around, i dont feel like its for the camera. other boy band groups who act all cute and innocent, its just a facade for fans to go like "aww how cute" when in reality when the camera isnt on, they dont act like that.

QUOTE(s_h_i_n_h_w_a @ Oct 4 2005, 07:10 PM)