Profile

Name (이름):  CHOI WHEESUNG (최휘성)

Wheesung also know as Real Slow - one of the best R&B Singers in Korea

Quick Personal Info:

• Born on February 5, 1982
• Stands 172 cm or 5′6″
• Weighs 65 kgs (he looks lean and buff after his 5th album)
• Used to study in  SunMoon University but shifted to Digital University
• Has a younger brother named Hyuksung (wondering if his brother sings well too)
• Loves to eat dishes made of chicken
• Jodeci, Marc Nelson and Stevie Wonder are just some of his favorite artists

Career Highlights:

Wheesung debuted his singing career with a Korean boy band called A4.  He later joined M Boat, a sister company of YG Entertainment.  Wheesung also known as Real Slow had few years of vocal training from YG  and released his first solo album Like A Movie.  One of his notable songs which is actually key to his career launch was from his first album entitled 안 되나요 (An dwenayo or Can’t We).   Even now that he has left for another label company,  Wheesung’s name gets a strong recall when 안 되나요 is played likewise this is the first song that enters one’s mind when his name is mentioned. 

'With Me' days from It's Real Album

A strong follow thorugh hit song on his second album is With Me.  A lot of people claim that ‘It’s Real’ is his best album ever carrying the songs Pretty Lady, Tell Me, I’m Missing You to name a few.  Wheesung has established himself well as a solo singer, a year after the 2nd album is released, For the Moment album has been launched with song ‘Incurable Disease’ paving another hit to his roster of good songs.

Wheesung left YG after his contract expired on March 2006, his last album from this label was Love…Love…?Love…! (I have so many favorite songs from this album – 가 Ga is one of them).  Despite leaving YG, Wheesung has maintained a good relationship with his former label company.  He has infact helped train Big Bang before debuting on 2006. 

Sporting a new sophisticated style in his 5th album

Wheesung is currently under Orange Shock Label.  His first album under this label which is actually his 5th is entitled Eternal Essence of Music.  (I love this album for it features my favorite song Love Hero –melts my heart).  사랑 맛있다 (Sarang Mashitda or Love is Delicious) is the carrier single of the album.  The feel good song became so popular in Korea and stayed on top of Korean Music Charts for couple of weeks.  It is said that this is the first song of Wheesung that conveys love in a happy feeling.

Some Trivias:

• Wheesung used to be a back up dancer for the singer 재 ( J )
• When he debuted on April 2002 with his album Like A Movie, he gained praises from Korea’s legendary music icon Seo Tai Ji and ‘King of Ballads’ Shin Seung Hoon.  Mr. Shin predicted that Wheesung will become one of the biggest Korean popstars in the future (well I guess he was right on this :-) )  and further said that this is not because he is a good singer but rather he knows how to sing.
• Before he debuted solo, he auditioned in other labels and there was one producer who said ‘what’s with that face?’ (implying he isn’t that good looking) Recognizing his vocal skills but saying that such looks is not his fault but his parents’.
• YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk once said that one of their trainees during that time for Big Bang,  Daesung, was like Wheesung whom you can find in any part of the studio singing even on hall ways.  
• Aside from singing Wheesung is also a lyricist-composer.  He made songs and collaborated with a handfull of popular Korean artists such as Se7en, Ivy, Lani, Lee Hyori, Younha to name a few.  His songs are popular choices for TV dramas, movie and even CF (commercial film). 
• Wheesung decided to have a vocal chords operations to remove a cyst from his throat on February 2008.  The operations was successful that he is able to comeback and staged a concert in Osaka Japan on June 2008.