Lee Sung min (singer)

Biography

Sungmin was born in the Ilsan district of Goyang, Gyeonggi. He has a younger brother, Lee Sungjin. Sungmin's father Lee Chun-hwa, is the CEO of two companies: SendBill, which creates e-tax software, and Network Mania, an analytics company.

In 2001, he entered the SM Youth Best Contest and jointly won first place for the Best Outward Appearance award with future bandmate Donghae. Together, they signed a contract with SM Entertainment and received training in singing, dancing, and acting.

Sungmin studied at Myongji University for his bachelor's degree. He majored in Film Musical.

Pre-debut

Sungmin was placed in a project R&B group with Junsu and future bandmate Eunhyuk. In 2002, along with Typhoon, Rose and Attack, the six of them made their first television appearance in a show called Heejun vs. Kangta, Battle of the Century: Pop vs. Rock. Moon Hee-jun taught Typhoon, Rose and Attack on to sing rock while Sungmin, Xiah, and Eunhyuk were taught other singing techniques by Kangta. The six trainees separated a year later, then Typhoon, Rose, and Attack debuted as members of rock band TRAX. The trio separated when Junsu went on to debut as a member of TVXQ. Then Sungmin and Eunhyuk joined ten other trainees and formed Super Junior 05, the first generation of rotational boy band Super Junior.

In 2005, before Super Junior's debut, he played young Kang Dong-shin in MBC drama Sisters of the Sea.

2005–2009: Debut with Super Junior, acting and subgroups

Sungmin officially debut as part of 12-member rotational group Super Junior 05 on 6 November 2005 on SBS's music programme Inkigayo, performing their first single, "Twins (Knock Out)". Their debut album SuperJunior05 (Twins) was released a month later on 5 December 2005 and debuted at #3 on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts.

In March 2006, SM Entertainment began to recruit new members for the next Super Junior generation. However, plans changed and the company declared a halt in forming future Super Junior generations. Following the addition of thirteenth member Kyuhyun, the group dropped the suffix "05" and became officially credited as Super Junior. The re-polished group's first CD single "U" was released on 7 June 2006, which was their most successful single until the release of "Sorry, Sorry" in March 2009.

Sungmin guest starred in SBS's Banjun Theatre drama Finding Lost Time and played Yoochun's high school friend.

In February 2007, Sungmin was placed in sub-group trot-singing Super Junior-T. In July, Sungmin's took part with fellow Super Junior members in Attack on the Pin-Up Boys, a SM Pictures production. He played the role of a pretty school boy who gets attacked by an unknown criminal. He replaced bandmate Kangin as one of the DJs at Reckless Radio, with Girls' Generation members from June 2007 to July 2008.

In 2008, he became a member of sub-group Super Junior-H and participated in a short half-hour drama Super Junior Unbelievable Story with Leeteuk. Sungmin played himself, a member of Super Junior-T who is constantly overshadowed by his members.

In 2009, he starred as male lead, Ro, in musical Akilla at the Hanjeon Art Center in Seoul from 9 October to 8 November.

2010–2012: DJ, musical theatre, and comeback with Super Junior

In 2010, Sungmin starred in the title role of musical Hong Gil Dong, alongside group mate Yesung who also played the historical figure Hong Gildong. It played at the Woori Financial Art Hall at the Olympic Park from 18 February 2010 for two months.

In October, Sungmin was one of 20 South Korean singers who recorded the theme song, "Let's Go", for the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit. He provided vocals along with labelmates Seohyun, Jonghyun and Luna. In December He starred in KBS drama President as Jang Sungmin, the ambitious son of Jang Il Joon the president.

In January 2011, he was placed in Mandopop sub-group Super Junior-M, as one of two new members along with Eunhyuk. Then spend the next few months promoting their third EP Perfection in Taiwan and China. For July and August, Sungmin performed as male lead Daniel, rotating with Ahn Jae-wook, Um Ki-joon, and Lee Ji-hoon, in musical Jack the Ripper at Chungmu Arts Hall.

In 2012, Sungmin took part in We Got Married's spin-off program with Sistar's Hyorin called "Pit-a-Pat Shake" to air as a Lunar Year special. Sungmin along with bandmate Ryeowook, took over Super Junior's Kiss the Radio, when former DJs Leeteuk and Eunhyuk left due to their busy schedules. On 29 March 2012, Sungmin released his first solo digital single, "Oh Wa", the ending theme song for KBS sitcom, We Need a Fairy.

In September and October 2012, Sungmin reprised his role of Daniel, with Ahn Jae-wook, as the Korean musical Jack the Ripper held its Japanese tour at Aoyama Theater in Tokyo, Japan. The musical was well-received and, due to its popularity, it was brought back to Japan for another run at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama the following year. Japanese media noted that the impact of the Hallyu Wave in general and specifically the casting of Sungmin helped build popularity for the show in 2012.

2012 was considered a successful year in musicals for Sungmin due to his performance in Jack the Ripper musical, he was ranked by OBS’s Unique Entertainment News as the second most powerful musical idol of the year, after Kim Junsu, based on the number of tickets sold.

In June 2012, Sungmin reunited with his Super Junior bandmates for their sixth studio album, Sexy, Free & Single for released on 4 July. On 25 June his teaser photo was released showing a side-profiled Sungmin with a feminized look and long blond hair holding a large bouquet of baby’s breath flowers.

2013-2015: Breakdown, SWING, and continued acting

On January 7, 2013, Super Junior-M released their second album, Break Down, along with the music video for the lead single of the same name. A press conference took place in Beijing on January 7, and they will promote the album in China.

On 14 February 2013 Super Junior's 5th World Tour: Super Show 5 was announced, along with 8 active members, excluding Yesung from SS5 Seoul's last date, and Heechul made comeback in SS5 Manilla Sungmin participated in all Super Shows from 23 March 2014 to 22 February 2014. On 14 December 2013 it was announced that Sungmin would be participating in his new Musical The Three Musketeers after group member Kyuhyun's last appearance. He worked along with label mate Key from Shinee as the same character d'Artagnan. 1st round of The Three Musketeers ended on 25 January 2013, its return would be in next year March 2014.

Sungmin continued pursuing in his musicals, with a comeback in Summer Snow which was held in Taiwan for 3 consecutive days. Sungmin held a press Conference on the same date as his Summer Snow Musical started which was on 16 January 2014.

After one year and three months since their second album 'Break Down', Super Junior-M released their third EP album, Swing in China on March 21. Previously on March 18, 2014 Super Junior-M had unveiled the teaser image for the EP.
Sungmin returned to another round of The Three Musketeers Musical just before SWING comeback promotions, which started on 14 March and ended on 19 of March.

In February 2014, Sungmin had applied for enlisting as a Seoul Metropolitan Police which would make him enlist in August 2014 but due to his musicals and 7th album comeback plans he postponed it. On 1 July 2014 it was announced that Sungmin would be acting as the main character in VAMPIRE musical as Dracula. Due to former Label Mate Junsu's musical DRACULA, the title Dracula renamed to VAMPIRE, as the two Musicals were under the same management, but with different plots and casts. On 5 August 2014, Super Junior World Tour Super Show 6 was announced to be held in Seoul on 21 September 2014, as its usual starting tour in Seoul.

Sungmin returned on Musical stage on 10 August 2014, and also returned with a comeback as a Super Junior member between Aug–Oct 2014 with their 7th Album Mamacita. Before beginning his mandatory military service on 31 March 2015, he continued to perform in Super Show 6 until the tour's stop in Macau in early March.

2017

After completing his military service and getting discharged at year end 2016, Sungmin resumed his musical solo activity. In January 2017, it was announced that he had been cast in the musical Boys Over Flowers for his first comeback musical role. The musical is scheduled for showing from February 25 to May 7.

Personal life

On September 24, 2014, Sungmin confirmed that he was dating actress Kim Sa-eun. They got married on December 13, 2014 in a private wedding.

On 31 March 2015, Sungmin enlisted for his mandatory military service. He was discharged from his military duty on 30 December 2016 after serving 21 month of active duty at 17th division in Incheon.