Heo Hyeon-seok (Korean허현석; born February 3, 1971),[1] better known by his stage name Hyun Jin-young (현진영),[2] is a South Korean singer, rapper, and dancer. He is best known for his role in introducing hip-hop music to South Korea.[3]

Hyun Jin-young
현진영
Hyun in 2021
Background information
Birth nameHeo Hyeon-seok
Born (1971-02-03) February 3, 1971 (age 53)
Seoul, South Korea
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • rapper
  • dancer
Years active1990–present
Labels
Formerly of
  • Hyun Jin-young and Wawa
  • I.W.B.H
Spouse
Oh Seo-un
(m. 2011)
Korean name
Hangul
현진영
Revised RomanizationHyeon Jin-yeong
McCune–ReischauerHyŏn Chinyŏng
Birth name
Hangul
허현석
Revised RomanizationHeo Hyeon-seok
McCune–ReischauerHŏ Hyŏnsŏk

Hyun is known as the first artist to be signed to SM Entertainment, then operating as S.M. Studio, in 1989. In 1995, his contract was completed and he left SM.

Early life

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Hyun has been involved with music since he was a child; his father Ho byong chan [ko],was a jazz pianist who was the first person to create a jazz big band called AAA(Triple A) inside the 8th US army village. While growing up in Hannam-dong UN Village (8th US Army Village near the U.S. Army Base),[4] he was introduced to African-American music by American friends.[3] He learned how to sing, dance and rap throughout his childhood.At the age of 14 in korean age, he was noticed by the dance crew "Spark", which was considered as the first korean breaking dance group, and the crew recruited him.[5] He dropped out of high school at age 16 to become a hip-hop musician.

Career

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He eventually met Lee Soo-man, and Hyun passed Lee's audition since he pulled off the toggichum (토끼춤, 'The Roger Rabbit"). He then trained under Lee's supervision to prepare for his debut.[6]

Hyun Jin-young and Wawa

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Debuting as Hyun Jin-young and Wawa in 1990,[7] Hyun released hit songs such as "Sad Mannequin" (슬픈 마네킹), "Sexy Lady" (야한여자) and "You Are in My Unclear Memory" (흐린기억속의그대).[1] Though album sales were mediocre, he gained popularity as a forerunner of hip hop music in South Korea, which at the time was a shock for most audiences.[3] At first, Wawa consisted of Koo Jun-yup and Kang Won-rae from Clon, later Lee Hyun-do and Kim Sung-jae, both of Deux fame,[6] and finally Sean, a future half of Jinusean. Hyun's career was damaged by a series of drug convictions from which it never fully recovered. He was incarcerated for marijuana use in 1991, then methamphetamines in 1993. Hyun later said he became addicted to methamphetamines after befriending a drug dealer inmate during his first stint in jail. Further arrests followed in 1995 and 1998.[8][9] In 1997, he formed a hip hop duo named I.W.B.H. with Lee Tak.[10]

Return

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In 2001, Hyun returned to the music scene with his fourth solo album, Wild Gangster Hip Hop-21C Hyun Jinyoung Vol.IV.[10] The response from his fans was favorable. He checked himself into hospital in 2003 and underwent a drug rehabilitation program.[8] In 2006, he released his fifth album called Street Jazz In My Soul. This album contained jazz music, a departure from his exclusively hip-hop origins.[10] The following year, he began teaching at RAUM, a professional music academy in Gangnam.[7]

He was also a chief producer of SidusHQ.[11]

Personal life

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Hyun legally married actress and entrepreneur Oh Seo-un in June 2011. Their wedding ceremony was postponed and took place in 2013.[12]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details[13]
New Dance 1
(as Hyun Jin-young and Wawa)
Track listing
  1. "슬픈 마네킹" (4:04)
  2. "eye shadow" (4:11)
  3. "야한여자 (rap version)" (4:26)[a]
  4. "사랑찾기" (4:29)
  5. "슬픈 마네킹(instrumental version)" (3:33)
  6. "비틀거리는 세상" (4:14)
  7. "꿈이었나봐" (3:59)
  8. "야한여자" (4:29)
  9. "추억 그리고 아픔" (4:02)
  10. "여행" (3:58)
New Dance 2
  • Released: August 1, 1992
  • Label: S.M. Studio
  • Format: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. Intro
  2. 흐린 기억속의 그대 (Club Mix)
  3. 너에게만
  4. 너는 왜 (현진영 Go 진영 Go)
  5. 봄비
  6. 한동안 뜸했었지
  7. 미인[b]
  8. 비틀거리는 세상 (Remix)
  9. 난 깜짝 놀랄 짓을 할거야
  10. 떠나가지마
  11. 흐린 기억속의 그대 (Original)
  12. 흐린 기억속의 그대 (Inst.)
Int. World Beat and Hiphop Of New Dance 3
  • Released: September 1, 1993
  • Label: S.M. Studio
  • Format: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. 두근 두근 쿵쿵
  2. 12번째 사랑
  3. 나만의 그녀
  4. 남자라 부르는 내 모습
  5. 바로 너!
  6. Always And Forever (너만을)
  7. 내 눈빛 속에 너
  8. 현진영 Go 진영 Go (Melody Remake)
  9. 너만을 (English Ver.)
  10. 두근 두근 쿵쿵 (inst)
  11. 바로 너! (inst)
Wild Gangster Hiphop 21C Hyun Jinyoung Vol.IV
  • Released: January 1, 2002
  • Label: King Entertainment(currently listed as RIAK)
  • Format: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. Intro
  2. 용쟁호투
  3. 요람[c]
  4. 어둠의 나날들(Dark days)
  5. 엽기적인 세상
  6. 보랏빛 계단
  7. 니가 된 나
  8. No!
  9. 남과 다르게
  10. Pray
  11. 같은 하늘 아래 그 후...[d]
  12. 어둠의 나날들(Dark days)(Techno Ver.)
  13. 현진영 Go 진영 Go 21 Century
  14. 용쟁호투(Club Mix)
Street Jazz In My Soul
  • Released: March 27, 2006
  • Label: Seal Media
  • Format: CD, cassette
Track listing
  1. Intro - In My Soul (Feat. Funky Brown)
  2. 소리쳐봐 (Break Me Down)
  3. 차라리 (Feat. N-Son)
  4. 말로 할 수 없는 말
  5. Paradise (Feat. 박장근)
  6. 악녀(惡女)
  7. Somebody (Feat. 이시우)
  8. Blue Day
  9. 한 Q (Feat. JOOSUC [[[:ko:주석 (가수)|ko]]], Shorry J of Mighty Mouth)
  10. Better Day
  11. 소리쳐봐 (Jazz ver.)
  12. Epilogue - Always Mine
  1. ^ Contains uncredited rap performed by Damon Williams, who was formerly part of the United states army.
  2. ^ Originally sung by Shin Jung Hyun
  3. ^ Originally song by his hiphop group IWBH
  4. ^ Originally song by his hiphop group IWBH

Filmography

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Television show

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023–present Mr. House Husband Cast Member Season 2 [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b 현진영 소개 [Hyun Jin-young Profile] (in Korean). Mnet. Archived from the original on 2018-05-27. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  2. ^ "Artists Search: Hyun Jin-young (현진영)". KBS World Radio. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  3. ^ a b c Dillow, Gordon (1993-05-09). "Rap's Seoul Brother : Dance Transcended All Language Barriers for Korean Music Star". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
  4. ^ Park, A-ram (November 25, 2022). 현진영 "재벌 수준으로 부유했지만 지금은 없어..극단선택도 했었다" (새롭게하소서) [Hyun Jin-young: "I was as rich as a chaebol, but not anymore.. I made an extreme choice"]. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023 – via Naver.
  5. ^ 현진영 "토끼 춤 덕분에 이수만 제작자 만나". No Cut News.
  6. ^ a b Lee, Gyu-rim (February 8, 2007). 현진영, "난 시계추 소리에도 춤을 췄다" [Hyun Jin-young: "I danced even at the sound of a pendulum"]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023 – via Naver.
  7. ^ a b Bae, Ji-sook (August 27, 2007). "Hyun Jin-young Becomes Music Teacher". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Lee, Sang-bok (January 5, 2003). "[Entertainment] Fallen pop star is trying to go straight". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  9. ^ Yoon, Min-sik (July 26, 2017). "Up high: K-pop stars and drugs". The Korea Herald. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023 – via The Jakarta Post.
  10. ^ a b c Kang, Eun-young (2007-03-20). "'苦盡甘來' 현진영, 다시 정상에 오르기까지". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  11. ^ Kwon, Hyun-soo (2016-12-28). 세종사이버대, 현진영 프로젝트 본격 가동. Money Today [ko] (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2022-01-21. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  12. ^ Sunwoo, Carla (October 13, 2013). "Celebrity couple finally weds". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  13. ^ 현진영 [Hyun Jin-young]. KMDC Archive (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-21.
  14. ^ Yang, So-young (March 17, 2023). 현진영 '살림남' 합류..."25일 첫 등장"[공식] [Hyun Jin-young joins 'Salimnam'..."First appearance on the 25th" [Official]] (in Korean). Maeil Business Daily Star Today. Retrieved March 18, 2023 – via Naver.