Lee Sung-min (singer)

Lee Sung-min (born January 1, 1986), known mononymously as Sungmin and also LIU, is a South Korean singer, song-writer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band Super Junior and its sub-groups Super Junior-T, Super Junior-H and Super Junior-M.

Biography

Sungmin was born in the Ilsan district of Goyang, Gyeonggi. He has a younger brother, Lee Sung-jin. 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.

Music career

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 to form Super Junior 05, the first generation of rotational boy band Super Junior.

In 2005, he played young Kang Dong-shin in MBC drama '' Sisters of the Sea''.

2005–2009: Debut, acting debut and sub-groups

Sungmin debuted as part of 12-member rotational group ''Super Junior 05'' on 6 November 2005, on SBS' music programme ''Inkigayo'', performing their first single, " Twins (Knock Out)". Their debut album ''SuperJunior05 (Twins)'' was released a month later on December 5, 2005 and debuted at number three 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' 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 participated 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 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 October 9 to November 8.

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. The musical ran at the Woori Financial Art Hall at the Olympic Park from February 18, 2010 for two months.

In October, Sungmin was one of 20 South Korean singers selected to record 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 '' The 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. They spent the next few months promoting their third EP ''Perfection'' in Taiwan and China. In July and August, Sungmin performed as the male lead Daniel, rotating with Ahn Jae-wook, Um Ki-joon, and Lee Ji-hoon, in the 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, in the Korean musical ''Jack the Ripper'' and 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 of 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'' released on July 4. On June 25, his teaser photo was released showing a side-profile of Sungmin with a feminine look and long blond hair holding a large bouquet of baby’s breath

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