Kim Jong-kook

Biography

Kim Jong-kook (Korean: 김종국; born April 25, 1976) is a South Korean singer, entertainer, and actor. Kim debuted as a member of South Korean duo Turbo in 1995. The duo was considered to be one of the most popular idols in that time and sold out millions of albums in South Korea and Asia. Following the disbanding of the duo in 2000, Kim released his debut solo album, Renaissance×RenaissanceDecember 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Prologue2Sad Story3Angel4남자니까5행복하길6사랑했었다7Disco8여인의 향기9Love Story10Thriller11Night12143413One14My Way15친구에게서 연인으로, in December 2001.
As a solo artist, Kim has received several awards, including three Golden Disc Awards, two Seoul Music Awards, two KBS Music Awards, two SBS Music Awards, two MBC Music Awards, one MBC Best 10 Music Award, one Mnet Asian Music Award, and one Melon Music Award.
Apart from his music career, Kim established himself as an entertainer, notably through his participation in variety shows including X-man, Family Outing and gained worldwide popularity following his participation in Running Man.

Early life and education

Kim was born on April 25, 1976, in Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea.
His family consists of his parents and an older brother, who is a doctor.
Kim attended Myeong Hak Elementary School, Shin Seong Middle High School and graduated from Hansei University in Bachelor of Arts (music composition).
He then obtained a master's degree from the Pop Culture Performing Arts – School of Arts Department of Dankook University.

1995–2000: Turbo

Kim first entered the Korean music industry in 1995 as a member of the duo, Turbo, which became immensely popular for their catchy music. After the duo disbanded a few years later, he became a solo singer in 2001, mostly concentrating on ballads.

2001–2005: Solo career and music daesang

Kim had a setback after Turbo as he faced difficulties settling down as a solo artist. Problems like lack of songs from composers, less support from his respected agency, and also a change of taste within the fans caused his first album as a solo artist to fail. However, he made a successful comeback with his second album Evolution×Evolution19 June 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1돌아와3:572용서해 기억해4:413니가 원한 이별4:304Feeling3:415슬픈 바램3:536한 남자4:187중독4:038그래요...그래도...5:129Broken Heart3:3010하루만4:2211태양 가득히3:5512Tonight3:5313용서4:1314그대가 잠든 사이4:26 in 2004, which spawned the hit single "One Man". Kim then became a permanent cast member of the popular variety game show, X-Man, which further raised his popularity.
In 2005, Kim released his third album, This Is Me×This Is Me1 July 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1제자리 걸음 (Walking In One Spot)2그녀의 남자에게 (To Her Man)3슬픈 축하4선물5Happiness6사랑스러워 (Loveable)7지우개8Dream9토요일 밤10별, 바람, 햇살 그리고 사랑 (Star, Wind, Sunlight and Love)11One Night12바보 같은 나13친구에게14연습15여전히. The album sold over 300,000 copies and became one of the best-selling albums in Korea that year. The lead single, "Lovable" topped various music charts, and was included in online games such as Pump It Up and Audition Online. Kim swept the Daesang (Artist of the Year) Award from all three major Korean TV stations, SBS, KBS, and MBC, becoming the second artist to accomplish this feat since Cho Yong-pil in the 1980s.

2006–2014: Variety show, music releases, military service and rising popularity

Kim was made the leader of the first series of Shootdori, where kids who are interested in soccer form teams and compete. However, he had to leave the team after receiving an enlistment notice. He wrote and sang a song for his team, titled "Toward a Dream". Kim enlisted in March 2006. Around that time, he released his 4th album, Volume 4 - Kim Jong-kook's Fourth Letter. The music video of the lead single, Saying I Love You, featured Yoon Eun-hye, who was previously involved in a love-line with him in X-Man. Though Kim was unable to directly promote the album as, he was in the military, the album sold more than 100,000 copies and later won "Album of the Year" at the Melon Music Awards.
It was announced in late April 2008 that the singer would end his military service on May 23, 2008. On that day, he was greeted by fans, and during an interview, he said that he was "relieved". His fifth studio album, Here I Am×Here I am22 October 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1고맙다4:142그리운 날들3:503오래 오래4:144어제보다 오늘 더3:595Forever3:226이보다 더 좋을 순 없다3:597그 집앞 (序曲)1:058그 집앞4:219사랑에 취해4:0210이별의 정석3:5411이제는 안녕3:4112사랑해 널 사랑해3:5113어떤 사람 어떤 사랑4:0814우리 둘이서4:46, was released on October 22, 2008, with songs such as "Today More than Yesterday" and "Thank You".
Kim also returned to television, becoming a permanent member of reality-variety show Family Outing since episode 19, part of SBS's Good Sunday lineup. Family Outing has become one of the top-rated shows in Korea, consistently achieving the highest ratings for the Sunday mid-afternoon time-slot, and has gained online popularity among Hallyu fans.
His sixth album, titled The Eleventh Story was released on January 27, 2010. The album featured the singles "This is the Person" and "Don't Be Good to Me". The music video of the latter single featured fellow Family Outing cast member Park Ye-jin.
In 2010, Kim became a cast member of SBS' variety show Running Man. In 2011, he won the "Best TV Star Award" at the SBS Entertainment Awards. Kim gained pan-Asia popularity from the show, becoming one of the most searched Korean stars in Singapore, and having his showcase there sold out with more than 1,700 fans in attendance. He also enjoyed success in China, where he consistently topped polls such as being voted #1 Korean singer on the Chinese streaming website, Tudou, and being ranked second most popular Korean male celebrity on Baidu.
On November 1, 2012, following a pre-release of selected songs from his new album, Kim made a comeback to the music scene with the release of his seventh studio album, Journey Home×Journey Home1 November 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1니가 생각나4:152천 개의 발자국3:303좋겠다3:414남자가 다 그렇지 뭐4:355너무 예뻤어2:586너에게 하고 싶은 말4:187Nostalgia (feat. 마이키)3:318지워진다4:319남자도 슬프다3:4010끝이 아닌 이야기4:08, after three years. His fellow Running Man co-stars Haha and Gary participated in the album as well as former Running Man member Song Joong-ki, who starred in the music video for lead single "Men Are All Like That". The same year, he began to host the documentary program Crisis Escape No. 1, which won him the "Best Entertainer Award" at the 2013 KBS Entertainment Awards.

In 2014, he formed a duo with fellow Running Man cast member Haha, known as Running Man Brothers. The musical duo held a concert tour in the United States in July and December.

2015–present: Acting debut, Chinese debut, Turbo reunion and entertainment daesang

In 2015, Kim made his official acting debut with a supporting role in the KBS drama, The Producers, and was praised for his "solid acting chops".
In September 2015, he left Urban Works ENT after his contract expired. He later went on to sign an exclusive contract with Maroo Entertainment in October 2015.
In December 2015, he and fellow Turbo members Kim Jung-nam and Mikey reunited for Turbo's 20th anniversary album. The album titled Again was released on December 21, 2015. The eponymous lead single, 다시 (Again), which features Yoo Jae-suk, topped online music charts upon its release.

On August 23, 2016, he officially made his singing debut in China with his first single, "Hate That Happiness Came" (恨幸福来过), produced by JJ Lin and lyrics written by Vincent Fang.
On December 19, 2020, Kim made history by becoming the first male celebrity, and 2nd person ever to win a Daesang in both Music and Entertainment. He received the Grand Prize Award (Daesang) at the 14th SBS Entertainment Awards for his participation in Running Man and My Little Old Boy.
On June 17, 2021, Kim launched a fitness-focused YouTube channel "Gym Jong Kook" with 100,000 subscribers in the first five minutes. Within 4 days, the channel reached 1 million subscribers. He was part of the My Little Old Boy cast that was honored with the Grand Prize Award at the 15th SBS Entertainment Awards in 2021.
On April 28, 2023, Kim won the Baeksang Arts Award for Best Male Variety Performer for his work on Running Man, My Little Old Boy, and Gym Jong Kook.
On September 10, 2025, Kim left Turbo JK Company, which he founded in 2012. This also marked the end of his 18-year partnership with his manager Kim Gap-jin, who had helped run the company. He subsequently signed with Galaxy Corporation and moved there with his field manager, Cha Seok-bin.

Personal life

Kim speaks both Korean and English.
He is close friends with Jang Hyuk, Cha Tae-hyun, Hong Kyung-min and Hong Kyung-in. The group is known as the "Dragon Brothers" for being born in 1976, the Year of the Dragon.
In 2010, Kim underwent lumbar microdiscectomy surgery for a herniated disk. His back issues also influenced his decision to serve as a public service worker rather than as an active-duty soldier during his mandatory military enlistment, a topic he discussed on the talk show Healing Camp in 2015.
In 2019, his hernia surgery was documented on My Little Old Boy.

Family

Kim's father was a career soldier who was later recognized as a person of national merit. This status could have allowed one of his sons to complete only six months of supplementary service; however, his father reportedly delayed applying for recognition until both sons had completed their military obligations.
Kim has an older brother, Kim Jong-myung, who is a plastic surgeon. His brother reportedly completed his military obligation as a military doctor.
Kim's mother, Jo Hye-seon, joined the studio panel of the SBS television programme My Little Old Boy when Kim became a regular cast member on February 25, 2018. She temporarily stopped appearing in April 2022 because of health problems and returned to the programme in February 2023. She subsequently left the programme following Kim's marriage in September 2025.
Singer Soya is Kim's first cousin once removed. Kim publicly introduced Soya as his niece during a concert on April 24, 2010.

Military service

On June 17, 1996, Kim received a Grade 4 classification during his military physical examination because of a herniated disc, assigning him to supplementary service as a public service worker. He began his service on March 30, 2006 and worked at the Hyochang Comprehensive Social Welfare Center in Yongsan District, Seoul. He was discharged from service on May 23, 2008.

Marriage

On August 18, 2025, Kim announced in a handwritten letter on his fan cafe Papitus that he would marry his non-celebrity girlfriend. He wed on September 5 at J Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, in a private ceremony attended by family, friends, and colleagues.
On the 300th episode of KBS 2's Problem Child in the House, Kim revealed that he and his non-celebrity wife were close friends before they got married.