Wheesung

Biography

Choi Whee-sung (Korean: 최휘성; February 5, 1982 – c. March 10, 2025), known professionally as Wheesung or by the stage name Realslow, was a South Korean R&B singer-songwriter, record producer and musical theatre actor.

1982-: Early life and education

Wheesung was born on February 5, 1982, in Seoul. His paternal grandfather was a dentist who fled from North Korea and financially supported his family until he fell ill with a chronic illness for several years. By the time Wheesung's father got married, they were almost penniless and Wheesung suffered financial hardships throughout childhood and school years. He was an avid dancer in high school where he was part of a rock band named Zenesis, and began singing in his senior year. He graduated from Mapo High School and briefly attended classes in Ahyeon Polytechnic School as well, where he was a classmate with notable musicians such as Park Hyo-shin and Hwanhee from R&B duo Fly to the Sky. He was also active in a hip-hop society called SNP, which contributed to the rise of early stage Korean hip-hop. Its members included hip-hop musicians such as Verbal Jint, P-Type and Jung-in.
After graduating from high school, he initially attended the Sun Moon University, under the journalism major but dropped out. Wheesung subsequently attended the Gukje Digital University and Kyung Hee University's Graduate School of Communication.

1997–1999: Dance Team and Group Debut

He started his career in 1997 as a member of a backup dance team ING. Wheesung began his career in 1999 with a short lived Korean boy group, A4. He left after the band's first album debut, citing musical differences between himself and the other members of the band. After that, he joined a rock band, MAME, as vocalist for a short while. He also participated in the MBC College Music Festival (MBC 강변가요제) in 2000.

2000–2006: Solo debut and YG Entertainment

In 2000, he signed onto M Boat, a former sister company to YG Entertainment. He underwent a few years of vocal training under the label and released his first solo album Like A Movie×Like A Movie3 April 2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Intro0:522안되나요..4:303전할 수 없는 이야기3:554악몽 (惡夢)3:365아직도..3:566You Are The Only One3:447Magic Eye4:108Interlude0:419떠나4:2010제발3:5211하늘에서4:3712후애 (後愛)4:2813Feel The Night3:1514Incomplete4:24 in 2002. The album achieved both public popularity and critical acclaim, receiving praises from many well-known artists including Seo Taiji and Shin Seung Hun. With his debut song, "Can't I(안 되나요)," he won multiple awards, including Golden Disc Awards, as the new artist of the year. In 2003, he released his second album, It's Real×It's Real21 August 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Intro0:532Set Me Free4:223다시 만난 날4:344I'm Missing You3:435With Me3:306사랑하지 않을 거라면4:397Player4:008말을 해줘3:519Interlude1:1910Dilemma3:4311미워하고 싶은데4:5312Pretty Lady4:1213미인4:3214Angel4:3415Outro1:3016Luz Control3:49. It proved to be as popular as his first, making him the best selling artist of 2003 in Korea. With his second album, he broadened his scope to include various musical elements like pop and hip-hop on top of R&B and ballads.

2006–2009: Orange Shock Agency

Wheesung left YG Entertainment after his contract expired in March 2006. He signed a new contract that was reportedly worth 1.5 billion won with his new company Orange Shock Agency.
Wheesung collaborated with many artists. In late 2008, Wheesung collaborated once again with Lee Hyori, who featured as his girlfriend in his music video of "별이 지다.." (Fading Star) from the With All My Heart and Sou album. In 2009, Wheesung planned to collaborate with producer Lee Hyun-do to produce a new album, with a release date being set for August 2009. In the same year, he also made a big hit by covering Craig David's "Insomnia×Insomnia18 February 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Insomnia (불면증)3:262Insomnia (불면증) (Inst.)3:26" in Korean.

2009–2011: POP/UP Entertainment

In April 2009, Wheesung was announced as the MC of a new Mnet TV show called "Pre Star-1 Show". The show gave opportunities for new talented singers to introduce themselves, a platform for them to reach out to more fans. Every month about nine or ten teams will be introduced on Mnet.com and the team which receives most response from the netizens will be chosen onto the show. The chosen team/singer will also be given the chance to perform with popular stars. Wheesung's 'Pre-Show 1 Show' started airing on April 24 on Mnet Cable Channel.
Wheesung had participated in several Kpop concerts in Los Angeles, California, including the Hollywood Bowl, and the Victory Concert. On June 19, 2009, Wheesung and Lena Park held a concert in Los Angeles Disney Concert Hall. After the concert, Wheesung planned to stay in Los Angeles for a month to work on his new album with producer Lee Hyun-do. The new album will go back to the r&b/hiphop style similar to "With Me" and "Incurable Disease". On June 27 and July 4, Wheesung performed at "Insomnia Concert" and club Le Cercle in LA. On July 11, he performed at the HALO nightclub in Hollywood.
In June 2009, Wheesung changed his label again from Orange Shock to POP/UP Entertainment, which houses stars like JK Kim Dong Wook and group M to M.

2011–2016: YMC Entertainment

In 2011, he transferred to Tae Jin Ah's YMC Entertainment. Soon after joining YMC Entertainment, he recruited female singer Ailee.

2017–2025: Realslow Company, new stage name and final projects

In 2017, Wheesung parted ways with YMC Entertainment after his contract with the agency came to an end. He set up an independent label called Realslow Company, and announced that he will now be promoting under the stage name Realslow.
Realslow was a stage name used by Wheesung when he was an underground singer. Wheesung gained attention in the early 2000s as an underground musician before he debuted in 2002. The name references his love and passion for R&B music, which still struggles to have much popularity in Korea. Through this new name and label, Wheesung aims to return to his roots and produce some soulful R&B music.

Military service

On November 7, 2011, he enlisted for mandatory military service. He served 21 months of active service after completing five-week of basic training course at a boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province.
On July 11, 2012, Wheesung was granted a 9 nights, 10 days temporary leave from the army to undergo surgery for a herniated disc as well as other medical conditions such as bilateral shoulders dislocation, psoriasis, and alopecia.
On August 9, 2013, Wheesung was discharged from the military.

Drug use

In 2013, the singer was accused of using propofol from 2011 to early 2013 in various places including dermatology clinics in Gangnam, Seoul. Wheesung claimed he used it to treat a herniated disk and hair loss. The court later cleared him of the allegations.
On March 31, 2020, Wheesung was found passed out in a bathroom of a shopping mall in Seoul after using Etomidate. A black bag containing four syringes and five white vials were found lying next to him. Not being classified as a narcotic in South Korea, police released him but confiscated the items of the black bag. On the same day, the man who sold drugs to Wheesung without a doctor's prescription was arrested after a CCTV analysis of Wheesung's trail prior to his discovery unconscious in the bathroom.
On April 2, 2020, Wheesung was found again collapsed in a bathroom of a hotel in Gwangjin District, Seoul, with a syringe and a glass bottle containing Etomidate. Although released, a hair and urine test analysis was performed.
In April 2020, ex-TV personality Amy revealed she and a celebrity friend, later confirmed to be Wheesung, partook in recreational propofol use. While investigating a tip, the police had come to suspect Wheesung of purchasing propofol and sent his case to the prosecution with a recommendation of indictment. Later, Wheesung was charged for propofol use several times in December 2019.
At the first trial on January 19, 2021, prosecutors at the Daegu District Court sought a three-year prison sentence. Wheesung pleaded guilty and received a sentence of one year in prison, probation for two years, 40 hours of community service, and 40 hours of drug treatment lectures.

Death

On March 10, 2025, Wheesung was found dead at his home in the Gwangjin District of Seoul, at the age of 43. Police said that there was no sign of foul play. Initial findings from an autopsy said the cause of death is "unknown." Wheesung was buried on March 16.

Studio albums

Like a Movie (2002)
It's Real (2003)
For the Moment (2004)
Love... Love...? Love...! (2005)
Eternal Essence of Music (2007)
Vocolate (2009)

Mini albums

With All My Heart and Soul (2008)
They Are Coming (2011)
The Best Man (2014)
Transformation (2016)
In Space (2018)

Single albums

Realslow Is Back (2010)
Heartsore Story (2011)

Musicals

2014: Zorro as Zorro
2016: All Shook Up as Elvis
2017–2018: All Shook Up as Elvis

Variety shows

2009: Mnet & tvN, Wheesung's Pre Star 1Show, MC
2017–2018: tvN, My English Puberty, (나의영어 사춘기), E1-E8
2018: Channel A, Galaxy, (우주를줄게), E1-10
2018: Mnet & tvN, The Call, E1-5、8
2018: tvN, A Battle of One Voice: 300, (하나의 목소리 전쟁: 300), E3、5
2018: MBC plus, New Music God (창작의신)
2018: TV Chosun, Neighbour Album (동네앨범)
2019: KBS 2TV, The Hit (뮤직셔플쇼 더 히트)