Early life
Despite being born in Seoul, Kim has spent a little of his childhood in Saudi Arabia due to his dad's job.[5] The family later moved to Yeosu[6] and then Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, where he grew up alongside his older brother.[7] In February 2016, he graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School[1] and enrolled into Daekyeung University's Model Department. His mom initially didn't want him to become an idol and wanted him to be a normal student like everyone else, but he insisted on giving him a chance.
He started dreaming of becoming a singer and a dancer watching performances of Big Bang and J.Y. Park when he was little.[8][9] He was especially interested in dance,[10] and started dancing when he was 14, joining the Body & Soul crew:[11] with them, in 2010, he won second place at the national competition Adrenaline House Dance Battle.[1] While attending the first year of middle school, he took part in the Hidden Performing Arts Tournament, where he danced to Beast's "Shock".[10] His older brother filmed the performance and posted it to Cyworld, where the footage caught the attention of Kim's cousin, a dance teacher, who invited him to join her dance school.[10][12] Another teacher at that school was a dance instructor for JYP Entertainment, and this led him to an audition for the label.[10][13] He became a trainee in 2011.[14]
Career
2013–2020: Debut and solo activities
Trained under JYP Entertainment, he appeared on the 2013 Mnet reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next, alongside fellow co-members Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, Bambam of Got7 and label mates Young K, Jae Park, Wonpil, Sungjin, Junhyeok (formerly) of Day6 pre debut, competing against YG Entertainment trainees, who later debuted respectively as Winner and iKon members.[15][16][17]
On January 16, 2014, Kim debuted with K-pop boy group Got7 with the first EP Got It?.[18][19][20] In 2015, JYP Entertainment in partnership with Youku Tudou, released a mini web drama series titled Dream Knight in which the drama featured the Got7 members as themselves. Over the years, he also took part in creating choreographies for "If You Do" from their EP Mad,[21] and for "Poison" from their EP Dye.[22]
In 2016, he participated in Mnet's Hit the Stage, a dance survival show which idols from different K-pop groups team up with professional dance teams to compete with others, appearing in episodes 9 and 10. He ranked second in episode 9 and won first place during the final.[23][24] The same year, Kim began taking part in writing and composing Got7's songs, debuting as a songwriter with "See The Light" (빛이나) for their Flight Log: Departure album.[25] Kim also co-hosted The Show on April 5[26][27] and The Show SBS Super Concert in Busan on October 18.[28]
In April 2018, together with fellow member Jay B, he participated in the art collaboration project "Collaboran" for carbonated mineral water brand Perrier with American multimedia artist Ben Jones. The art collaboration was unveiled at a launching event on April 22, at Nakwon Musical Instrument Arcade.[29] With Got7's third full-length studio album Present: You, Kim released his solo song "Fine". The accompanying music video was disclosed on September 12.[30] In February 2019, he joined the SBS reality show Law of The Jungle in Northern Mariana Islands for four episodes.[31][32] On March 5, he debuted as one half of the K-pop duo Jus2 alongside Jay B, as the second sub-unit of Got7, with the mini album Focus.[33][34]
In 2020, he made his solo magazine cover debut in a double cover edition for the February issue of the global art fashion magazine, Maps.[35][36][37] In May, he appeared on MBC's singing competition show King of Mask Singer as "Mr. Raspberry Wine", on episode 257.[9][38]
2021–present: Departure from JYPE and solo debut
In January 2021, Kim, along with the other group members, parted ways with JYP Entertainment though remaining as Got7. Rumors soon followed that Kim would join AOMG.[39][40] It was then confirmed on February 19 that Kim had officially signed an exclusive contract with AOMG.[41] His dance visual video of "Franchise" by Travis Scott featuring Young Thug and M.I.A. came with the announcement.[41] Kim featured in an interview and pictorial for the March issue of Elle Korea.[42]
Yugyeom in June 2021
On June 3, it was announced that Kim would make a mid-June comeback, his first release as an AOMG artist which also features fellow label mate, Gray.[43][44][45] June 11 and 17 were announced as the release dates.[46][47] Kim released a 7-track extended play titled Point of View: U, for which he collaborated with hip-hop artists DeVita, Loco, Gray, Jay Park and Punchnello.[48] Gray produced five of the songs, while Cha Cha Malone two.[49] The pre-release single, "I Want U Around" featuring DeVita, was accompanied by a music video.[50][51] A music video for "All Your Fault" (네 잘못이야) was also released on June 17 featuring Gray.[52]
Kim featured in the July issue of Marie Claire.[53]
On June 22, 2021, Kim made his debut on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales Chart at number two with "I Want U Around".[54] Two days later, his first solo EP debuted on the Gaon Album Chart at number 11[55] and "All Your Fault" featuring Gray debuted on the Gaon Download Chart at number 15.[56]
He performed at We All Are One, a cheering concert for the Tokyo Olympics, in August.[57]
Discography
See also: Got7 discography and Jus2 § Discography
