Nam Tae-hyun | |
|---|---|
 Nam performing at the 2018 Indiestance Final Concert | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1994-05-10)May 10, 1994 (age 31)[1] Hanam, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels |
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| Member of | South Club |
| Formerly of | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 남태현 |
| Hanja | 南太鉉 |
| RR | Nam Taehyeon |
| MR | Nam T'aehyŏn |
Nam Tae-hyun (Korean: 남태현; born May 10, 1994), also known asTaehyun, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, producer and actor. He was previously the main vocalist ofK-pop groupWinner, in which he also composed and produced. In March 2017, he founded a music label, South Buyers Club. Sometime afterwards, the label was renamed toThe South. Under the label, Nam debuted the bandSouth Club, of which he is leader, main vocalist, guitarist, and main composer. As of 2024, he transitioned into a solo artist, with his returning single 'On the Edge of the Night.'
Prior to his debut as a member ofWinner, Nam performed as a backup dancer for the YG Family Concert 2011.
In 2013, he competed in the reality programWin: Who Is Next as a trainee in "Team A", which he went on to debut as a member of group Winner.[2][full citation needed] Nam co-composed and co-wrote two songs that were used to compete on the show.
Nam participated in the production of Winner's debut album,2014 S/S, which was released in August 2014. He co-composed three songs from the album – "But" (사랑하지마), "Tonight" (이 밤) and his solo track "Confession" (고백하는거야).[3] The album topped several charts, including theGaon Music Chart as well as theBillboard's World Albums Chart.[4]
In 2015, while the group was on hiatus, Nam made his acting debut on web dramaMidnight Girl.[5] That same year, he played a supporting role in the dramaLate Night Restaurant.[6] He was also cast in the joint Chinese-Korean productionUnder the Black Moonlight.[7]
In January 2016, Nam released the single "Pricked" (사랑가시) in collaboration withMino as a warm-up track ahead of Winner's EPExit : E.[8] The single charted at number two onMelOn.[9]
After nearly 18 months of hiatus, Winner's comeback mini-albumExit : E was released on February 1. The album featured five tracks, including "Pricked", and double title tracks "Baby Baby" and "센치해 (Sentimental)". Nam played a major role in the production of both title tracks, as well as for his solo "좋더라 (I'm Young)".[10]
In March 2016, Nam joinedtvN'sActor School, a variety show featuring seven stars going through a series of trainings by actorPark Shin-yang, in order to brush up on their acting skills.[11][12]
On October 12,YG Entertainment stated that Nam would be halting promotional activities and receiving treatment for mental health issues. As a result, Winner's comeback was delayed indefinitely.[13] Later, on November 25, it was announced that he had withdrawn from the group and had terminated his contract with YG Entertainment.[14][15] The following day, he posted a handwritten letter on his personal Instagram account containing his apology, gratitude to fans and pledge to return with other music and projects.[16][17]
Nam continues sharing his music creations and covers on hisSoundCloud account,[18] including a cover ofRadiohead's "Creep",Park Hyo-shin's "Beautiful Tomorrow", and "Breath" (숨). His influences arise from artists across many genres, such asNirvana,The Beatles,The Rolling Stones,B.B. King, andEric Clapton. He then created aTumblr site on January 5,[19] posting announcements and communicating with fans from time to time. On January 23, Nam started recruiting applications for his upcoming band.
On March 25, Nam, together with his rumored band, South Club, held a guerrilla show at Pet Sounds Bar in Korea. The 30-minute show was livestreamed on platforms such as Instagram, and popular China video-sharing platformMiaopai. South Club performed a total of four songs, including tracks fromThe Beatles andFoster the People.[20] On April 11, Nam announced that his music label "South Buyers Club" has officially been registered as of March 30.[21][full citation needed] On May 26, South Club released the music video for their first pre-release track "Hug Me," which was a ballad rock track.[22]
South Club's first EP90 was released on June 27, along with music videos for the two title tracks: "Liar" and "I got the Blues.". The name of the album was inspired by the expression of freedom of youths in the 90s. It was also due to the fact that all members of the band were born after the year 1990.[23] On July 9, the band came back with their first single titled "아니 (No)".[24] After the member Yooni's departure,[25] the band's first release as a four piece was the second single "누굴 위한 노래인가요 (Who Is This Song For?)", which became available for streaming on December 5, 2017.[26]
Following their initial releases, South Club continued to produce music and expand their discography. Their second EP, titled "20", was released on June 28, 2018, followed by their third EP, "Contact Information", on October 24, 2018. The band's musical journey continued with the release of their single album "Twice (두 번)" on January 27, 2019. South Club further expanded their repertoire with singles such as "To My Friends" on March 18, 2020, and "Ride In" later on. Throughout their career, the band has consistently explored themes of youth, freedom, and personal experiences in their music, maintaining their alternative rock style with blues influences while continuing to release music and perform, adapting their sound and staying true to their rock roots.
In 2024, Nam Tae-hyun began to shift his focus towards a solo career. On December 23, 2024, he released a documentary on YouTube that featured a personal lecture he had prepared. This documentary chronicled his journey of recovery from drug addiction and shared the lessons he had learned along the way. The release of this deeply personal content marked a significant step in Nam's career, showcasing his growth as an artist and his willingness to address personal struggles publicly. Continuing his solo endeavors, Nam Tae-hyun released a new song titled "On the Edge of the Night" on January 17, 2025, along with a music video on his channel. The song received positive reactions for its emotional depth and introspective lyrics. This transition into more individual projects and the release of new solo material signaled a new direction for Nam Tae-hyun's artistic career as he moved into 2025.
On July 31, 2017, Nam started his career as a radio DJ.[27] He broadcast live on the Casper Radio Vlive channel on Mondays, at 11pm, to talk about various topics and to share his music with his fans. On his 32nd broadcast, on April 9, 2018, Nam announced that he would be doing his last broadcast on May 7, in order to focus more on his music.[citation needed]
| External videos | |
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 | |
 Nam Taehyun Answers Fan Questions About Mental Health, Rock Icons and South Club |
Nam has been open about his struggles withbipolar disorder anddepression. He stated in a November 2018 interview withRolling Stone India that while founding his label South Buyers Club took a toll to his emotional wellbeing that he hadn't recovered from at the time, his daily effort to stay productive helped him "overcome his [feeling of] loneliness and depression".[28] Later, he explained that "[w]hen I'm frustrated, I say that I'm frustrated—when I'm happy, I say that I'm happy." and that his approach of discussing his own mental state (and its positive influence on his fans) really isn't a "negative point of [his]" given that "[s]o many people struggle psychologically and that's just how people live".[29]
Following the suicide of fellow K-pop idol and actressSulli (former member of the girlgroupf(x)) in October 2019, Nam spoke out againstcyberbullying and malicious commenting bynetizens, stating that he had previously attempted suicide because of similar harassment.[30][31]
| Year | Artist | Song | Role | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Team A | "Go Up" | Co-lyricist | Win: Who Is Next, "Final Battle" |
| "Just Another Boy" | ||||
| 2014 | Winner | "Confession" (고백하는거야) | Lyricist, co-composer | 2014 S/S |
| "But" (사랑하지마) | Co-lyricist, co-composer | |||
| "Tonight" (이 밤) | ||||
| 2016 | "센치해 (Sentimental)" | Exit : E | ||
| "Baby Baby" | Co-lyricist, composer, co-arranger | |||
| "좋더라 (I'm Young)" | Lyricist, co-composer |
| Title | Year | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Confession" (고백하는 거야) | 2014 | YG | 2014 S/S |
| "Pricked" (사랑가시) withMino | 2016 | YG | EXIT E |
| "I'm Young" (좋더라) | |||
| "Take Me Out" | 2017 | — | Black OST |
| "Boy and girl (소년, 소녀)" | — | Children of 20th Century OST | |
| "별 (Star)" | 2018 | KTP Sound | Star |
| "Anyone" | — | The Player OST Part.6 | |
| "Black" | — | Space Part.1 | |
| "밤의 끝자락 위에서 (On the Edge of the Night)" | 2025 | Team NTH | On the Edge of the Night |
| "Rain" | — | Non-album singles |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Spoiler"(Japanese Mix) Epik High(featuring Taehyun of Winner) | 2014 | Shoebox Japan Edition |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Midnight's Girl [ko] | Gong Ji-dan |
| Late Night Restaurant | Min-woo | |
| 2016 | Under The Black Moonlight | Lee Kang-woo |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Win: Who Is Next | As a Team A member |
| 2016 | Actor School | Ep. 1-10 |
| 2016 | Half-Moon Friends | As a teacher |
| 2018 | YG Future Strategy Office | Cameo (ep. 1) |
| 2018 | In-Law In Practice | as himself |
| 2019 | Studio Vibes | as himself |
| Year | Network | Program | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–2021 | CaspermusicTV[permanent dead link] | Nam Taehyun's 11pm | DJ (every Monday) |
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Media related toNam Tae-hyun at Wikimedia Commons
