Choi Dong-wook (Korean: 최동욱; born November 9, 1984),[2][3] better known by his stage nameSeven (Korean: 세븐; stylized asSe7en), is a South Korean singer. He made his debut in 2003 with the studio albumJust Listen, which sold over 210,000 copies by the end of the year and spawned the hit single "Come Back to Me". Its success led Seven to win the Best New Artist awards at various year-end award ceremonies in South Korea, including at theSBS Gayo Daejeon,MBC Gayo Daejejeon,Mnet Music Video Festival andGolden Disc Awards.
Seven's sophomore album,Must Listen (2004), also saw success and produced the hit single "Passion". It received various awards includingBest Male Video at the2004 MKMF and the Popularity Award at the Golden Disc Awards. In 2005, Seven expanded into the Japanese market with the release of his Japanese debut single "Hikari". His follow-up Japanese singles, "Style" (2005), "Start Line / Forever" (2005), and "I Wanna..." (2006), reached the top ten on theOricon Singles Chart.
Seven's third Korean studio album,24/Seven, and first Japanese studio album,First Seven, were both released on March 8, 2006. In 2009, he recorded his first English-language single titled "Girls" withLil' Kim. His next Korean singles, "Better Together" (2010) and "When I Can't Sing" (2012), reached the top five on theGaon Digital Chart in South Korea.
On July 7, 2004, Seven released his second album,Must Listen, which he described as being more grown-up than his debut album.[11]Must Listen peaked at number one on the monthly Recording Industry Association of Korea album chart.[12] The album's lead single, "Passion", wonBest Male Video at theMnet Km Music Video Festival,[13] as well asbonsang awards at the Golden Disc Awards[14] and MBC Gayo Daejejeon.[15]
2005–2006: Expansion in Asia,24/Se7en andSe7olution
In April 2005, Seven continued promotions forMust Listen in Thailand, where the album sold over 100,000 copies and the singles "Passion" and "Tattoo" topped theChannel V weekly charts.[16] Later that month, he won the award for Popular Asian Artist at theChannel V Thailand Music Video Awards.[17]
On January 9, 2006, Seven released his first Chinese album,Must Listen (不得不聽), in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. The album includes all of the songs from his 2004 Koreanalbum of the same name, as well as two new songs in Chinese.[18][19] He went on to win three awards at the China Original Music Pop Chart Awards held that summer, helping to establish his reputation as a "Hallyu star".[20]
On March 8, Seven released his third Korean studio album,24/Se7en (which includes the lead single "I Know"),[21] as well as his first Japanese studio album,First Se7en.24/Se7en charted at number one on Hanteo's daily album chart in South Korea, whileFirst Se7en debuted at number eight onOricon's daily album chart in Japan.[22] He released his fourth Korean studio album,Se7olution, on November 1.[23]
Seven made his acting debut in January 2007 as the lead of the TV dramaPrince Hours, a spin-off of the 2006 hit seriesPrincess Hours.[24] While viewership ratings for the show were low, Seven said in an interview after the show concluded, "The word 'failure' is used to describePrince Hours, but, to me, it is a great success that's so precious".[25]
In April 2007, it was reported that Seven's debut English-language single had been leaked onYouTube. The song, titled "This Is My Year", featured rapperFabolous and was not intended to be released until later that year. As a result of the leak, YG Entertainment announced that it would revise plans for Seven's U.S. debut.[26]
On March 14, 2008, Seven held a preview party in New York City for his upcoming U.S. debut. He played three new songs, which featured collaborations with producerRodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and hip-hop groupThree 6 Mafia.[27] He continued promotions in Los Angeles in May, when he announced that he had finished recording 12 songs for his planned U.S. album.[28] On March 10, 2009, Seven released his first English-language single, "Girls," a pop-R&B song that features American rapperLil' Kim.[29] In June, Seven became the first Asian artist to have his music video played on the U.S. television channelBET, when "Girls" was broadcast on the music video show106 & Park.[30] Seven's full English-language album was ultimately not released.[31]
Seven made an official comeback in Korea after a three-year-long hiatus on July 31, 2010 with his first mini-album "Digital Bounce." The album consisted of six songs, including a song from his American debut titled 'Money Can't Buy Me Love'. His 2nd track 'Digital Bounce' featured the rapping skills of BigBang'sTOP. Seven began his follow up promotions in October with the song 'I'm Going Crazy' which featured his longtime girlfriendPark Han-byul as the main actress in the music video. Throughout his comeback, Seven attended many variety shows and even featured in fellow labelmate2NE1's hit reality show 2NE1TV, where he described his hardships in America and his hiatus. Seven ended his promotions on October 30, 2010.[32]
Seven has recently revealed, by means of 2NE1's Nolza Japan Concert, that he is planning a comeback in Japan after his four-year hiatus since 2007. He has revealed that this album will have a Pop concept and that his first official fanmeet would be on November 6, 2011. Seven has also revealed that he will be releasing a digital single called 'Angel' in November 2011, and would release a full Japanese album alongside a Korean album in January 2012.
Seven released his 2nd mini-album on February 1, 2012 with title track "When I Can't Sing." The track was produced byJYP and written by JYP, making it the first ever official collaboration betweenYG Entertainment andJYP Entertainment.[33]
On March 18, 2013, Seven enlisted for hismandatory military service at the 306 Reserve inUijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province for five weeks of basic training followed by 21 months as an active-duty soldier. On that same day,YG Entertainment released Seven's music video "THANK U (고마워)".[34][35] Seven was discharged from his mandatory military service on December 28, 2014. During his military service, the singer's contract with YG Entertainment expired in February 2015. It was later confirmed that they mutually agreed not to renew the singer's contract.[36]
On July 6, he released "I'm Good", his first song since leaving YG Entertainment.On October 14, he released the mini-albumI Am Seven (stylizedI Am Se7en), his first album in over four years, along with the lead single, "Give It to Me", and its music video.[37]After staying out of the public eye for four years, Seven announced he would return to promote in Korea after signing a new contract with Dmost Entertainment on April 17, 2020.[38]
Seven's vocal range can be classified in thetenor range. His voice can be described as smooth, mellow, and sometimes mildly abrasive (seevocal belting) when songs, such as "Crazy", "La La La", "Hikari" and "I Know", call for it. He often sings with avibrato in his voice that AmericanR&B singers are known for, and also incorporatesbeatboxing into many of his songs such as "Passion". Se7en maintains an adamant belief that he should notlipsync during his live performances.[39]
In September 2016, news outletSports Chosen reported that Seven and actressLee Da-hae had been dating for over a year.[40] On March 20, 2023, Seven announced their engagement on her social media accounts.[41] They married in a private ceremony on May 6, 2023, atHotel Shilla inSeoul.[42]
In July 2013, Seven, alongside singer Sangchu ofMighty Mouth, was found guilty of visiting a massage parlor that provides sexual services while he was on military leave to perform at a concert that June. While South Korea’sMinistry of National Defense concluded that Seven and Sangchu did not seek illegal services at the massage parlors, it sentenced them to 10 days in military jail for violating military regulations.[43] According to Seven, who spoke about the incident in 2016, he was only charged with leaving the military camp without permission.[44]
^"세븐의 예명은 깍두기에서 유래됐다" [Seven's stage name is derived from radish kimchi].Herald Pop (in Korean). Naver News. June 10, 2005. RetrievedJanuary 7, 2022.
^"세븐, 데뷔10주년 기념 콘서트 개최..7년만에 국내 공연" [Seven holds 10th anniversary concert 7 years after last concert in South Korea].OSEN (in Korean). February 18, 2013. RetrievedJanuary 7, 2022.
^"2003 골든 디스크 대상 조성모" [Jo Sung-mo wins 2003 Golden Disc grand prize].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. December 5, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^ab"MBC '10대 가수 가요제' 이수영 대상" [Lee Soo-young wins MBC Top 10 Singer grand prize].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. January 1, 2004. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"2003 m.net 뮤직 페스티벌 최고의 수상자는 이효리와 빅마마" [Lee Hyori and Big Mama win top prizes at 2003 Mnet Music Video Festival].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. November 28, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"이효리 '2003 SBS 가요대전' 대상수상" [Lee Hyori wins grand prize at 2003 SBS Gayo Daejeon].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. December 30, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^ab"이효리, 서울가요대상서 대상 받아" [Lee Hyori receives grand prize at Seoul Music Awards].The Hankyoreh (in Korean). RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"어른이 된 세븐, 어른팬 본격 공략" [After becoming an adult, Seven is targeting adult fans].Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Naver News. July 27, 2004. RetrievedJanuary 7, 2022.
^2004.07월 - 가요 음반 판매량 (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived fromthe original on January 21, 2005. RetrievedDecember 7, 2016.
^ab"보아 뮤직비디오 페스티벌 최우수 작품상- m,net km" [BoA wins best music video at Mnet KM Music Video Festival].Herald Economy (in Korean). Naver. December 4, 2004. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^ab"'휠릴리' 이수영, 골든디스크상 대상 차지" ['Whistling' Lee Soo-young wins Golden Disc Awards grand prize].Joy News (in Korean). Naver. December 2, 2004. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"이수영 MBC '10대 가수' 대상 2연패" [Lee Soo-young wins MBC Top 10 Singer grand prize two years in a row].Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. January 1, 2005. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"세븐, 泰 정벌 시작에 현지 팬들 열광" [Thai fans are excited for the beginning of Seven's conquest].Yonhap News (in Korean). April 8, 2005. RetrievedAugust 15, 2022 – via Naver News.
^ab"세븐, 泰 채널 V '아시아 아티스트상' 수상" [Seven wins Thailand Channel V 'Asian Artist Award'].Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. April 21, 2005. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"무림고수 세븐, '중국대륙 진군'" [Murim master Seven advances on China].My Daily (in Korean). January 10, 2006. RetrievedAugust 13, 2022 – via Naver News.
^"세븐 중국 등 亞 5개국 동시 음반 발매" [Seven releases album simultaneously in 5 Asian countries including China].Yonhap News (in Korean). January 11, 2006. RetrievedAugust 13, 2022 – via Naver News.
^""나 한류스타 맞잖아"… 세븐, 중국에서 '3관왕' 올라" ['I'm a Hallyu star' ... Seven wins triple crown in China].Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). July 16, 2006. RetrievedAugust 16, 2022 – via Naver News.
^"세븐 "음악과 함께 날아오르고 싶어 문신 새겨"" [Seven: 'I want to fly with music, so I got a tattoo'].Star News (in Korean). March 16, 2006. RetrievedAugust 14, 2022.
^"세븐, 韓-日 음악 차트 휩쓸어" [Seven makes waves on Korean and Japanese music charts].Sports Chosun (in Korean). March 9, 2006. RetrievedAugust 14, 2022.
^"양현석 "세븐 내년 봄 美서 첫 싱글 발표"" [Yang Hyun-suk: 'Seven will release his first single in the U.S. next spring'].Yonhap News (in Korean). October 23, 2006. RetrievedAugust 15, 2022 – via Naver News.
^"세븐 "'궁S' 놓치기 싫었어요"" [Seven: 'I didn't want to miss Prince Hours'].Yonhap News (in Korean). January 5, 2007. RetrievedAugust 14, 2022 – via Naver News.
^"세븐 "'궁S', 내게는 소중한 엄청난 성공작"" [Seven on Prince Hours: 'A great success that is precious to me'].Star News (in Korean). May 13, 2007. RetrievedAugust 14, 2022.
^"세븐 미국 데뷔곡 유튜브닷컴에 유출" [Seven's debut U.S. song leaked on YouTube].Yonhap News (in Korean). April 4, 2007. RetrievedAugust 22, 2022 – via Naver News.
^"세븐 미국 첫 출발 '청신호' … 프리뷰 파티 대성황" [Seven's U.S. debut gets the green light ... preview party is big hit].Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). March 18, 2008. RetrievedAugust 22, 2022.
^"세븐 드디어 미국활동 신호탄 쐈다 [포토엔]" [Seven finally signals promotions in the U.S.].Newsen (in Korean). May 4, 2008. RetrievedAugust 21, 2022.
^"세븐 美 데뷔곡 '걸스' 미국 내 뮤직비디오 차트 1위 기염" [Seven's U.S. debut 'Girls' tops American music video charts].Newsen (in Korean). March 12, 2009. RetrievedAugust 21, 2022.
^"'美 진출' 세븐, 아시아 가수 최초 BET서 뮤비 소개" [Seven advances into America, first music video by an Asian singer presented on BET].My Daily (in Korean). June 3, 2009. RetrievedAugust 21, 2022.
^"세븐, "美 활동 아쉽지만 좋은 경험..무대 고팠다"" [Seven: "It's a shame U.S. promotions were like that, but it was a good experience ... I was hungry for the stage"].E Daily (in Korean). July 21, 2010. RetrievedAugust 22, 2022.
^"[단독] 세븐♥이다해, 1년째 핑크빛 열애.."해외서 데이트"" [[Exclusive] Seven ♥ Lee Da-hae, 1st year of love in the air..."Dating from overseas"].Sports Chosun (in Korean). September 7, 2016. RetrievedApril 22, 2021 – via Naver News.
^Bae, Jae-ryun (March 20, 2023)."[공식]'8년 열애' 세븐♥이다해, 5월 6일 결혼..스타 부부 탄생(전문)" ['8 years of devotion' Se7en ♥ Lee Da-hae, married on May 6.. Birth of a star couple [Official]] (in Korean). Herald POP. RetrievedMarch 20, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Mi-ji (May 6, 2023)."[POP이슈]세븐♥이다해, 8년만 부부 된 결혼식 포착..달콤한 입맞춤" [[POP Issue] Se7en♥ Lee Da-hae captures the wedding after being married for 8 years... A sweet kiss] (in Korean). Herald POP. RetrievedMay 6, 2023.
^Baek Seung-hoon (December 12, 2022)."세븐·솔비·박기량, 新 골프 예능 '스윙스타' 출연" [Se7en, Solbi, and Park Gi-ryang appear in the new golf entertainment 'Swing Star] (in Korean). iMBC. RetrievedDecember 12, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeong Hee-yeon (September 10, 2021)."세븐 골프 유튜버 변신…닉쿤과 대결" [Seven Golf YouTuber transformation… Confrontation with Nichkhun].Sports Donga (in Korean). RetrievedSeptember 10, 2021 – via Naver.
^Lim Dong-geun (June 29, 2021)."뮤지컬 '사랑했어요' 8월 개막…조장혁·고유진·세븐 등 출연" [Musical 'I Loved You' opens in August... Starring Jo Jang-hyuk, Ko Yu-jin, and Seven].yna (in Korean). Naver. RetrievedJune 29, 2021.
^Hwang Mi-hyun (April 7, 2022)."세븐, 뮤지컬 '볼륨업'으로 복귀…상처가진 알바생 역" [Seven returns to the musical 'Volume Up'... Wounded part-timer] (in Korean). News1. RetrievedApril 7, 2022 – via Naver.
^"[2018 AAA 시상식] 세븐, 히스토리 오브 송즈 수상 "팬 여러분 감사"" [[2018 Asia Artist Awards] Seven wins best history of songs award "thanks to fans"].Money S (in Korean). November 28, 2018. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"세븐, 中뮤직어워드 해외 최고 퍼포먼스상 수상" [Seven wins best overseas performance award at Chinese music awards].JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). April 14, 2012. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"세븐 中서 '아시아 베스트뮤직 아티스트상' 수상" [Seven wins 'Asia Best Music Artist Award' in China].Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. January 17, 2006. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"2003 골든 디스크 대상 조성모" [Jo Sung-mo wins 2003 Golden Disc grand prize].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. December 5, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"세븐ㆍ박용하, 日 골드디스크상 수상" [Seven and Park Yong-ha win at Japan Gold Disc Award].Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. March 9, 2006. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"비,'2004 KBS 가요대상' 대상 영광" [Rain wins grand prize at 2014 KBS Music Awards].My Daily (in Korean). Naver. December 31, 2004. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"이효리, 음악채널 KMTV '코리안 뮤직 어워드' 대상" [Lee Hyori wins grand prize at music channel KMTV's Korean Music Awards].The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). December 11, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"김용만 '2003 MBC 방송연예 대상' 수상" [Kim Yong-man wins grand prize at 2003 MBC Entertainment Awards].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. December 29, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"이수영 MBC '10대 가수' 대상 2연패" [Lee Soo-young wins MBC Top 10 Singer grand prize two years in a row].Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. January 1, 2005. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"2003 m.net 뮤직 페스티벌 최고의 수상자는 이효리와 빅마마" [Lee Hyori and Big Mama win top prizes at 2003 Mnet Music Video Festival].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. November 28, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"'2003 m.net 뮤직비디오 페스티벌' 최고의 수상자는?" [Who will win at the 2003 Mnet Music Video Festival?].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. November 27, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"비 서태지 거미 유진 등 올해 뮤비가수 후보선정" [Rain, Seo Tai-ji, Gummy, Eugene and more nominated for music video awards].Star News (in Korean). Naver. November 8, 2004. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"2010 MAMA 후보공개…SM 가수 대거 포함" [2010 MAMA nominees announced...including many SM artists].The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). October 28, 2010. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"세븐 "공연하고 상도 받고 기쁨 두배"" [Seven: "Performing and receiving an award too is double the joy"].Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. May 8, 2006. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"세븐,"연기는 4집 이후 고려해 볼 것"...VMAJ 일문일답" [Seven at VMAJ Q&A: "I'll think about acting after the fourth album"].Herald Economy (in Korean). Naver. May 28, 2006. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"이효리 '2003 SBS 가요대전' 대상수상" [Lee Hyori wins grand prize at 2003 SBS Gayo Daejeon].Newsis (in Korean). Naver. December 30, 2003. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"'2006 SBS 가요대전' 대상에 동방신기" [TVXQ wins grand prize at 2006 SBS Gayo Daejeon].Yonhap News (in Korean). Naver. December 30, 2006. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
^"싱가포르 엔터테인먼트 어워드… 세븐·빅뱅 수상 영예" [Seven and Big Bang honored at Singapore Entertainment Awards].Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). April 3, 2011. RetrievedJune 11, 2021.
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