Jo Seong-hyeon (; born July 5, 1983), known professionally as Eru (), is an American-born South Korean singer and actor based in South Korea. His stage name Eru has the meaning that he would accomplish his dreams as a musician. Its also a name that is made from Lee (李) which is the surname of his mother and lu (鏤), which means to inscribe his name on something.
He is known as "Indonesia's Prince," given his popularity in that country.
Early life and education Eru was born Jo Seong-hyeon on July 5, 1983, in New York City to South Korean parents. Sports Seoul. 이루, 미국에서의 어린 시절 (Eru, Childhood in the United States) . Retrieved March 14, 2008. He is the second and youngest son of one of the most popular veteran South Korean trot singers, Tae Jin-ah.The Korea Times Soaring Higher than an Eagle, Eru. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
Eru lived in New York until he was 7 years old,Sports Hankooki.이루 음악위해 "45kg 체중 뺐다" . Retrieved March 15, 2008. then his family moved to South Korea, where he attended numerous international schools including Seoul American High School. In 2003, Eru attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Piano Department) in Boston. Epg.이루 (ERU) ; retrieved March 15, 2008. Eru entered the K-Pop scene himself during a break from Berklee.
In late December 2007, Eru released a statement revealing his intentions of fulfilling his military service duties in the latter half of 2008, since he became a Korean citizen 2 years ago.
On May 1, 2008, Eru entered the boot camp to start his mandatory military service at Nonsan Military Training Center. Eru stayed there for four weeks to receive basic training and was subsequently assigned to public service duty. He completed his duty within two years, and returned home on May 27, 2010.Allkpop ; retrieved May 29, 2010.
In addition to his singing activities, he was attending Dankook University. Daum.이루 (ERU). Retrieved March 15, 2008.
Career
Pre-debut Eru wanted to be a producer so he composed many songs. But after a while, he decided that he did not want other people to sing his songs. He wanted to sing them himself. He thought that the person who composes the songs understands them better. That's when he decided to become a singer.
Eru went through two years of training before making his debut as a singer in 2005. Eru's debut album included works from musicians such as Joo Young-hoon, Lee Hyun-jung (the composer of Big Mama's "Break Away"), and vocal trainer No Young Joo, who trained BoA, Fly to the Sky and Lee Soo-young. A 100-member string orchestra also participated in his debut album.KBS World. Eru . Retrieved March 14, 2008.
Debut Eru debuted with released his first single from his 1st album was "다시 태어나도" (""If I Was Reborn"") on September 5, 2005. Eru released his 2nd album Level II on September 16, 2006. The first single from his 2nd album, "까만안경" ("Black Glasses") which features singer Daylight, gained significant popularity among young people and topped on- and offline charts.KBS World. Ballads Likely to Enjoy Popularity . Retrieved March 14, 2008. The song would later be showered with numerous awards, including Jukeon's song of the month (October 2006) and SBS's Bonsang Award. After the huge success of "까만안경", Eru released his second single "흰눈" ("White Snow"), which he wrote himself.Arirang TV.Eru-White Snow Retrieved March 15, 2008. "흰눈" was also successful, reaching #1 on various online charts and winning several awards, including Cyworld's Song of the Month (January 2007). Empas News.이루 '흰눈' 싸이월드 가장 인기있는 'Song Of The Month' 수상 (Eru 'White Snow' Cyworld Most Popular 'Song Of The Month' Award). Retrieved March 15, 2008. My Daily.이루 "제 노래 알아봐준 네티즌에 감사" . Retrieved March 15, 2008. The music video for "흰눈" was shot in Sapporo, Japan and featured Eru and entertainer Lee Hyun-ji. Aside from his own music videos, Eru appeared in female singer Magolpi's debut music video "Flight Girl", where his role was as a composer, along with six other Korean artists, including Yoochun of TVXQ, Kangin, Heechul and Shindong of Super Junior, Park Joon-hyung of g.o.d, and Kim Jang-hoon.
Eru released his 3rd album Eru Returns on September 19, 2007, and it became the #1 album during October 2007, selling 42,228 copies in South Korea. Miak. Music Industry Association of Korea: Album Sales For The Month Of October 2007 . Retrieved March 15, 2008. The lead single from this album, "둘이라서" ("Because We Are Two"), enjoyed enormous popularity, winning SBS's Bonsang Award. The music video for this song featured celebrities Ahn Sung-ki, Bong Tae-gyu and Park Joong-hoon. Eru also released "겨울나기" ("Wintering") and "마네킹" ("Mannequin")" as singles from Eru Returns. The star-studded music video cast for "겨울나기" included Eru, actresses Lee So-yeon and Kim Ja-ok, actor Park Sang-myun, trot singers Tae Jin-ah and Song Dae-kwan, comedians Lee Kyung-kyu and Ji Sang-ryeol, singer Kim Heung-gook, and others.Arirang TV. Another dream team stars in Eru's music video! Retrieved March 14, 2008. His first solo concert took place on February 16, 2008, in South Korea. GoNews.이루, 첫 번째 단독콘서트 (ERU 1st Concert). Retrieved March 15, 2008.
Eru released a music video titled "White Tears," his single for his fourth album. His fourth album was released on August 23, 2010. In 2013, he collaborated with Indonesian comedian Sule in a multi-lingual music video titled "Saranghaeyo".
In 2017, Eru had a supporting role in the drama series You Are Too Much, where his character Park Hyun-Sung had increased screen time in later episodes, and he also sung the end credits song "Sad Love".
Scandal In September 2010, Eru was accused by ex-girlfriend Choi Hee-jin, a song lyricist, that Eru's father, Tae Jin-ah, forced her to get an abortion after she became pregnant, and tried to give her US$2,000 that she claimed she didn't accept. She aired her claims on her Cyworld account. Choi was later arrested for online slander and blackmail of Tae Jin-ah and Eru.
Discography
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORBegin to Breathe Released: September 5, 2005 Label: Jinah Production Format: CD, cassette 21 KOR: 19,537+Level II Released: September 28, 2006 Label: Eru Entertainment Format: CD, cassette 10KOR: 33,936+Eru Returns Released: September 20, 2007 Label: Jinah Production Format: CD, cassette 1KOR: 50,665+Got To Be Released: August 19, 2010 Label: Eru Entertainment Format: CD, digital download6
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORFeel Brand NewReleased: April 24, 2011 Label: Eru Entertainment Format: CD, digital download 1KOR: 17,488+Feel Brand New Part 2Released: August 8, 2012 Label: Eru Entertainment Format: CD, digital download 16KOR: 2,221+
Singles 2006: KBS Drama The Vineyard Man OST 2007: KBS Drama Capital Scandal OST 2008: SBS Drama First Wives' Club OST 2009: KBS Drama My Too Perfect Sons OST 2010: KBS Drama Bread, Love and Dreams OST 2011: KBS Drama I Believe in Love OST 2011: SBS Drama My Love By My Side OST 2011: SBS Drama Living in Style OST 2012: MBC Drama Rascal Sons OST 2013: KBS Drama Secret OST 2014: SBS Drama Temptation OST 2016: MBC Drama Blow Breeze OST 2017: MBC Drama You Are Too Much OST 2020: TV Chosun Drama Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny OST 2021: MBC Drama A Good Supper OST
Filmography
Television series Year Title Role Notes/ 2017 You Are Too Much Park Hyun-sung 2019 Angel's Last Mission: Love Ko Sung-min 2020Kingmaker: The Change of DestinyLee Ha-jeonMan in a VeilChoi Joon-seok2021A Good SupperChoi Sung-chan At a Distance, Spring Is GreenPark Shi-jae Young Lady and GentlemanKo Jung-woo 2022 Sponsor Michael Cameo TBA Four Men Moon Ho-seong TBA
Awards Year Award 2005 Mnet 20th Golden Disk Awards - Popularity Award (December 7) Mnet 20th Golden Disk Awards - Yepp New Artist Award (December 7)Arirang TV. The 20th Golden Disk Awards . Retrieved March 15, 2008. 2nd Asia Song Festival - Best Asian ArtistKOFICE 2nd Asia Song Festival 11 November 2005. Retrieved 2011-10-12 2006 Jukeon Digital Music Awards - Digital Music Award "Black Glasses" (December 22) MTV 16th Seoul Music Awards - Digital Music Award (December 1) MTV 16th Seoul Music Awards - Bonsang Award (December 1) Mnet 21st Golden Disk Awards - Digital Popularity Award (December 14) 일간스포츠.이루 디지털 음원 인기상 (Eru Digital Popularity Award) . Retrieved March 15, 2008. My Daily.이루, 골든디스크 디지털 최고인기 (Eru, Golden Disk Digital Popularity). Retrieved March 15, 2008. SBS Gayo Daejeon - Bonsang Award (December 29) 2008 17th Seoul Music Awards: Bonsang Award (January 31)KBS Global.The 17th Seoul Music Awards Winners . Retrieved March 15, 2008.
References
External links
at The Awesome Entertainment