Im Chang-jung (; born November 30, 1973) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He is often referred by Koreans as "the original multi-entertainer" for being active in all three fields: music, film and entertainment. He made his acting debut in 1990 and his singing debut in 1995. Im has since released 17 full-length albums and is known for his hit songs that are vocally challenging to sing. He is the only artist in South Korea who has songs that reached number one on the local music charts in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. He was selected as Singer of the Year and his song "The Love I Committed" was selected as Song of the Year in the surveys conducted by Gallup Korea in 2016.
Personal life Im married professional golfer Kim Hyun-joo in 2006. The couple, who have three sons together, divorced in 2013. Im married a woman named Seo Ha-yan in 2017. The couple have 2 children together.
On November 9, 2021 it was confirmed that Im had tested positive for COVID-19, and has since halted all promotions for his 17th album Nothing Special with the Day.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR
Studio albums:
Extended plays:
Already to Me()Released: April 1, 1995 Label: KingPin Formats: CD, cassetterowspan="3" rowspan="3" Because I'm Not with YouReleased: May 10, 1996 Label: KingPin Formats: CD, cassetteAgainReleased: May 16, 1997 Label: Interpark Formats: CD, cassetteBecome a Star()Released: April 13, 1998 Label: Cheonil Formats: CD, cassette5KOR: 400,273+Story Of...Released: March 29, 1999 Label: Cheonil Formats: CD, cassette2 KOR: 472,979+WhiteReleased: February 10, 2000 Label: Cheonil Formats: CD, cassette2 KOR: 560,228+www.love.7thReleased: November 1, 2000 Label: Seoul Records Formats: CD, cassette2 KOR: 463,373+Different ColorReleased: July 25, 2001 Label: Laful Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette2 KOR: 389,369+C.J.2002Released: April 26, 2002 Label: Laful Entertainment Formats: CD, cassette3 KOR: 211,103+ByeReleased: June 5, 2003 Label: Warner Music Korea Formats: CD, cassette2 KOR: 99,696+Return to My WorldReleased: March 10, 2009 Label: LOEN Entertainment Format: CD3Ordinary Song, Ordinary Melody(흔한 노래... 흔한 멜로디...)Released: March 20, 2014 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download8KOR: 6,187+I'mReleased: September 6, 2016 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download2KOR: 7,665+There Has Never Been a Day I Haven't Loved You()Released: September 19, 2018 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download14KOR: 2,343+ Never Ending()Released: September 6, 2019 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download8KOR: 4,894+ Love Should Not Be Harsh on You()Released: October 19, 2020 Label: YES IM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download21KOR: 2,556+ Nothing Special with the Day()Released: November 1, 2021 Label: YES IM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download56
Extended plays Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KORBest Man ()Released: November 24, 2014 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download14KOR: 1,649+Love Again ()Released: September 22, 2015 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download8KOR: 3,551+Do You Know That Person? ()Released: October 23, 2017 Label: NH Media Formats: CD, digital download18KOR: 1,854+I'm a Fool ()Released: February 8, 2023 Label: YES IM Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download29KOR: 5,107
Singles TitleSingle detailsBrave Brothers 10th Anniversary Project, Part 01(용감한형제 10주년 앨범 Part.1) Released: December 30, 2013 Format: CD, digital downloadA Guy Like Me () Released: September 24, 2013 Format: CD, digital downloadOpen the Door () Released: October 30, 2013 Format: CD, digital downloadWe Were... Released: December 15, 2017 Format: CD, digital download
Album appearances TitleYearAlbumGone with the Wind()2013Hot Summer Cool Music
Soundtrack appearances TitleYearAlbum슬픈연가 ()1997Beat OST언제나 같은 생각2012Ji Woon-soo's Stroke of Luck OSTWay Back Home ()Goodbye2014Three Days OSTWait ()Gunman in Joseon OSTIt will be Alright ()2015Sweet, Savage Family OSTYou Tell Me ()2017Man to Man OSTRepeatedly ()2021Penthouse 2 OSTThis Is What I Am ()
Filmography Film Year Title Role 1990 North Korean Partisan in South Korea Jeon Sae-young Rose Motel 1992 From Seom River to the Sky Goo Dae-hoon Walking All the Way to Heaven 1994 The Rules of the Game Client 1 1997 Beat Hwan-gyu 1998 Extra Park Bong-soo If the Sun Rises in the West Kim Beom-soo 2000 The Happy Funeral Director Jae-hyun Jakarta Blue 2001 My Boss, My Hero Hyeok-sam (cameo) 2002 Bet on My Disco Bong-pal Sex Is Zero Jang Eun-shik 2003 Reversal of Fortune Police officer (cameo) The Greatest Expectation Chang-shik Romantic Assassin Ghost in armor (cameo) 2004 To Catch a Virgin Ghost Yang-yi 2005 Cracked Eggs and Noodles Dae-gyu All for Love Kim Chang-hoo 2006 Aachi & Ssipak Ssipak (voice) 2007 Miracle on 1st Street Pil-je Underground Rendezvous Young-tae Scout Ho-chang Sex Is Zero 2 Eun-shik 2009 Fortune Salon Seung-won 2010 Twilight Gangsters Bang Joon-seok Romantic Debtors Detective Bang Geuk-hyun 2011 Shotgun Love Sang-yeol 2012 Rain and Rain Soo-hyun The Traffickers Young-gyu 2013 Tumbleweed Chang-soo 2014 The Con Artists Chef (cameo) 2015 Untouchable Lawmen Lee Jung-jin 2017 Roman Holiday In-han 2018 Gate Gyu-cheol
Television series Year Title Role 1991 Eyes of Dawn Gil-soo 1992 Days of Sunshine 1994 Ladybug 1996 Three Guys and Three Girls 1997 New York Story 2010 The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry Jerry Oh (cameo) 2012 Ji Woon-soo's Stroke of Luck Ji Woon-soo 2017 Witch at Court Investigated man (special appearance) 2019 The Light in Your Eyes a swindler (cameo, Ep. 5)
Television show Year Title Role2009 Invincible Baseball Team Infielder, pitcher Superstar K Season 1 host 2014–15Law of the Jungle in Costa RicaCast member 2021 Star Golf Big League Cast Member2022 Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny Cast Golf Battle: Birdie Buddies 4 Contestant
Web shows Year Title Role Notes 2022 SNL Korea Host Season 2 – episode 17
Musical theatre
Year Title Role 2009 Bbalae (Laundry) Solongo 2010–2011 Radio Star Park Min-soo 2012 Le Passe-Muraille Dusoleil 2022 Mrs. Doubt Fire Daniel / Doutfire
Awards and nominations As a singer YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult 1997Golden Disc AwardsBonsang (Main Award)"Again"Seoul Music AwardsBonsang (Main Award)KBS Music FestivalDaesang (Grand Prize)"Again"1999Seoul Music AwardsBonsang (Main Award)2000Seoul Music AwardsBonsang (Main Award)Mnet Music Video FestivalBest Ballad Performance"My Love"2001Golden Disc AwardsBonsang (Main Award)"Reason to Wait"KBS Music FestivalTop 10 SingersSeoul Music AwardsBonsang (Main Award)2002Mnet Music Video FestivalBest Ballad Performance"Sad Monologue"2014Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest Male Artist2015Mnet Asian Music AwardsBest Vocal Performance"Love Again"Seoul Music AwardsPerformance Award2016Melon Music AwardsBest Ballad Award"The Love I Committed"2017Golden Disc AwardsDigital Bonsang (Main Award)2018Golden Disc AwardsBallad of the Year AwardHimself
As an actor Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1997 Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor Beat Blue Dragon Film AwardsBest Supporting Actor 1998 Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor (Film) 2002 Blue Dragon Film Awards Best Supporting Actor Bet on My Disco 2003 Grand Bell Awards Best Supporting Actor Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (Film)Sex Is Zero 2008 Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor (Film)Scout Grand Bell Awards Best Actor 2012 Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards Best Actor (Film) The Traffickers 2022 2022 SBS Entertainment Awards Social Star Award – Talk and Reality Category Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny
References
External links Official website