10 cm () is a South Korean musical act currently composed of singer-songwriter Kwon Jeong-yeol.
Originally a duo composed of Kwon and Yoon Cheol-jong, 10 cm debuted in 2010. With the release of the single "Americano", the group quickly became one of the most popular indie acts in South Korea, winning the This Year's Discovery Award at the 2010 Mnet Asian Music Awards, followed by Best Pop Song at the 2011 Korean Music Awards. Their first full-length album, 1.0 (2011) sold 30,000 copies, a record for an indie act at the time. Following a slew of successful singles, and the release of the full-length albums 2.0 (2012) and 3.0 (2014), the group achieved its first number-one hit on the Gaon Digital Chart in 2016 with the single "What the Spring??".
Yoon left the group in July 2017 while facing charges for marijuana use. Kwon has continued to promote as a solo artist under the name 10 cm, releasing the album 4.0 in September 2017 and several singles, including the Gaon Digital Chart top-ten hits "Mattress" (2018), "However" (2019), and "Borrow Your Night" (2021). His concert Hotel room 1010 (2020) is the first paid online concert of a Korean non-idol artist.
Career Pre-debut Kwon and Yoon were both from Gumi, North Gyeongsang. When Yoon was in his first year of high school, he was part of a school band club called 'Mad Pulse', and Kwon (who was in middle school at the time) brought a letter and a recorded tape of his work to Yoon to ask him if he could join the band. As Kwon gained some local fame with his singing skills, he was finally allowed to perform in Yoon's band. Because of this inclusion of Kwon to the team, Yoon (originally a vocalist) decided to take his position in the band as a guitarist to make room for Kwon. Kwon and Yoon formed the band 'Haeryeong (해령,海靈)' in Daegu in 2004. After enlisting in the South Korean military, the two formed the band 'Seven Hills', named after the army unit they served in, called 'Chilbong'.
Birth of 10cm as a band Around 2008 or 2009, the two arrived in Seoul to venture into the indie scene. The band debuted as an indie band at 'Club ta (打)', a famous live club located in Hongdae.
2010–2011: Debut and 1.0 Their debut EP, which was released in April 2010, was recorded with a microphone covered in stockings, and the album cover was 100% made by themselves. 3000 copies were published. The album sold out in one month, and the band gained popularity. In 2011, the band released their first studio album 1.0. The band described the music in the album as targeted towards office women in their late 20s to their 30s, and sought their empathy, which was a contrast to their early music, but gained popularity for their brutally honest and sensual lyrics. The first 10,000 copies were sold out on the release day. The band's early activities involved playing the djembe which was influenced from performances of Jason Mraz and Toca Rivera.
2012–2017: 2.0 and 3.0
The band released 2.0 in 2012. The band tried to create an adult-oriented sound that reminds them of the 1960s, that would resemble the vibe of Let It Be by the Beatles, which was widely contrasting to the band's refined production of their debut album. Also, while the production on 1.0 was minimalistic, the range of different instruments used on 2.0 increased, and different genres such as modern rock and tango were also explored. 3.0 was released in 2014, and the vocal parts for Cheol-jong increased compared to the previous albums.
2017–present: Yoon's departure and future career In June 2017, Yoon suddenly announced to departure from the group, which was later revealed to be a decision made by Yoon to not disturb his bandmate Kwon by Yoon's legal troubles related to him smoking Marijuana, which led to 10 cm becoming a one-man band. In September 2017, the release of 4.0 was announced.
On February 13, 2025, 10 cm signed an exclusive contract with Cam With Us.
Philanthropy On March 9, 2022, Kwon donated million to the Hope Bridge Disaster Relief Association to help the victims of the massive wildfires that started in Uljin, Gyeongbuk, and also spread to Samcheok, Gangwon. On October 12, Kwon donated fees from the university festival performance to Yonsei University, his alma mater.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR: The First EP: 5.0: 1.0Released: February 10, 2011 Label: Ten Music, Poclanos Formats: CD, digital download 86 KOR: 30,000 2.0Released: October 10, 2012 Label: Ten Music, Poclanos Formats: CD, digital download 84 KOR: 2,247 3.0Released: November 19, 2014 Label: Magic Strawberry Sound, Poclanos Formats: CD, digital download 9KOR: 3,785 4.0Released: September 1, 2017 Label: Magic Strawberry Sound, Loen Formats: CD, digital download 18KOR: 2,083 5.0Released: July 30, 2025 Label: Cam With Us, Kakao Formats: CD, digital download 39 KOR: 7,390Cumulative Sales of 5.0:
Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales KOR The First EPReleased: April 22, 2010 Label: Ten Music, Poclanos Formats: CD, LP, digital download 69 KOR: 1,245 The 2nd EPReleased: February 4, 2013 Label: Ten Music, Poclanos Formats: CD, digital download — KOR: 2,975 The 3rd EPReleased: November 11, 2021 Label: Magic Strawberry Sound Formats: CD, digital download 47 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Singles As lead artist Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album KOR
USWorld "Good Night" 2010 — — The First EP "Americano" () 12 — KOR: 1,719,333 "Not That" () 2011 54 — 1.0 "With the Heart to Forget You" () 49 — KOR: 376,644 Tribute to Kim Kwang Seok "Hug Me" () 3 — KOR: 1,287,784Cumulative sales of "Hug Me": rowspan="3" "Motorcycle Guitar Ride" () 44 — KOR: 335,595 "Sorrow" () 2012 3 — KOR: 2,830,335 "Fine Thank You and You?" 3 — KOR: 1,084,521Cumulative sales of "Fine Thank You And You?": 2.0 "Han River Farewell" () 22 — KOR: 278,856 "Tonight" () 17 — KOR: 337,459"Love Is Blooming" ()2013 15 — KOR: 546,484Cumulative sales of "Love Is Blooming":
Orange Revolution Festival Part 1 "Oh Yeah" () 17 — KOR: 221,162 The 2nd EP "Nothing Without You" 25 — KOR: 148,736 "Earthling?" () 29 — KOR: 249,067Cumulative sales of "Earthling?": rowspan="2" "Hug Song" () 14 — KOR: 263,798 "Sseudam Sseudam" ()2014 12 — KOR: 649,625Cumulative sales of "Sseudam Sseudam":3.0 "Stalker" () 43 — KOR: 2,500,000 "Missing You" () 19 — KOR: 194,257Cumulative sales of "Missing You": "October Rain" (10월의 날씨) 2015 11 — KOR: 189,129 3.1 "What the Spring??" () 2016 1 — KOR: 1,327,551Cumulative sales of "What The Spring??": 3.2 "I Really Like You" () 18 — KOR: 147,111 "That Five Minutes" () 16 — KOR: 151,200 3.3 "Help" 2017 11 — KOR: 162,569Cumulative sales of "Help": 4.0 "Phonecert" () 18 — KOR: 2,500,000 "Bye Babe" 28 24 KOR: 121,867 SM Station Season 2 "Mattress" () 2018 4 — 4.1 "However" () 2019 5 — 4.3 "Do You Think of Me?" () 31 — 4.4 "Tight" 2020 55 — 4.5 "Winter Breath" () 98 — 5.1 "Borrow Your Night" () 2021 2 — "Sleepless in Seoul" () 37 — 5.2 "Go Back" () 38 — 2nd Confession 'Go Back' "Yesterday You Left Me" () 35 — The 3rd EP "Gradation" () 2022 11 — KMCA: Platinum 5.3 "Just 10 Centimetres" (딱 10CM만) 8 — "They're Gonna Say We're Right (@leekangseung111)"() 2023 89 — Remake 1.0 "My Ultimate First Love"() 33 — 5.4 "Dear"() 2024 158 — 5.5 "Late Night Walk"() 185 — 5.6 "To Reach You"() 2025 1 — "Follow Your Steps" () 195 — 5.0 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory
As featured artist Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KORGaon Digital Chart peak positions:
"Turned Off the TV": "Good Morning": "Beautiful Girl": "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway": "Sudden Shower": "Telephone": "I'm Not Myself When I'm Around You": "Beyond Love": "Stranger": "Love Dilemma": "Just 1 Year": USWorld "Turned Off the TV" (TV를 껐네...) 2011 1 — KOR: 3,081,880 Asura Balbalta "Good Morning" () 2012 5 — KOR: 1,798,590 10 Years of Misinterpretation 1 "Beautiful Girl" 2015 42 — KOR: 70,190 "Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway" () 2016 24 7 KOR: 194,752 US: 2,000 A Walk to Remember "Sudden Shower" () 2018 5 — "Telephone" () 2020 72 23 CHN: 221,490 1 Billion Views "I'm Not Myself When I'm Around You" () 2021 108 — rowspan="6" "Beyond Love" () 2022 5 — Nangman "Stranger" () 2023 99 — Last Winter "Love Dilemma" () 2024 96 — "Cold"2025 — — Cold "Just 1 Year" () 107 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album KOR "Only U" 2012 20 KOR: 398,709Cumulative sales of "Only U": I Need Romance 2012 OST "One Day" () 39 KOR: 179,195Cumulative sales of "One Day": Golden Time OST "Maybe" () 2013 43 KOR: 201,976Cumulative sales of "Maybe": The Queen of Office OST "If You Can Come" () 2016 — KOR: 19,555 Woman with a Suitcase OST "My Eyes" () 7KOR: 690,394Cumulative sales of "My Eyes": Guardian: The Lonely and Great God OST "Perfect" 2018 36Love Playlist 3 OST "Lean on My Shoulders" () 2019 13 Hotel del Luna OST "But It's Destiny" () 108 Crash Landing on You OST "Where Is Dream" 2020 161 Start-Up OST "Drawer" () 2021 23 Our Beloved Summer OST "For Love" (봄 to 러브) 2022 83 Our Blues OST "The way to lose you"2024— My Demon OST "Tell Me It's Not a Dream" () 100 Queen of Tears OST "Tell Me It's Not a Dream" (Eng ver.) — "Tiramisu Cake" () 162 The Last 10 Years OST "Spring Snow" () 31 Lovely Runner OST "Hush of Sunset" ()2025Our Unwritten Seoul OST "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Other charted songs Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (DL) Album KOR "Love in the Milky Way Cafe" () 2011 15 KOR: 1,906,628 1.0 "So Nice" () 53 KOR: 142,376Cumulative sales of "So Nice": "You and I" () 2012 28 KOR: 244,912 2.0 "Smelly Girl" () 36 KOR: 228,298 "Your Flower" () 43 KOR: 187,731 "So..." (그러니까...) 45 KOR: 175,442 "Red Dragonfly" () 49 KOR: 169,995 "Now.Here's.Enough" (이제.여기서.그만) 51 KOR: 168,019 "Heart" () 55 KOR: 132,998Cumulative sales of "Heart": "Corona" 56 KOR: 90,030 "Tonight" () (Clean ver.) 92 KOR: 56,786 "Morning Call" () 2013 39 KOR: 95,097 The 2nd EP "But I'm Sleepy" () 44 KOR: 87,744 "Don't Let Me Go" 55 KOR: 66,829 "Crush" () 2014 75 KOR: 32,892 3.0 "African Youth" () 81 KOR: 30,191 "What Makes Women Angry" () 86 KOR: 29,606 "3rd Album Burdens" (3집에 대한 부담감) 98 KOR: 25,032 "Inseparable" () 99 KOR: 26,290 "Secret Love" () 2015 45 KOR: 54,116Cumulative sales of "Secret Love": 3.1 "Pet" 2017 92 KOR: 40,910Cumulative sales of "Pet": 4.0 "Storage" 2019 193 4.3
Filmography
Television Title Year Role Notes Ref. The Seasons: 10cm's Pat-Pat 2025 Host Music talk show Veiled Cup 2026 Judge
Accolades Awards and nominations +Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nominationAwardYearCategoryNominee(s)Result Brand Customer Loyalty Awards2020Indie/Folk Artist10 cmCyworld Digital Music Awards2010Tam Eum Mania Award (August)"Americano"2011Tam Eum Mania Award (February)"Love in the Milky Way Cafe"KBS Entertainment Awards2025Rookie Award (Show/Variety)The Seasons: 10cm's Pat-PatKorean Music Awards2011Best Pop Song"Tonight I'm Afraid of the Dark"Rookie of the Year10 cm2012Artist of the YearBest Pop Album1.0Best Pop Song"Not That"Melon Music Awards2015Best Folk/Blues"Sseudam Sseudam"2016"What the Spring??"2017"Phonecert"2018Best Indie"Mattress"2021Best Male Solo Artist10 cm2022Best Collaboration"Beyond Love" Best Male Solo Artist10 cm2024Best Original Soundtrack"Spring Snow"Mnet Asian Music Awards2010This Year's Discovery Award10 cm2012Best Band Performance"Fine Thank You and You?"2016"What The Spring??"2021"Sleepless in Seoul" Best Original Soundtrack"Borrow Your Night"2022"Drawer"Best Collaboration"Just 10 Centimeters"
State honors + Name of country, year given, and name of honor Country Organization Year Honor or Award South Korea Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards 2023 Prime Minister's Commendation
Concerts