Huh Gak (; born 15 November 1984) is a South Korean singer. He rose to fame after winning the 2010 Mnet talent competition series Superstar K 2, during which he became known as "the Korean Paul Potts".
Early life and education Huh Gak was born in Incheon, South Korea on 15 November 1984. His parents divorced when he was 3, and he and his twin brother, Huh Gong, were raised by their father. Due to his family's financial difficulties, Huh dropped out of school after finishing middle school and worked as a repairman and event singer. Huh later earned his high school diploma in 2018.
Career
2010–present: Superstar K 2, debut, and First Story In 2010, Huh competed on the Mnet talent competition series Superstar K 2 and took the first place spot in the show's finale in October. Following the show, Huh released his debut single "Always", which topped the Gaon Digital Chart. On 16 November, he released his self-titled, first mini album.
After joining A Cube Entertainment in early 2011, Huh released the mini album First Story on 16 September. The album spawned the hit single "Hello", which took the number-one spot on the Gaon Digital Chart (also earning a "triple crown" for topping the component Download, Streaming, and BGM charts) and Billboards K-pop Hot 100 chart.
On 8 October 2021, Huh left Play M Entertainment after his contract expired. On 27 October 2021, Huh signed with BPM Entertainment.
Personal life On 3 October 2013, Huh married his "first love", whom he dated in middle school when they were 16 years old. They met again after 13 years in February 2012. Huh and his wife have two sons: Huh Geon (born 2014) and Huh Gang (born 2015).
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Little GiantReleased: 5 February 2013 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 14KOR: 4,198 HelloReleased: 28 December 2020 Label: Play M Entertainment, Kakao M Formats: CD, digital download 61
Extended plays Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales KOR Huh Gak 1st Mini AlbumReleased: 16 November 2010 Label: Mnet Media, CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download 6 Like 1st Mini Album "First Story"Released: 16 September 2011 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 4KOR: 13,059 LacrimosoReleased: 3 April 2012 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 9KOR: 3,357 ReminisceReleased: 11 November 2013 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download — Snow of April Released: 17 March 2015 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 13KOR: 1,072+ Story of Winter Released: 23 November 2015 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 23KOR: 740+ Lover LetterReleased: 31 January 2017 Label: Plan A Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download 34 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Singles Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR "Drunken Night": "My First Love (Would You Marry Me)": "Save Me": "Apgujeong Rodeo": "Endless": "The Work of Erasing You": "With You": "Sob Your Heart Out": "Happiness": "The Winter": "I Hope": "Because of Love": "Old Song" and "T.B.H": "It's You": "To Heaven" and "I'm in Tears": "Too Late to Love You": "Only": "Get Ready to Leave": "Stay with Me": "Crazy Love Song": "Always" () 2010 1 KOR: 1,753,708 Huh Gak 1st Mini Album "Hello" 2011 1KOR: 3,583,763Cumulative sales of "Hello":
Like 1st Mini Album "First Story" "I Told You I Wanna Die" () 2KOR: 2,494,120Cumulative sales of "I Told You I Wanna Die":
Lacrimoso "The Person Who Once Loved Me" () 2012 4KOR: 2,500,000 "It Hurts" () 7KOR: 982,196 "1440" 2013 5KOR: 1,016,420 Little Giant "I Want to Love" () 21KOR: 257,911 "You Are Mine" ()) 1KOR: 676,064 "Memory of Your Scent" () 3KOR: 911,978Cumulative sales of "Memory of Your Scent":
Reminisce "Day N Night" 2014 9KOR: 210,995 "Snow of April" () 2015 1KOR: 1,049,002 Snow of April "Up All Night" () 7 KOR: 320,211Cumulative sales of "Up All Night": Story of Winter "Back in the Day" () 6KOR: 235,820Cumulative sales of "Back in the Day": "Miss You" (혼자, 한잔) 2017 23KOR: 170,414Cumulative sales of "Miss You": Love Letter "Only You" () 9 KOR: 219,810Cumulative sales of "Only You": Hello "The Last Night" () 2018 51 rowspan="19" "Empty Words" () 17 "Without You" () 2020 76 "How Did We" () 34 "Confession" () 2021 10 Romance 101 X Huh Gak "I Can't Go to Sinchon" () 54 rowspan="14" "Save Me" () 2022 137 "Apgujeong Rodeo" () 164 "Endless" 2023 88 "The Work of Erasing You" () 156 "With You" () 14 "Sob Your Heart Out" () 107 "It's You" () 2024 113 "To Heaven" () 151 "I'm in Tears" () 148 "Too Late to Love You" () 2025 147 "Only" () 171 "Get Ready to Leave" () 182 "Crazy Love Song" () 2026 199
Collaborations Title Year Peak chart positions Sales KOR "Whenever You Play That Song" () 2011 3KOR: 2,228,493Cumulative sales of "Whenever You Play That Song": "I Need You" 2012 1KOR: 2,500,000 "Short Hair" () 2013 1KOR: 1,207,766 "Break Up to Make Up" () 2014 1KOR: 803,627 "Town Bar" () 2015 5KOR: 462,234Cumulative sales of "Town Bar": "Already Winter" () 2016 60KOR: 81,008 "Bada Ocean.wav" () 5KOR: 407,547Cumulative sales of "Bada Ocean.wav": "#Begin Again" (#떨려) —KOR: 17,447 "Band-Aid" () 2017 22KOR: 171,574Cumulative sales of "Band-Aid": "Oasis" () —KOR: 22,488 "Let You Go" () 2019 34 rowspan="10" "Rain" 2021 — "Drunken Night" () 2022 74 "My First Love (Would You Marry Me)" () 159 "Happiness" 2023 105 "The Winter" () 151 "I Hope" () 2024 140 "Because of Love" () 138 "Old Song" () 27 "T.B.H" (Ballad ver.; 고민중독) 78
Soundtrack appearances Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR USWorld "My Best" 2011 43 — Glove OST "Don't Forget Me" () 1 —KOR: 2,505,076 The Greatest Love OST "One Person" () 2012 2 —KOR: 1,653,310 Big OST "Tears Fallin' Like Today" () 2014 2 —KOR: 745,484 My Love from the Star OST "The Reasons" () 2017 — —KOR: 30,999Cumulative sales of "The Reasons": Man to Man OST "Since I Met You" () — — rowspan="8" Andante OST "Cosmos" 2018 — — Clean with Passion for Now OST "Because of You" 2019 — — Angel's Last Mission: Love OST "Your Warmth" () — — The Tale of Nokdu OST "Farewell In Tears" () 2020 — — The World of the Married OST "Someday" (그 시간, 그 공간) 2021 — — Hello, Me! OST "Under the Lonely Sky" () — — Undercover OST "Stay with Me" () 2025 160 6 Bon Appétit, Your Majesty OST
Other charted songs Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album KOR "My Heart" 2010 44 rowspan="3" Huh Gak 1st Mini Album "Running in the Sky" () 10 "Happy Me" () 16 "I Miss You" () 2011 29KOR: 362,518Like 1st Mini Album "First Story" "All of My Life" () 36KOR: 248,689 "Before Farewell" () 55KOR: 172,334Cumulative sales of "Before Farewell": "Love Love Love" () 2012 56KOR: 60,558 Lacrimoso "Grabbing Your Wrist" () 56KOR: 56,943 "Monodrama" () 2013 2KOR: 1,645,880 Little Giant "Knowing We're Going To Break Up" () 29KOR: 234,885 "Your Wedding" () 42KOR: 119,320 "Simple Story" () 47KOR: 89,041 "I'll Become Tears" () 62KOR: 41,027 "I Want To Sing" () 71KOR: 39,002 "Unemployed" () 91KOR: 31,352 "Time To Say I Love You" () 50KOR: 38,390 Reminisce "Falling" () 53KOR: 38,347 "Linger On" () 2015 49KOR: 39,756 Snow Of April "After Love" () 57 KOR: 34,184 "Miss You" () 29KOR: 49,615 Story of Winter "A Bride" () 2017 86KOR: 20,630 Lover Letter
Concerts As well as numerous appearances on Superstar K2, on 18 January 2011, he participated in a Traditional Korean music concert called "Noon concert".
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2010 Superstar K 2 Contestant Winner 2022 The Listen: The Voice We Loved Cast member
Awards and nominations Award ceremonyYearCategoryNominee(s)ResultCyworld Digital Music Awards2010Song of the Month – November"As Always"Rookie of the Month – NovemberGaon Chart Music Awards2011New Artist of the Year – Male SoloHuh GakGolden Disc Awards2012Rookie Artist of the Year2013Digital Song Bonsang"The Person Who Once Loved Me"Digital Daesang (Song of the Year)2014Digital Song Bonsang"Monodrama" 2016"Snow of April"2022"How Did We"Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards2015K-pop Singer AwardHuh GakKorea Drama Awards2011Best Original Soundtrack"Don't Forget Me"2012"One Person"Melon Music Awards2010Hot Trend Award"Always"2011Best New ArtistHuh Gak2012Top 10 Artists (Bonsang)Best OST Award"One Person"Hot Trend Award"I Need You" 2013Best R&B/Ballad Award"Monodrama" 2015Best Ballad Award"Snow of April"2023Top 10 Artists (Bonsang)Huh GakMnet Asian Music Awards2011Best New Male ArtistBest Vocal Performance – Solo"Hello"Best OST"Please Don't Forget Me"2012Best Vocal Performance – Solo"The Person Who Once Loved Me"Best OST"One Person"Best Collaboration"I Need You" 2014"Break Up to Make Up" 2015Best Vocal Performance – Male"Snow of April"Seoul Music Awards2012Main Prize (Bonsang)Huh Gak
References