Eric Mun

Eric Mun, was born Mun Jung-hyuk (Hangul: 문정혁; hanja: 文晸赫) on 16 February 1979 and mononymously credited as Eric. He is a Korean American singer and actor, known as the leader and rapper of six-member boy band Shinhwa and his lead roles in Korean dramas Phoenix, Super Rookie and Spy Myung-wol. He has been managed by his own company Top Class Entertainment since 2007 and has been the CEO of Shinhwa Company with Lee Min Woo as co-CEO since 2011, with the remaining members : Kim Dong Wan, Shin Hye Sung, Jun Jin and Andy Lee as shareholders.

Biography

Mun attended Daechi Elementary School located in Seoul, John Burroughs Middle School located in Los Angeles, CA, Parks Junior High School and Sunny Hills High School, both of which are located in Fullerton, CA. He joined SM Entertainment as a trainee and was featured as a rapper on label mate girl group S.E.S.'s single "I'm Your Girl" along with Andy. On 24 March 1998, Mun debuted with Shinhwa with their single "해결사" (The Solver) on KM Music Tank. He stated that their debut album Resolver did not perform well and the band almost disbanded. At the time, he thought seriously about giving up and returning to the U.S. ^[1] He graduate from Dongguk University majoring in Theatre and cinema. He is one of notable student in Dongguk University.

2005-2006: Acting and injury

In 2005, Mun starred in lead role of Kang Ho in Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)'s Super Rookie with actress Han Ga-in.^[2] It was also broadcast on Fuji Television, where he went to Japan in December 2005 to promote it.^[3] In early 2006, Mun was injured on the set of MBC drama Wolf, resulting in it being pulled off air after four episodes. Eric was injured whilst shooting a scene, near Namdaemun in Seoul, where he was to save co-star Han Ji-min from being run over by a car. However the stunt car driver misunderstood the signals drove at them at 40 km/h and did not stop in front of them as planned.^[4] Then in August he again played a tough unemployed man with an embarrassing sense of humour in Invincible Parachute Agent, which is similar to the Kang Ho character in Super Rookie.^[5]

2008: military service

Mun was the first Shinhwa member to enlist for mandatory military service in October 2008. He served non-active duty e.g. public service worker, after under going four weeks of basic training. He was discharged on 30 October 2010.^[6]

Mun first project since being discharged was the lead role of Kim Sun-woo with actress Kim Ok-bin, in KBS's action drama Poseidon, set for broadcast in July 2011. However they dropped out when production was halted after the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong incident in November 2010.^[7] He instead made his comeback in another KBS drama, Spy Myung-wol with Han Ye-seul in July, playing a Korean wave star who is at the centre of a kidnap plot by North Korean agents.^[8][9]

On 1 July 2011, Mun became CEO with Lee Min Woo as co-CEO of 'Shinhwa Company', a joint venture agency for members Shinhwa to perform as a group. The Company manages the group as a whole, whilst members' individual activities are managed by their respective agencies.^[10]

As part of Top Class Entertainment he produced girl group Stellar, who debuted in August 2011 with the song "Rocket Girl".^[11]

2012: Shinhwa comeback

In March 2012, Eric reunited with his Shinhwa band mates for their comeback after four years, under the management of 'Shinhwa Company'. The group released their tenth studio album The Return on 23 March 2012,^[12][13] launched their comeback concerts 2012 Shinhwa Grand Tour: The Return throughout Asia^[14][15] and their first exclusive variety program Shinhwa Broadcast premiered on 17 March 2012 on cable channel JTBC.^[16]

Mun's rap is featured on Brown Eyed Girls' Ga In's digital single "Nostalgia", released on 30 November 2012.^[17]

2013: Shinhwa Comeback

On February 8 2013, Shinhwa’s agency announced the legendary group’s comeback through their official website. The poster for their comeback 2013 Shinhwa Grand Tour: The Classic to commemorate the group’s 15 years since their debut was revealed. The album's name called The Classic.

It became a huge success, the concert's tickets were sold out within minutes. Eric along with Shinhwa won many awards in 2013. People regarded them as the Longest Boy Band in the South Korean music industry.

Filmography

Television series

• Banjun Drama (SBS)
• 2003: Breathless (MBC)
• 2004: Phoenix (MBC)
• 2004: Good Sunday Show (SBS)
• 2005: Super Rookie (aka New Employee) (MBC)
• 2006: Wolf (MBC)
• 2006: Invincible Parachute Agent (SBS)
• 2007: Que Sera, Sera (MBC)
• 2008: Strongest Chil Woo (aka Choi Kang Chil Woo) (KBS2)^[18]
• 2011: Spy Myung-wol (KBS2)^[19]

Movies

• 2002: Emergency Act 19 - cameo with Shinhwa
• 2005: A Bittersweet Life
• 2005: Diary of June

TV shows

• 2005: Love Letter
• 2005: X-Man (SBS)
• 2006: Heroine 6
• July 2006: Infinity Challenge (MBC) - Quiz Challenge with Shinhwa
• 2012-present: Shinhwa Broadcast (JTBC)
• 2013: Running Man (일요일이 좋다 – 런닝맨) With Shinhwa on Episode 161 (SBS)

Awards

Endorsements

Eric is also known as “King of Commercial Endorsements”. He has done many endorsements for various companies, and in 2005 he was chosen in a consumer survey as the male entertainer with the strongest brand power. He has been a spokesperson for popular brands including Coca Cola, Hyundai, Rinnai, Domino's Pizza, Megapass, GooGooCone, Roygen, Chicken Mania, Vivaldi Park, Binch Cookie, and many other various companies. His endorsement's breakthrough was a Anycall cell phones, which became some of his most prominent commercials.^[20] The first commercial and song, "Anymotion", was released in early 2005, featuring Lee Hyori. In early 2006, the follow-up commercial "Anyclub" was released in two parts; the music video starred by him, Lee Hyori and actor Kwon Sang-woo. Until now, He has done many endorsement in various company and brand. He still maintains his popularity as in the past.

References

External links

• Eric Mun official website at Top Class Entertainment (Korean)
• Shinhwa Company official website (Korean)