Hoya (singer)

This is a Korean name; the family name is Lee.
Hoya

Hoya at 2013 K-POP World Festival
Background information
Birth name Lee Ho-dong[1][2]
Also known as Lee Ho-won
Born March 28, 1991
Origin Busan, South Korea
Genres K-pop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, actor, rapper, Lead dancer
Years active 2010–present
Labels Woollim Entertainment
Associated acts Infinite, Infinite H, Dynamic Black
Hoya
Hangul 호야
Revised Romanization Hoya
Autonym
Hangul 이호원
Hanja 李浩沅
Revised Romanization I Ho-won
Birth Name
Hangul 이호동
Hanja 李鎬童
Revised Romanization I Ho-dong

Lee Ho-won (Hangul: 이호원; born Lee Ho-dong[1][3] on March 28, 1991[4]), better known by his stage name Hoya (호야) is a South Korean singer, rapper, actor and dancer. He is a rapper, vocalist and lead dancer in the seven-member boy band Infinite, which debuted under Woollim Entertainment in 2010.[5]

Biography

Hoya was born in Busan, South Korea. He dropped out of high school to pursue his dream as a singer. His father was against the decision thus Hoya had to leave home. He then took the high school qualification exam and passed. Later his father accepted him and now supports Infinite wholeheartedly. Hoya auditioned after he dropped out and ended up in his current agency, Woollim Entertainment. He was a former JYP Entertainment trainee.[6]

On March 10, 2014 he announced that his real birth name is Lee Hodong, not Howon as he had previously told the public, and that he changed it in order not to share a name with comedian Kang Hodong.[7] Kang Ho-dong acted as a fool in a comedy show when Hoya was nine years old. As a result Hoya's friends teased him about it and thus having to change his name to Lee Ho-won in the end.

Hoya graduated from Daekyung University, majoring in Applied Music with fellow members Sungkyu, L, and Sungyeol.[8]

Career

Infinite

Main article: Infinite (band)

Hoya made his debut in 2010 as a rapper, vocalist and main dancer in the boy band Infinite.

Solo career

On April 30, 2012, it was briefly announced that Hoya would be make his debut as an actor through tvN's new television drama. It was initially denied by his agency, but weeks later, Hoya confirmed himself that he would be acting in the drama Reply 1997.[9][10] He played the role of Kang Joon-hee who harbors a secret crush on an unexpected character. The show gained a massive praise from both viewers and critics.

He briefly participated in a one team unit, Dynamic Black, which performed the song "Yesterday" on SBS Gayo Daejun in December 2012.[11][12] On January 10, 2013, he and fellow Infinite member Dongwoo debuted as Infinite H, the first official sub-unit of Infinite. They released their first mini album Fly High.[13]

On April 8, 2014, he was featured in Eric Nam's song "Ooh Ooh". The music video was released on the same day, where he appeared as well. He wrote the lyrics of the rap part and also helped write the song's lyrics. On July 14, 2014, he was featured in one of Henry Lau's songs in Lau's second EP, Fantastic. The song, titled "Need You Now", features Hoya as the rapper.

Discography

Main article: Infinite discography

Soundtrack appearances and featured artist

Year Song Album Remarks
2012 She's a Fantasy MBC What is Mom With Infinite
Yesterday 2012 SBS Gayo Daejun The Colors Of K-Pop With Dynamic Black
2014 Ooh Ooh Non album-single With Eric Nam
Need You Now Fantastic With Henry Lau

As Songwriter/Composer

Year Song Album
2014 Last Romeo Season 2
Alone
2014 Pretending I'm Okay

Filmography

Music videos

Year Artist Title
2013 Zia & Davichi If you loved me
2014 Eric Nam Ooh Ooh

Drama

Year TV network Title Role
2012 tvN Reply 1997 Kang Joon-hee
2013 Reply 1994 Kang Joon-hee (cameo)[14]
2014 SBS My Lovely Girl Kang Rae Heon
2015 SBS Mask Byun Ji Hyuk

Film

Year Title Role
2012 INFINITE Concert Second Invasion Evolution The Movie 3D Himself
2014 Grow: Infinite's Real Youth Life" Himself
2015 Hiya Jinho

Dubbing

Year Title Role
2011 Wara Store Himself

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "INFINITE's Hoya bonds with Kang Ho Dong as reveals his actual birth name, Lee Ho Dong". allkpop.com. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "'예체능' 호야 개명 "본명 이호동, 강호동 때문에 놀림 받아 개명"". Chosun News. March 12, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  3. ↑ "'예체능' 호야 개명 "본명 이호동, 강호동 때문에 놀림 받아 개명"" (in Korean). Chosun News. March 12, 2014. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  4. ↑ Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  5. ↑ "Infinite biography". Woollim Entertainment. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ "호야 자퇴 심경고백, "교복 못 입은 아쉬움...'응답'으로 보상받아"". Naver News. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  7. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2014/03/infinites-hoya-bonds-with-kang-ho-dong-as-reveals-his-actual-birth-name-lee-ho-dong/
  8. ↑ http://m.news.naver.com/read.nhn?mode=LSD&sid1=001&oid=108&aid=0002200649
  9. ↑ "INFINITE’s Hoya & A Pink’s Eunji to join cast of new tvN sitcom?". allkpop. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  10. ↑ "INFINITE’s Hoya has been confirmed for new sitcom". allkpop. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "SBS ‘Gayo Daejun’ reveals team lineup for ‘Color of K-Pop’ project". allkpop. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  12. ↑ "SBS‘가요대전’, 영화 ‘어벤져스’ 같은 케이팝 대표 아이돌의 만남 "시청자가 직접 정한다"" (in Korean). DongAh News. October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  13. ↑ "INFINITE’s Dongwoo and Hoya to promote next year as INFINITE H with release of album". allkpop. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  14. ↑ "‘Reply 1997′ stars to cameo in the second season, ‘Reply 1994′". allkpop. Retrieved 2 May 2013.

External links