Kang Dong-ho (Korean: 강동호; Hanja: 姜東昊; born July 21, 1995), better known by the stage name Baekho (Korean: 백호; Hanja: 白虎), is a South Korean singer, songwriter and television personality. He began his professional career in 2012 as a main vocalist of the South Korean boy group NU'EST. He is currently signed under Pledis Entertainment, debuting as a solo artist with the release of his first extended play Absolute Zero on October 12, 2022.
Baekho | |
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![]() Baekho in July 2019 | |
Born | Kang Dong-ho (1995-07-21) July 21, 1995 (age 27)[1] Jeju Province, South Korea |
Education | Hanyang University Institute for Future Talents [2] |
Alma mater | Paekche Institute of the Arts[3] |
Occupation |
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Musical career | |
Genres | K-pop |
Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | Pledis |
Formerly of | |
Korean name | |
Hangul | |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Gang Dong-ho |
McCune–Reischauer | Kang Tongho |
Stage name | |
Hangul | |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Baek-ho |
McCune–Reischauer | Paekho |
Musical artist | |
Signature | |
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Baekho became a Pledis Entertainment trainee after being scouted by the company in 2010. He became better known after he appeared in After School's music video for the single "Play Ur Love". In 2011, he and bandmate JR appeared on the KBS talk show Hello Counselor and were revealed by After School's Kahi as two of the members of NU'EST.[4]
Prior to debuting, Baekho made appearances in labelmates' music releases as a member of Pledis Boys.[5] He was a backup dancer for After School Blue's "Wonder Boy", and featured in Pledis Entertainment's Christmas release "Love Letter".[6]
On March 15, 2012, Baekho debuted as a main vocalist of NU'EST.[7] His stage name was chosen by labelmate Uee, because of his resemblance to Slam Dunk character Hanamichi Sakuragi (known as "Kang Baek-ho" in the Korean version). In 2013, Baekho appeared in the television drama Jeon Woo-chi.[8]
In early 2014, he was diagnosed with vocal fold nodules. However, he decided to continue performing with NU’EST while receiving treatment. Pledis Entertainment announced in November that he would be taking a temporary hiatus from all group activities. His doctors advised that he completely rest his voice and underwent vocal cord surgery.[9] In February 2016, it was reported that he had completely recovered.[10]
In 2017, Baekho participated as a contestant on Produce 101 Season 2 under his real name for a chance to debut in Wanna One.[11][12][13] After performing a cover of BTS's "Boy in Luv" on the show, he gained the nickname of 'sexy bandit' from online commenters.[14] In the position-based challenge, he covered Blackpink's "Playing with Fire", and the view count of his fancam reached one million views within three days.[15] He was also noted by commenters for his stable voice in the music removed (MR) performance.[16] After he was eliminated in the final episode, he and the remaining NU'EST members began promoting as the sub-group NU'EST W from 2017 to 2018.[17]
Baekho's struggles with weight and exercise earned him a reputation of being a "fit idol."[18][19] After a fan sent a photo of him in a gym to Men's Health Korea, the editorial team invited him to be the cover of the magazine's November 2018 issue.[18] He once again appeared in Men's Health Korea for its January 2020 issue.[20]
In September 2020, he became the hair care advertising model for brand The Wood of J One Cosmetic.[21]
Baekho took on his first acting role in a musical as the male lead Haram in the stage play Midnight Sun, which ran from May-July 2021.[22] In the same year, he was cast as the male lead in stage plays Altar Boyz[23] and Equal.[24]
It was announced on February 28, 2022 that NU'EST's exclusive contract with Pledis Entertainment will expire on March 14, 2022 and that Baekho and Minhyun have renewed their contracts with the agency while members Aron, JR and Ren chose not to.[25]
From July 15 to 17, Baekho held his first fan meeting as a solo artist at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul where he performed a new unreleased song.[26]
In September 2022, it was announced that Baekho will debut as a solo artist with the release of his first EP Absolute Zero on October 12.[27]
On March 10, 2020, Baekho, together with NU'EST members JR, Minhyun, and Ren, enrolled at Hanyang University Institute for Future Talents as freshman in Practical Music Course.[28]
In June 2017, a former acquaintance alleged anonymously online that in 2009, when she and Baekho were both in middle school, she had been molested by him on the bus on their way home from cram school.[29] She pressed charges against Baekho later that month, while Pledis denied the allegations and filed a counter suit in response.[30] Pledis also filed a complaint against the accuser for violating the laws on information communication network and information protection.[31] The police forwarded the case to prosecutors in September 2017.[32] On April 16, 2018, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office cleared Baekho of the sexual assault charges, and have since dismissed the case.[31] Baekho was ultimately found not guilty and was acquitted of all charges.[33] The case was also raised to the Korea Communications Commission over the fairness of how the allegations were reported.[34]
On November 18, 2020, the Seoul High Court disclosed as part of the ongoing Mnet vote manipulation investigation that Baekho (under his real name Kang Dong-ho) was a victim of voting manipulation when he participated on Produce 101 Season 2.[35] According to the documents the Court released, the manipulation of Baekho's ranking only happened in the final episode of the season, which determined who would debut in the project group Wanna One. It was revealed that Baekho's true rank would have made him part of the group, but was swapped with another trainee's (who was the actual 13th place) by the show's producers, thus taking him out of the lineup.[36]
Although both of the show's producers Kim Yong-bum and Ahn Joon-young alleged that Baekho requested to be removed from the final lineup of his own volition,[37][38] Pledis Entertainment denied the allegations.[39] CJ ENM (Mnet's parent company) released a statement regarding the progress of negotiations to financially compensate all the trainees who were affected by voting manipulation across all the Produce 101 programs, including Baekho.[40] However, Pledis stated that they had not been contacted by CJ ENM regarding the compensation as of November 18, 2020.[41]
On November 20, 2020, it was revealed that Baekho had been suffering from anxiety disorder during the filming of Produce 101 Season 2, and that Ahn and the Mnet staff were aware of Baekho's diagnosis.[42] Furthermore, Ahn alleged that after speaking to Baekho in May 2017 in regards to his mental health and his involvement in the show, he interpreted Baekho's responses to mean that Baekho wanted to be eliminated from the competition.[43] However, the Court re-affirmed that Baekho was not personally involved in the decision to have his rank manipulated, and ruled him as a victim of unfair elimination through vote manipulation.[44]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
KOR [45] | |||
Absolute Zero |
|
9 |
|
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||||
Circle [47] |
Hot [upper-alpha 1][48] | ||||
As lead artist | |||||
"No Rules" | 2022 | —[upper-alpha 2] | — | — | Absolute Zero |
As featured artist | |||||
"Love Letter" (Son Dam-bi, After School feat. Ara, Hyelim, Minhyun, Junghyun) |
2011 | 37 | 43 |
|
Happy Pledis 2nd Album |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album |
---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||
"That Day, We" (그날, 우리) | 2019 | —[upper-alpha 3] | The Crowned Clown OST Part 2 |
"Meet Me When the Sun Goes Down" (태양이 지면 널 만나러 갈게) | 2021 | —[upper-alpha 4] | Midnight Sun OST Part 3 |
"Good-Bye Days" (with Kei) |
—[upper-alpha 5] | ||
"Forevermore" (나는 너라서) | —[upper-alpha 6] | Now, We Are Breaking Up OST Part 10 | |
"Bite!" (물어!) | 2022 | —[upper-alpha 7] | Crazy Love OST Part 3 |
"Savior" | —[upper-alpha 8] | Good Job OST Part 2 | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album |
---|---|---|---|
KOR [47] | |||
"Beautiful Night" (아름다운 밤이야) (Beast cover) |
2018 | — | Masked Singer 160th (Live Version) |
"Thought" (생각이나) (Boohwal cover) |
— | ||
"Bastard" (놈놈놈) (with Yoon Min-soo, Cheetah) |
2019 | 171 | The Call 2 |
"Don't Worry" (건강하고 아프지마요) (with Yoon Min-soo, Cheetah, Song Ga-in) |
—[upper-alpha 9] | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Sales | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||||
Circle [47] |
Hot [upper-alpha 1][48] | ||||
"Thanksful for You" (지금까지 행복했어요) | 2017 | 25 | 9 |
|
W, Here |
"Feels" | 2018 | —[upper-alpha 10] | — | — | Wake, N |
"Need It" | 2021 | —[upper-alpha 11] | — | Romanticize | |
"Festival in My Car" | 2022 | —[upper-alpha 12] | — | Absolute Zero | |
"Love Burn" | —[upper-alpha 13] | — | |||
"We Don't Care No More" (featuring June One of Glen Check) |
—[upper-alpha 14] | ||||
"Bad 4 U" | —[upper-alpha 15] | ||||
"Wanna Go Back" (변했다고 느끼는 내가 변한 건지) (featuring Sik-K) |
—[upper-alpha 16] | ||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region. |
Year | Album | Artist | Song | Lyrics | Music | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Credited | With | Credited | With | ||||
2015 | Good Life | Bumzu | "I Need You" (YA해)[68] | Yes | No | — | |
2016 | Q is | NU'EST | "Lost & Found" (나의 천국 lit. My Heaven[69]) | Yes | Yes |
| |
"VVith" (사실 말야 lit. In Fact[69]) | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
Canvas | "R.L.T.L (Real Love True Love) (One Morning)" | Yes | No | — | |||
"Love Paint (Every Afternoon)" | Yes | No | — | ||||
"Look (A Starlight Night)" | Yes |
|
No | — | |||
2017 | W, Here | NU'EST W | "My Beautiful" (하루만) | Yes |
|
Yes |
|
"Where You At" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
Aron | "Good Love" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
2018 | To. Day | Fromis 9 | "DKDK" (두근두근)[lower-alpha 1] | Yes | No | — | |
Who, You | NU'EST W | "Signal" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |
"Dejavu" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"Polaris" (북극성) | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"Ylenol" | Yes | No | — | ||||
"Gravity & Moon" (중력달) | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"Shadow" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
Produce 48 – Final[lower-alpha 2] | Produce 48 contestants[lower-alpha 2] | "We Together" (앞으로 잘 부탁해)[lower-alpha 1] | Yes |
|
No | — | |
Non-album single | NU'EST W | "I Don't Care (with Spoonz)" | Yes |
|
Yes | — | |
Wake, N | "L.I.E" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
"Help Me" | Yes | Yes | |||||
Aron | "Wi-Fi" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
Ren | "You & I" (나, 너에게) | No | — | Yes |
| ||
Baekho | "Feels" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
2019 | Non-album single | NU'EST | "A Song For You" (노래 제목) | Yes |
|
No | — |
Happily Ever After | "Segno" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
"Bet Bet" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"Bass" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"Talk About Love" | Yes | Yes | |||||
"Different" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"Fine" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
The Table | "Call Me Back" | Yes | Yes |
| |||
"Love Me" | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"One Two Three" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"Trust Me" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"Stay Up All Night" (밤새) | Yes | Yes |
| ||||
"If We" (우리가 사랑했다면) | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
2020 | Non-album single | NU'EST | "Let's Love (with Spoonz)"[71] | Yes |
|
Yes |
|
The Nocturne | "I'm in Trouble" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
"Firework" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"Back To Me"(평행우주) | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"꼭"(Must) | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"반딧별"(Shooting Star) | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
Non-album single | "Best Summer (with Spoonz)" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
Drive (Japan Album) | "Drive" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
2021 | Romanticize | "Dress" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |
"Inside Out" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"Don't Wanna Go" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"Black" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
"Drive"(Korean Ver.) | Yes |
|
Yes |
| |||
Baekho | "Need It" | Yes |
|
Yes |
| ||
Aron | "I'm Not" | Yes |
|
No | — | ||
Now, We Are Breaking Up OST | Baekho | "Forevermore" | Yes | — | No | — | |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Jeon Woo-chi | Cameo with Ren | ||
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Produce 101 Season 2 | Contestant | [72] | |
2018 | King of Mask Singer | Eps. 159–160 | [73][74] | |
Battle Trip | Eps. 108–109 (with JR) | [75] | ||
2019 | Law of the Jungle | Cast member | Eps. 353–357 | [76] |
The Call | Season 2 | [77] | ||
Let's Go, Man Soo Ro | [78] | |||
2021 | Law of the Jungle | Eps. 446-448 | [79] | |
2022 | The Second World | Mission music producer | Episode 6 | [80] |
Buddy Boys | Cast member | [81] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021–present | Idol Challenge: Another Class | MC | Season 2 | [82] |
2022 | The Door: To Wonderland | Cast member | [83] [84] | |
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Midnight Sun | Haram | [85] |
Altar Boyz | Matthew | [86] | |
2022 | Equal | Theo | [87] |
Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
KBS Entertainment Awards | 2019 | Hot Issue Entertainer Award | Let's Go, Man Soo Ro | Won | [88][89] |
Best Challenge Award (with Let's Go, Man Soo Ro ensemble) | Won | [90] |
Year | Concert/Tour/Fan Meeting | Date/Venue | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Happy Baekho Day Busking Live | July 21/Olympic Park88 Waterside Stage | Special busking live[91] |
2019 | Baekho's Birthday Talk Live | July 18/Olympic Park 88 Waterside Stage | Special guerilla fan meeting[92] |
2020 | 2020 Baekho Mini Concert in Macau 'Baekho-liday' | January 11/ Broadway Theatre | [93][94] |
2020 Baekho Mini Concert in Bangkok 'Baekho-liday' | TBA/ MCC Hall, The Mall Bangkapi | Postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic[95] | |
2022 | Baekation | July 15-17/ Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu | Fan Meeting [96] |
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link)Baekho: Our first track is "My Heaven" ["Lost & Found"], which is the "L" of "love." The second track is "Overcome", which is the "O" of "love." The third track is "In Fact" ["VVith"], which is the "V" of "love." And the fourth track is "Bickering" ["Emotion"], which is the "E" of "love." On the last track, we added "S" and "2" to make a heart shape, so the album spells out "LOVE", and a heart.
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