Biography
Who is Key?
Early life and education
Key was born on September 23, 1991, in Daegu, South Korea. He grew up as an only child and was primarily raised by his grandmother. His mother worked as a nurse and his father served as a financial investment advisor. Although his parents hoped he would pursue a career in medicine, he secretly studied dance and music during his school years.
In 2005, he auditioned for SM Entertainment without his parents' knowledge. After being accepted as a trainee, he began commuting by train to Seoul every weekend for training before returning home to Daegu. His parents eventually supported his career choice after realizing his dedication to the field.
Music career with Shinee and Toheart
In May 2008, he debuted as a member of the boy band Shinee. The group released their first extended play, Replay, later that month. He also collaborated with labelmate Xiah on the song Xiahtic in 2009 and featured on tracks for TRAX and Girls' Generation. In 2014, he partnered with Woohyun of Infinite to form the musical duo Toheart, which received the Popularity Award at the 29th Golden Disc Awards.
As a soloist, he debuted in November 2018 with the digital single Forever Yours and the studio album Face. His solo discography has expanded with several well-known releases including the 2021 album Bad Love, the 2022 project Gasoline, and the 2023 release Good & Great. His musical output continued with Pleasure Shop in 2024 and Hunter in 2025. He also contributed to songwriting for Shinee and his own solo projects.
Acting and variety television
His theatrical debut occurred in 2012 when he played Frank Abagnale Jr. In the Korean production of Catch Me If You Can. He subsequently performed in various musicals, such as Bonnie & Clyde, Zorro, Chess, and In the Heights. He also starred in a stage play version of Save the Green Planet! As the character Byeong-gu.
He transitioned into television acting with the 2016 tvN drama Drinking Solo. In 2017, he portrayed the character Gong Kyung-soo in the MBC series The Guardians, earning the Best New Actor Award at the Grimae Awards. His work as a television personality gained significant attention through his roles on programs like DoReMi Market and I Live Alone. He received an Excellence Award from the MBC Entertainment Awards for his variety show performances.
Fashion design and concert work
Starting in 2015, he became increasingly involved in fashion design projects. He designed stage outfits for Shinee concerts and collaborated with model Irene Kim and the fashion brand Charm's to create apparel. Due to the success of these endeavors, he was appointed as the fashion director for the group.
He has maintained a busy schedule involving live performances and fashion projects. He held his first solo concert series, The Agit: Key Land, in Seoul in 2019 following the release of his Japanese EP Hologram. He also hosted live shows in Kobe and Yokohama to support his solo music releases.
Birthday and age
Key was born on September 23, 1991, which makes Key 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Key shares the date with 61 other famous people.
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