Biography
Who is Yunho?
Early life and training
Yunho: Born in Gwangju, South Korea, he was raised with a younger sister. During his middle school years, he formed a dance team called A+ and competed across the nation. His childhood ambition was to pursue a career in the legal field, following in the footsteps of several family members.
After winning a prize at the 1st Annual SM Best Competition in 1999, he signed with SM Entertainment. He officially began his training in 2001. His family initially opposed his musical path due to the financial hardships they faced during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. To support himself while training in Seoul, he worked part-time jobs, including snow removal and waitressing, often spending his school vacations training in the city.
Rise with TVXQ
He joined the pop group TVXQ in 2003 as the band leader. Alongside members Max Changmin, Jaejoong, Park Yoo-chun, and Kim Jun-su, the group debuted on December 26, 2003, with the single Hug. The group became a major force in Asia, achieving success with Korean albums such as Rising Sun and Mirotic. The latter project won Album of the Year at both the 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival and the Golden Disc Awards.
In 2005, the group expanded into the Japanese market with the single Stay with Me Tonight. They later achieved significant commercial milestones in Japan with hits like Purple Line and platinum-selling tracks such as Share the World. Following the departure of three members in 2010, he continued as a duo with Max Changmin. As a duo, they set various sales and concert attendance records, becoming a top-selling foreign music act in Japan.
Solo music and acting projects
His solo music path began in earnest with the Japanese extended play U Know Y, released in 2015. He later released several Korean solo projects, including the extended plays True Colors, Noir, and Reality Show, as well as the studio album I-KNOW. He also released the single album Time's Tickin in 2026.
Beyond music, he pursued an acting career starting with cameos in series like Nonstop 4. He made his official acting debut in 2009 with the romantic comedy Heading to the Ground. Other well-known television roles include the melodrama King of Ambition, for which he received a People's Choice award, and the historical action drama Diary of a Night Watchman. In 2023, he returned to television in the corporate series Race, playing the role of CEO Seo Dong-hoon.
Philanthropy and personal challenges
He has been involved in charitable efforts, including a 50 million won donation to the Community Chest of Korea in 2022 to assist victims of wildfires in Uljin and Samcheok. In 2014, he was named an honorary ambassador for the National Assembly Library.
Throughout his career, he faced various personal challenges. In 2006, he was hospitalized after consuming a beverage tainted with super glue provided by an anti-fan, though he requested that no charges be filed against the individual. Also, in 2021, he faced legal scrutiny for violating COVID-19 curfew restrictions at a bar in Gangnam, for which he was later cleared of criminal charges and paid a fine.
Birthday and age
Yunho was born on February 6, 1986, which makes Yunho 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Yunho shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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