SS501

SS501 01

SS501 (pronounced as Double-S 501) is a South Korean boyband under management of Daesung Entertainment, also known as DSP Entertainment. The name of the band is a combination of the alphabet and numbers that have special meanings in them. The first “S” stands for “Super”. The second “S” is an abbreviation for “Star.” The number 5,0 and 1 means `five members united as one forever.’ Their official fan club is known as “Triple S”.

SS501 debuted in 8 June 2005 with their first single “경고” (“Warning”), with a second single “Snow Prince” released in late 2005. The group was inactive in Korea for most of 2006, although they had a fan meeting in Japan in April. The hiatus was due to Heo Young Saeng’s throat condition which required surgery, thus resulting in a need for time to fully recover. In mid-2006, they held their first concert, “Step Up Concert” in Osaka, Japan. In late 2006, they returned to Korea in order to promote their first full album, which was released on November 10. Singles from the album included “Unlock” and “Four Chance”. As well as promoting the album on various variety and music shows, they also filmed a show on MNet called SOS. On their 600th day (January 28, 2007), they won the Mutizen award from SBS Inki Gayo for their song “Four Chance”.

Members

Kim Hyun Joong

Birth Name (Korean): 김현중
Hanja: 金賢重
Japanese: キム･ヒョンジュン
Birthday: June 6, 1986
Position: Leader, Rap , Vocal
Family: Parents, older brother
Past experience: MC Show Music Core, MC SBS Inki Gayo, MC Mnet Countdown.
Talents: Singing, dancing, piano, guitar, harmonica, acting
Notes: Kim Hyun Joong had been a host of MBC’s music show Show! Music Core, debuting on November 11, 2006, joining Brian from Fly to the Sky. He then left the show in order to make the group’s first debut in Japan, at the beginning of 2007. He was also part of the We Got Married cast that shows on MBC with Hwangbo. He also got cast on the Korean drama Boys Before Flowers as the role of ‘Yoon Ji Hoo’.He is the leader of SS501.

Heo Young Saeng

Birth Name (Korean): 허영생
Hanja: 許永生
Japanese: ホ･ヨンセン
Birthday: November 3, 1986 (1986-11-03) (age 22)
Position: Main high vocal
Family: Parents
Past experience: DJ for SBS’s “Youngstreet” Radio (from June to August 2006), MC Mnet Countdown.
Talents: singing, dancing, piano
Notes: Heo Young Saeng was a former trainee under SM Entertainment, he left to join DSP Entertainment. He is the leader of SS501 subgroup. Young Saeng is also close to many TVXQ and Super Junior members, notably Hero Jaejoong, Yesung, and Choi Siwon.

Kim Kyu Jong

Birth Name (Korean): 김규종
Hanja: 金圭鐘
Japanese: キム･ギュジョン
Birthday: February 24, 1987 (1987-02-24) (age 22)
Position: high low vocal
Family: Parents, younger sister
Past experience: Mnet “Drama – Break”, DJ for SBS’s “Youngstreet” Radio, MC Mnet Countdown, MC for MBC’s God of Cookery Expedition.
Talents: Singing, dancing, magic tricks
Notes: Kim Kyu Jong, along with Park Jung Min, were DJs for SBS’s “Youngstreet” radio. He is a member of SS501 sub unit.

Park Jung Min

Birth Name (Korean): 박정민
Hanja: 朴政玟
Japanese: パク・ジョンミン
Birthday: April 3, 1987 (1987-04-03) (age 22)
Position: low vocal
Family: Parents, older brother, older sister
Past experience: MTV Fresh VJ (from March to November 2003), DJ for SBS’s “Youngstreet” Radio, MC of a Korean TV Show (MBC) entitled !느낌표: 위대한 유산 74434, MC SBS Inki Gayo, MC Mnet Countdown, Musical ‘Grease’ (Main role : Danny).
Talents: Singing, dancing, acting, tap dancing
Notes: Jung Min was also a DJ for “Youngstreet” along with fellow group member Kim Kyu Jong. He was chosen as the lead actor in a musical – Grease.

Kim Hyung Joon

Birth Name (Korean): 김형준
Hanja: 金亨俊
Japanese: キム・ヒョンジュン
Birthday: August 3, 1987 (1987-08-03) (age 22)
Position: Main vocal, Rap
Family: Parents, younger brother
Past experience: Ock Joo Hyun’s (Fin.K.L) Music Video – Catch, MC Mnet Hello Chat (2006), MC Mnet ALBRARY (2008), MC Mnet Countdown.
Talents: Singing, dancing, piano, swimming
Notes: He is a member of SS501 sub unit. He has nickname magnae (youngest member) because he is the youngest member in the group. Kim Hyung Jun’s brother Kim Ki Bum (Marumir/마루미르) was in the new group Xing he then left in 2007, now he is in a new boyband named U-Kiss. Kim Hyung Jun is currently a DJ for SBS Music High (daily at 2am) and took over the MC role from member Kim Kyu Jong as the MC for MBC-Every1′s God of Cookery Expedition.