# Son Dam-bi

Son Dam-bi (Korean: 손담비; born September 25, 1983) is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer. She began her career as a solo singer in 2007. She also made her acting debut in the 2009 Korean drama Dream.

## Career

Son first came to fame when she appeared in a commercial for an MP3 player alongside Poppin' Hyun Joon.
Prior to her debut, MSN Japan made a video documentary capturing her pre-debut training and rehearsals, which attracted 480,000 visitors in five days. Son trained with a well-known American choreographer in preparation for this album, and people began calling her the female version of Rain.
Son's debut single features five tracks that show off her vocal and dancing talents. Her debut single, "Cry Eye", was produced and composed by Jang Joon-ho, who previously wrote MC Mong's "180 Degrees" and Jang Woo-hyuk's "Last Game". The lyrics were written by Brian Kim, who also penned Shinhwa's Once in A Lifetime.
Son joined MBC's reality show We Got Married, being paired with Marco in late 2008 as part of the second group of couples. Their last episode was on February 2, 2009.
It was also announced that Son would be part of the cast for Hype Nation, a film that has been labelled a "world movie". However, as the movie was delayed, Son released an EL with the single "Toyoil Bamae" ("토요일 밤에", "On a Saturday Night"). The song became her first #1 hit, topping various on- and offline charts, including M! Countdown (within 20 days), two wins on KBS' Music Bank, and a three-week chart-topping run on SBS' Inkigayo. The songs' routine features Son in various 80's fashions, transforming her into a "retro fashionista".
She then starred in SBS drama Dream with Joo Jin-mo and Kim Bum, marking her debut as an actress. As a result of her portrayal in Dream, as the Taebo instructor Park So-yeon, it won her the SBS Drama Awards New Star Award.

### Return to South Korea

After training in the United States after "Cry Eye", Son returned to Korea and released an EP, Mini Album Vol.1, with a focus on electronica (departing from her previous style of crunk pop) on April 29, 2008. The lead single, titled "Bad Boy", was produced by Brave Brothers. Kahi (former leader of After School and Pledis labelmate) was her dance teacher and was featured in the "Bad Boy" music video.
In September 2008, she returned with the single "미쳤어" ("Crazy"). The song featured a "chair dance" that has become popular with the Korean public; it has since been upgraded to a "sofa dance". The dance has been copied and parodied by many people, including Hyun Young, Infinity Challenge comedy team member No Hongchul, comedian Shin Bong-sun, and Lee Soo-young.
Her follow-up song in 2009, "Toyoilbamae" (Korean: "토요일밤에", "On a Saturday Night"), was a success. She then released her next EP, The Queen.

### 2011–present: "Lights and Shadows" and "Dripping Tears" comeback

Starting in 2011, Son starred in a drama called Lights and Shadows. It was first broadcast on November 28, 2011. She finished filming in June 2012, with the drama concluding on July 3, 2012. She also released an OST for the drama called "Everything" on January 10, 2012.
It was confirmed by Pledis Entertainment that Son would make a comeback in Korea sometime in the summer. Eventually, a representative from Pledis Entertainment stated that Son had finished recording her album and was in the midst of shooting photos for the album jacket. The album was pushed back before eventually being released on November 12, 2012. The lead single, "Dripping Tears", was produced by Brave Brothers. The album contained six songs, including the title track of the same name and a 'G. Remix version' of "Dripping Tears." The music video of "Dripping Tears" was released a day after the album. She first performed the song on November 15, on M Countdown.
Son's contract with Pledis Entertainment ended in June 2015. It was soon announced that Son had signed with KeyEast for her future activities.
In 2019, she starred in the romantic comedy thriller When the Camellia Blooms.
In September 2020, Son signed with new agency H& Entertainment after leaving KeyEast. In August 2022, Son renewed her contract with H& Entertainment.

## Personal life

Son married former South Korean national speed skater Lee Kyou-hyuk on May 13, 2022 in a private ceremony. Their romantic relationship started in September 2021. On September 26, 2024, Son announced her pregnancy.

## Discography
### Studio albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Type B | Released: March 23, 2009 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: CD, digital download | — | — |

### Compilation albums

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Son Dam Bi Remix Vol. 1 | Released: November 20, 2008 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: Digital download | — | — |

### Extended plays

| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Album details | KOR | Sales |
| Cry Eye | Released: June 21, 2007 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: CD Track list Cry Eye Girl Like That (feat. ED & Hwa Young Song) Alone Start (feat. David Kim) Cry Eye (Inst.) | 31 | KOR: 1,185+ |
| Mini Album Vol. 1 | Released: April 29, 2008 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: CD, digital download Track list Intro Bad Boy (featuring Kahi) 반대말 (Opposite) 입다 질린 옷 (The Clothes I'm Sick Of Wearing) 그만하자 (Forget It) Bad Boy (Ballad Version) Bad Boy (Instrumental) | 20 | — |
| The Second Mini Album | Released: September 18, 2008 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: CD, digital download Track list 미쳤어 (Crazy) (Feat. Eric) 투명인간 (Invisible Person) No Sympathy PLAY 미쳤어 (Crazy) (Instrumental) | 11 | — |
| The Queen | Released: July 8, 2010 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: CD, digital download | 3 | — |
| Dripping Tears | Released: November 12, 2012 Label: Pledis Entertainment Format: CD, digital download | 3 | — |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| "Cry Eye" | 2007 | No data | | Cry Eye |
| "Bad Boy" (feat. Kahi) | 2008 | No data | | Mini Album Vol. 1 |
| "Invisible Person" (투명인간) | 2008 | No data | | The Second Mini Album |
| "Crazy" (미쳤어) (feat. Eric Mun) | 2008 | No data | | The Second Mini Album |
| "On A Saturday Night" (토요일밤에) | 2009 | No data | | Type B |
| "Amoled" (feat. After School) | 2009 | No data | | Non-album single |
| "Can't U See" | 2010 | 12 | KOR: 1,184,735 | The Queen |
| "Queen" | 2010 | 3 | KOR: 966,919 | The Queen |
| "dB Rider" (New version) | 2010 | 70 | | Non-album singles |
| "One Kiss" (with FPM) | 2011 | 64 | | Non-album singles |
| "Love Letter" (with After School) | 2011 | 37 | KOR: 276,337 | Happy Pledis 2012 |
| "Dripping Tears" (눈물이 주르륵) | 2012 | 10 | KOR: 666,741 | Dripping Tears |
| "Red Candle" | 2013 | 26 | KOR: 46,049 | Non-album single |

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
| 2018 | The Accidental Detective 2: In Action | Yoon Sa-hee | |
| 2018 | Too Hot To Die | Rose of Betrayal | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2009 | Dream | Park So-yeon |
| 2011–2012 | Lights and Shadows | Yoo Chae-young |
| 2014 | What Happens to My Family? | Kwon Hyo-jin |
| 2016 | Mrs. Cop 2 | Shin Yeo-ok |
| 2019 | When the Camellia Blooms | Choi Hyang-mi / Choi Go-woon |

### Television show

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008–2009 | We Got Married | Cast Member | with Marco |
| 2018–2019 | Village Survival, the Eight | Cast Member | Season 1–2 |
| 2019 | Try It | Cast Member | |
| 2020–2021 | I Live Alone | Cast Member | |
| 2021 | Sister Shoots | Host | |
| 2022 | Same Bed, Different Dreams 2: You Are My Destiny | Cast Member | |
| 2022 | Scance, not Hocance | Host | |

## Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
| APAN Star Awards | 2021 | Best Supporting Actress | When the Camellia Blooms | Nominated |
| Asia Model Awards | 2011 | BBF Popular Singer | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Asia Model Awards | 2020 | Popularity Award in Female Actor Category | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2020 | Best Supporting Actress – Television | When the Camellia Blooms | Nominated |
| Brand of the Year Awards | 2020 | Multi Entertainer Female of the Year | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Chinese TOP Awards Concert | 2011 | Foreign Artist with the Best Stage Presence | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Golden Disk Awards | 2009 | Digital Bonsang | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2014 | Best Supporting Actress | What Happens to My Family? | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | Best New Actress | When the Camellia Blooms | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | Netizen Award, Actress | When the Camellia Blooms | Nominated |
| Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards | 2012 | Best New Actress | Lights and Shadows | Won |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2012 | Excellence Award, Actress | Lights and Shadows | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2012 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Project Drama | Lights and Shadows | Won |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2020 | Best Couple Award with Sung Hoon | I Live Alone | Nominated |
| MBC Entertainment Awards | 2020 | Excellence Award in Variety Category – Female | I Live Alone | Won |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2009 | Best Female Artist | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2009 | Best House & Electronic | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2010 | Best Female Artist | "Queen" | Nominated |
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2009 | Hot Body Female | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2009 | Hot Style Icon | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |
| Mnet 20's Choice Awards | 2009 | Hot Performance | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2009 | New Star Award | Dream | Won |
| SBS Drama Awards | 2016 | Excellence Award, Actress in a Genre Drama | Mrs. Cop 2 | Nominated |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2009 | Bonsang | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2010 | Bonsang | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2011 | Bonsang | Son Dam-bi | Won |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2013 | Bonsang | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2013 | Popularity Award | Son Dam-bi | Nominated |