# Kim Jong-hyeon

Kim Jong-hyeon (Korean: 김종현; born June 8, 1995), formerly known by his stage name JR, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known as the leader, main dancer and main rapper of South Korean boy group NU'EST. Following his contract expiration with Pledis Entertainment in 2022, Kim signed an exclusive contract as a soloist and actor under Evermore Entertainment, debuting with the release of his first extended play Meridiem on November 8, 2022.

## Career
### Pre-debut

Jonghyeon was the first male trainee at Pledis Entertainment. He was a Pledis trainee for three years before debut. His first appearance was through Orange Caramel's "Bangkok City" music video, and was first introduced toward public in the show Hello Counselor by Kahi together with Baekho. He was featured in Uee's solo song "Sok Sok Sok". Jonghyeon also served as a back up dancer for After School Blue's "Wonder Boy" music video and live performances, together with NU'EST members and Seventeen's S.Coups. In December 2011, Kim and the other Pledis trainees dubbed as After School Boys performed together with After School on SBS Gayo Daejeon.

### 2012–2022: NU'EST

On March 15, 2012, Kim debuted as the main rapper, main dancer and leader of the South Korean boy group NU'EST.
Kim participated in the reality television series Produce 101 Season 2 during the first half of 2017 and he ranked 14th. Following the conclusion of Produce 101 Season 2, Kim became a model for the cosmetics company Labiotte. He also joined the JTBC variety show Night Goblin as a fixed cast member and the tvN music show Shadow Singer [ko] as a panelist.
On June 27, 2018, Kim was confirmed as a member of Mnet's new romance reality show Love Catcher [ko]. He joined the celebrity-studded cast alongside four others, including Shin Dong-yup and Hong Seok-cheon.
In 2019 Kim became the brand ambassador of beauty brand Origins for South Korea. On April 13, 2020, he renewed his contract with the brand.
In April 2021 Kim was cast in the role of Lee Shin in the SBS musical drama Let Me Be Your Knight. On the same month, he became the main host of the Naver NOW audio show "Royal Comics".
It was announced on February 28, 2022, that NU'EST's exclusive contract with Pledis Entertainment will expire on March 14, 2022, and Kim (alongside members Aron and Ren) will leave the agency, therefore concluding their 10-year career as a group.

### 2022–present: Solo activities

In May 2022 Kim signed a contract with Evermore Entertainment as a solo artist and actor.
In June 2022 Kim held his first fan meeting, Hi! (하이!) on July 2, 2022, at the Jamsil Student Gymnasium. After the event, Kim also held hi-touch session with approximately 3,500 audience.
In September 2022 it was announced that JR debuted with his first solo album. It was released on November 8. In October 2022, it was announced that Kim would release his first mini album "Meridiem" on November 8. On October 31, the agency announced that the album release schedule has been postponed. A new date will be announced at a later date due to the Seoul Halloween crowd crush event.
On December 28, 2023, Evermore announced that Kim would released his second EP Brilliant Seasons on January 3, 2024. In addition, he would also reveal the EP details and perform the tracks before its release during the "Sparkling Eternity" fan concert on December 29 to 30, 2023.

## Personal life
### Military service

On August 18, 2024, Kim held a live broadcast announcing that he would have to fulfill his military mandatory service as an active duty soldier on September 23.

## Discography
### Extended plays

List of extended plays, showing selected details, selected chart positions, and sales figures :
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | Sales |
| Meridiem | Released: November 8, 2022 Label: Evermore Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Intro (Into the Light)" "Blaze" "Lights" "décalcomanie" (반가워) (feat. MRCH) "Creator" "to.(&U)" | 7 | KOR: 46,500 |
| Brilliant Seasons | Released: January 3, 2024 Label: Evermore Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 14 | KOR: 25,318 |

### Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released, sales, and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| As lead artist |||||
| "Daybreak" (with Minhyun) | 2016 | 91 | KOR: 25,874 | Canvas |
| "Lights" | 2022 | — | — | Meridiem |
| "Motto" | 2024 | — | — | Brilliant Seasons |
| As featured artist |||||
| "Ssok Ssok Ssok" (쏙쏙쏙) (Uee featuring Jonghyeon) | 2011 | 64 | KOR: 240,196 | Non-album promotional single |
| Soundtrack appearances |||||
| "Star" | 2023 | — | — | Sound Candy OST Part 1 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |||||

### Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released, sales, and album name :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales | Album |
| Album ||
| Title | Year | Circle | Hot | Sales | Album |
| "With" | 2017 | 33 | 11 | KOR: 41,395 | W, Here |
| "I Hate You" | 2018 | — | — | — | Wake, N |
| "Doom Doom" | 2021 | — | — | — | Romanticize |
| "Summer Drive" (Yoon Ji-sung featuring Jonghyeon) | 2022 | — | — | — | Miro |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region. ||||||

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2016 | Their Distance | Ji-woo | Japanese film | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2015 | Lonely Gourmet: Taipei | Zhang Huai Shan / Zhang Si Nan | Special appearance | |
| 2021–2022 | Let Me Be Your Knight | Lee Shin | | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2023 | Sound Candy | Kang Hae-sung |
| 2023 | It Was Spring | Kim Bom |
| 2024 | My Friend's Graduation Ceremony | Kim Min-goo |

### Television shows

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Produce 101 Season 2 | Contestant | Finished at 14th place |
| 2017 | Night Goblin | Cast member | |
| 2017 | Shadow Singer | Panelist | |
| 2017 | Master Key | Participant | Episode 4, 6, 8, 11, 13 |
| 2018 | Law of the Jungle in Patagonia | Cast member | Episode 302–305 |
| 2018 | Inkigayo | Special MC | Episode 943 |
| 2018 | For The First Time in My Life | Participant | Episode 9–12 |
| 2018 | M Countdown | Special MC | Episode 576 |
| 2018 | Looking for Trouble Season 2: Paradise | Cast member | 12 episodes |
| 2018 | Battle Trip | MC, Participant | Episode 98–99 (MC); 109 (participant) |
| 2018 | Two Yoo Project: Sugar Man Season 2 | Show Man | Episode 1 |
| 2018 | King of Mask Singer | Panelist | Episode 169–170 |
| 2018 | Happy Together Season 4 | Special MC | Episode 559 / Season 4 Episode 2 |
| 2018 | Love Catcher | Panelist | |
| 2018 | LAN Life | MC | |
| 2018 | Not the Same Person You Used to Know | MC | Episode 1; 3–6 |
| 2019 | Inkigayo | Special MC | Episode 1001 |
| 2019 | UHSN | MC | 9 episodes |
| 2020 | We Play Season 2 | Cast member | |
| 2020 | Stars' Top Recipe at Fun-Staurant | Special MC | Episode 30–33 |
| 2020 | Super Idol League Season 12 | Cast member | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | There Is No House for Us in Seoul | Special MC | Episode 20–21, 25 |
| 2022 | Surfer Junior | Cast member | |

### Radio

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2021 | Royal Comics | DJ / Host | April 15, 2021 – July 15, 2021 |

## 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 | Ref. |
| Korea First Brand Awards | 2019 | Male Idol Variety Star | Kim Jong-hyeon (JR) | Won | |
| The Fact Music Awards | 2018 | Fan N Star Hall of Fame Award | Kim Jong-hyeon (JR) | Won | |