# L (entertainer)

Kim Myung-soo (Korean: 김명수; born March 13, 1992), also known professionally as L (Korean: 엘), is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a vocalist of boy band Infinite in 2010 and its sub-group Infinite F in 2014.

## Early life

Kim Myungsoo was born on March 13, 1992, in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. He has a brother, Kim Moon-soo, who is two years younger than him. Kim attended Duk-soo High School and graduated from Daekyung University on February 15, 2013, majoring in practical music.

## Career
### 2010–2016: Music and acting career

As a high school student, L auditioned for Woollim Entertainment after being street cast for his good looks. He was selected as the first member of idol group Infinite. He made his debut as a vocalist of the boy group in June 2010. In 2011, he made his acting debut in Japanese drama Jiu Keishicho Tokushuhan Sousagakari, which aired on TV Asahi in July. In 2012, he was cast in tvN's romance comedy series Flower Band, as a guitarist of a rock group. He was also cast in MBC's sitcom What's The Deal, Mom?
On May 15, 2013, L released a photo essay book titled L's Bravo Viewtiful, showing photos taken by him on a 93-day journey. The book was a best-seller, and reached No. 1 in pre-orders on online bookstores such as Yes24 [ko] and Kyobo. In August 2013, he had a cameo in SBS's Master's Sun, playing the younger version of So Ji-sub's character.
In 2014, he was cast in supporting roles in MBC's Cunning Single Lady and SBS's My Lovely Girl.
With bandmates Sungyeol and Sungjong he comprised the subgroup Infinite F, which released a single album, Koi No Sign, in Japan on November 19, 2014, and a Korean album, Love Sign, in December 2014.
In 2015, he was cast in his first film Mister Shark, about a boy who befriends a shark.
In 2016, L was cast in the Korean-Chinese web drama My Catman. He also starred in the drama special The Day After We Broke Up, which was his first lead role.

### 2017–2023: Rising popularity and military enlistment

In 2017, L starred in MBC's historical drama The Emperor: Owner of the Mask. His portrayal of a commoner who stands in for the king earned viewers' approval, and he was named Actor of the Month in June by MBC Dramanet.
In 2018, L starred in the legal drama Ms. Hammurabi portraying a judge. His performance in the series was well-received, earning him increased recognition.
In 2019, L starred in the fantasy romance drama Angel's Last Mission: Love. In August 2019, L left Woollim.
In 2020, L starred in the fantasy romance drama Welcome as a cat who turns into a human male. In December 2020, L starred in historical comedy Royal Secret Agent.
Before his enlistment, he released his debut single album Memory on February 3. He also held an online fan meeting on February 20. While serving his military enlistment, it was announced on September 25, 2021, that L will make his musical theatre debut in the military musical Meisa's Song alongside EXO's Chanyeol, B.A.P.'s Daehyun and actor Moon Yong-suk.
On March 7, 2023, L signed a contract with Look Media.

### 2024–present: Projects and activities in the Philippines

On November 12, 2024, L has signed a contract with Universal Records Philippines and GLXY Talent Management. A day after, he also made an appearance on a Filipino television variety show.

## Personal life
### Military enlistment

On February 22, 2021, L enlisted for his mandatory military service as a member of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps. L was discharged on August 21, 2022. Later, on August 22, 2022, L posted on Instagram that he was discharged from military service.

## Discography
### Extended plays

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | Sales |
| 24/7 | Released: August 5, 2024 Label: Lookmedia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 7 | KOR: 50,042 |

### Single albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | Sales |
| Memory | Released: February 3, 2021 Label: Management 2sang, Universal Music Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 5 | KOR: 18,844 |

### Singles

| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Sales | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR | Sales | Album |
| As lead artist |||||
| "It's All For You" | 2013 | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Reminisce" | 2018 | — | — | Top Seed |
| "Memory" (기억과 기억 사이) | 2021 | — | — | Memory |
| "What’s Not To Love" | 2024 | — | — | 24/7 |
| Soundtrack appearances |||||
| "Love U Like U" (with Kim Yerim) | 2012 | 27 | KOR: 233,449 | Flower Band OST |
| "It's Okay Even If It's Not Me" (내가 아니어도 좋아) | 2017 | — | — | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask OST |
| "The Nights That I Miss You" (널 그리는 밤) | 2019 | — | — | Angel's Last Mission: Love OST |
| Compilation |||||
| "Go Get Her" (그녀를 잡아요) (with Park Jae-jung) | 2016 | — | — | King of Mask Singer Ep. 63 |
| "In the Rain" (빗속에서) | 2016 | — | — | King of Mask Singer Ep. 63 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |||||

### Songwriting and producing credits

| Year | Album | Artist | Song | Lyrics | Lyrics | Music | Music |
| Year | Album | Artist | Song | Credited | With | Credited | With |
| 2013 | Non-album single | L | "It's All For You" | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 2018 | Top Seed | L | "Reminisce" | Yes | Jeong Min-ji | No | — |

## Filmography
### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | Jiu | Jiu | Japanese drama |
| 2011 | Welcome to the Wara Store | Himself | Voice only |
| 2012 | Flower Band | Lee Hyun-soo | |
| 2012 | Salamander Guru and The Shadows | Himself | Cameo, (Episode 3) |
| 2012 | What is Mom? | Kim Myung-soo | |
| 2013 | Master's Sun | Joo Joong-won (young) | |
| 2014 | Cunning Single Lady | Gil Yo-han | |
| 2014 | My Lovely Girl | Shi-woo | |
| 2015 | The Time We Were Not in Love | Ki Sung-jae | Cameo (Episode 2–4) |
| 2016 | One More Time | Yoo Tan | Drama special |
| 2017 | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Lee Sun | |
| 2018 | Ms. Hammurabi | Im Ba-reun | |
| 2019 | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Kim Dan | |
| 2020 | Welcome | Hong-jo | |
| 2020–2021 | Royal Secret Agent | Sung Yi-gyum | |
| 2023 | Numbers | Jang Ho-woo | |
| 2024 | Perfect Family | Lee Seong-woo | Cameo |
| 2024 | Dare to Love Me | Shin Yoon-bok | |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2016 | My Catman | Jung Ho-yeon | Korean-Chinese web drama | |

### Hosting

| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
| 2022 | 2022 Changwon K-POP World Festival | with AleXa and Sua (Billlie) | |

## Theater

| Year | English title | Korean title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2021 | The Meisa's Song | 메이사의 노래 | Yeon Jun-seok | Military musical | |

## Publication
### Photobook

| Year | Title | Publisher | Ref. |
| 2013 | L's Bravo Viewtiful | Tokyo | |
| 2013 | L's Bravo Viewtiful Part. 2 | Tokyo | |

## 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 | 2018 | Best New Actor | Ms. Hammurabi | Nominated |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2018 | Best Icon | L | Won |
| Asia Model Award | 2019 | Popular Star (Actor) | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | Best New Actor | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | Netizen Award, actor | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | K-Drama Hallyu Star | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2019 | Best Couple Award | Kim Myung-soo with Shin Hye-sun Angel's Last Mission: Love | Won |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2020 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Welcome | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2021 | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Royal Secret Agent | Nominated |
| KBS Drama Awards | 2021 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Royal Secret Agent | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2013 | Best Young Actor | Master's Sun | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2019 | Best New Actor | Angel's Last Mission: Love | Nominated |
| Korea Drama Awards | 2022 | Global Star Award | Royal Secret Agent | Won |
| Korea First Brand Awards | 2017 | Male Acting Idol | L | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2017 | Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2017 | Best New Actor | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Nominated |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2017 | Popularity Award, actor | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2017 | Best Character Award, Fighting Spirit Acting | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Won |
| MBC Drama Awards | 2023 | Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries | Numbers | Nominated |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2021 | Outstanding Korean Actor | Royal Secret Agent | Nominated |
| Seoul Webfest Awards | 2017 | Best Rising Star | My Catman | Nominated |
| Seoul Webfest Awards | 2017 | Special Award | My Catman | Won |
| Soompi Awards | 2018 | Best Idol Actor | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Nominated |
| The Seoul Awards | 2017 | Popularity Award, actor | The Emperor: Owner of the Mask | Nominated |