# Wheesung

Choi Whee-sung (Korean: 최휘성; February 5, 1982 – c. March 10, 2025), known professionally as Wheesung or by the stage name Realslow, was a South Korean R&B singer, record producer and musical theatre actor.

## Career
### 1982: Early life and education

Wheesung was born on February 5, 1982. He was an avid dancer in high school, where he was part of a rock band. He began singing in his senior year.
He initially attended the Sun Moon University, under the journalism major but dropped out. Wheesung subsequently attended the Gukje Digital University and Kyung Hee University's Graduate School of Communication.

### 1997–1999: Dance Team and Group Debut

He started his career in 1997 as a member of a back dancing team ING. Wheesung began his career in 1999 with the short lived Korean boy group, A4. He left after the band's first album debut, citing musical differences between himself and the other members of the band. After that, he joined a rock band, MAME, as vocalist for a short while. He also participated in the MBC College Music Festival (MBC 강변가요제) in 2000.

### 2000–2006: Solo debut and YG Entertainment

In 2000, he signed onto M Boat, a former sister company to YG Entertainment. He underwent a few years of vocal training under the label and released his first solo album Like A Movie in 2002. The album became very popular after receiving praise from many well-known artists, including Seo Taiji and Shin Seung Hun. In 2003, he released his second album, It's Real. It proved to be as popular as his first, making him the best selling artist of 2003 in Korea. Unlike his debut album, It's Real wasn't restricted to R&B and it included different musical elements like pop and hip-hop.

### 2006–2009: Orange Shock Agency

Wheesung left YG Entertainment after his contract expired in March 2006. He signed a new contract that was reportedly worth 1.5 billion won with his new company Orange Shock Agency.
Wheesung collaborated with many artists. In late 2008, Wheesung collaborated once again with Lee Hyori, who featured as his girlfriend in his music video of "별이 지다.." (Fading Star) from the "With All My Heart and Soul" album. In 2009, Wheesung planned to collaborate with producer Lee Hyun-do to produce a new album, with a release date being set for August 2009.

### 2009–2011: POP/UP Entertainment

In April 2009, Wheesung was announced as the MC of a new Mnet TV show called "Pre Star-1 Show". The show gave opportunities for new talented singers to introduce themselves, a platform for them to reach out to more fans. Every month about nine or ten teams will be introduced on Mnet.com and the team which receives most response from the netizens will be chosen onto the show. The chosen team/singer will also be given the chance to perform with popular stars. Wheesung's 'Pre-Show 1 Show' started airing on April 24 on Mnet Cable Channel.
Wheesung had participated in several Kpop concerts in Los Angeles, California, including the Hollywood Bowl, and the Victory Concert. On June 19, 2009, Wheesung and Lena Park held a concert in Los Angeles Disney Concert Hall. After the concert, Wheesung planned to stay in Los Angeles for a month to work on his new album with producer Lee Hyun-do. The new album will go back to the r&b/hiphop style similar to "With Me" and "Incurable Disease". On June 27 and July 4, Wheesung performed at "Insomnia Concert" and club Le Cercle in LA. On July 11, he performed at the HALO nightclub in Hollywood.
In June 2009, Wheesung changed his label again from Orange Shock to POP/UP Entertainment, which houses stars like JK Kim Dong Wook and group M to M.

### 2011–2016: YMC Entertainment

In 2011, he transferred to Tae Jin Ah's YMC Entertainment. Soon after joining YMC Entertainment, he recruited female singer Ailee.

### 2017–2025: Realslow Company, new stage name and final projects

In 2017, Wheesung parted ways with YMC Entertainment after his contract with the agency came to an end. He set up an independent label called Realslow Company, and announced that he will now be promoting under the stage name Realslow.
Realslow was a stage name used by Wheesung when he was an underground singer. Wheesung gained attention in the early 2000s as an underground musician before he debuted in 2002. The name references his love and passion for R&B music, which still struggles to have much popularity in Korea. Through this new name and label, Wheesung aims to return to his roots and produce some soulful R&B music.

## Personal life

On November 7, 2011, he enlisted for mandatory military service. He served 21 months of active service after completing five-week of basic training course at a boot camp in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province.
On July 11, 2012, Wheesung was granted a 9 nights, 10 days temporary leave from the army to undergo surgery for a herniated disc as well as other medical conditions such as bilateral shoulders dislocation, psoriasis and alopecia.
In August 9, 2013, Wheesung was discharged from the military.

### Drug use

In 2013, the singer was accused of using propofol from 2011 to early 2013 in various places including dermatology clinics in Gangnam, Seoul. Wheesung claimed he used it to treat a herniated disk and hair loss. The court later cleared him of the allegations.
On March 31, 2020, Wheesung was found passed out in a bathroom of a shopping mall in Seoul after using Etomidate. A black bag containing four syringes and five white vials were found lying next to him. Not being classified as a narcotic in South Korea, police released him but confiscated the items of the black bag. On the same day, the man who sold drugs to Wheesung without a doctor's prescription was arrested after a CCTV analysis of Wheesung's trail prior to his discovery unconscious in the bathroom.
On April 2, 2020, Wheesung was found again collapsed in a bathroom of a hotel in Gwangjin District, Seoul, with a syringe and a glass bottle containing Etomidate. Although released, a hair and urine test analysis was performed.
In April 2020, ex-TV personality Amy revealed she and a celebrity friend, later confirmed to be Wheesung, partook in recreational propofol use. While investigating a tip, the police had come to suspect Wheesung of purchasing propofol and sent his case to the prosecution with a recommendation of indictment. Later, Wheesung was charged for propofol use several times in December 2019.
At the first trial on January 19, 2021, prosecutors at the Daegu District Court sought a three year prison sentence. Wheesung pleaded guilty and received a sentence of one year in prison, probation for two years, 40 hours of community service, and 40 hours of drug treatment lectures.

## Death

On March 10, 2025, Wheesung was found dead at his home in the Gwangjin District of Seoul, at the age of 43. Police said that there was no sign of foul play. Initial findings from an autopsy said the cause of death is "unknown." Wheesung was buried on March 16.

## Discography
### Studio albums

* Like a Movie (2002)
* It's Real (2003)
* For the Moment (2004)
* Love... Love...? Love...! (2005)
* Eternal Essence of Music (2007)
* Vocolate (2009)

### Mini albums

* With All My Heart and Soul (2008)
* They Are Coming (2011)
* The Best Man (2014)
* Transformation (2016)
* In Space (2018)

## Filmography
### Musicals

* 2014: Zorro as Zorro
* 2016: All Shook Up as Elvis
* 2017–2018: All Shook Up as Elvis

### Variety shows

* 2009: Mnet & tvN, Wheesung's Pre Star 1Show, MC
* 2017–2018: tvN, My English Puberty, (나의영어 사춘기), E1-E8
* 2018: Channel A, Galaxy, (우주를줄게), E1-10
* 2018: Mnet & tvN, The Call, E1-5、8
* 2018: tvN, A Battle of One Voice: 300, (하나의 목소리 전쟁: 300), E3、5
* 2018: MBC plus, New Music God (창작의신)
* 2018: TV Chosun, Neighbour Album (동네앨범)

## Concerts

| Year | Name | |
| 2003 | Wheesung It's Real Movement | |
| 2004 | Wheesung It's Real Movement II | |
| 2004 | Wheesung Theater Concert Like his Diary | |
| 2004 | 솔트레인 2004 Concert | Gummy SE7EN BIGMAMA |
| 2004 | 2004 JTN Live Concert 4th Wheesung & Gummy | Gummy |
| 2005 | Good Friends Concert | Gummy SE7EN BIGMAMA |
| 2005 | 2005 4Color Story Concert | Kim Jang-hoon Fly to the Sky M To M |
| 2006 | Wheesung Concert Poison | |
| 2006 | Love Love Love Wheesung Birthday | |
| 2006 | BIG4 Concert | FT Island M To M SG Wannabe |
| 2007 | 2007 Whee Show Welcome to Realslow World | |
| 2007 | 26th Happy Whee's day | |
| 2007 | BIG4 Concert | SG Wannabe Vibe SeeYa |
| 2008 | 2008 Whee Show | |
| 2008 | Happy Whee's Day Birthday Party | |
| 2008 | 2008 JTN Live Concert 9th Wheesung & MC THE MAX | MC THE MAX |
| 2008 | 2008 The Soul Concert | Gummy Park Hyo Shin Jung Yup |
| 2009 | 2009 Wheesung Concert The Man | |
| 2009 | 2009 The Soul The Vocalist Concert | Bobby Kim Kim Bum Soo |
| 2009 | 2009 Dream Concert | |
| 2010 | Wheesung Real Slow is Back Concert | |
| 2010 | 2010 The Soul The Vocalist Concert | Bobby Kim Gummy |
| 2010 | The Great Moment Season 1 | Leessang Jeong In Gummy Lee Young Hyun |
| 2010 | 2010 JTN Live Concert 7 | |
| 2011 | Wheesung & Kim Tae Woo 2011 Two Men Show Soul Twins & Encore | Kim Tae Woo |
| 2011 | Wheesung & Kim Tae Woo 2011 Two Men Show Soul Twins Encore | Kim Tae Woo |
| 2013 | Wheesung & Gummy Do It Live Tour Concert | Gummy |
| 2014 | Wheesung Live Tour Concert 2014 Whee Show | |
| 2014 | 2014 JTN Live Concert 3月 | |
| 2014 | 2014 Valentine's Day Kiss Concert | Gummy |
| 2014 | 2014 Someday Concert 3rd | Ailee |
| 2014 | 2014 Someday Concert 4th | Shin Yong Jae |
| 2014 | The Voice Concert | Ailee Kim Bum Soo Shin Yong Jae Yoon Jong Shin |
| 2014 | JTBC Hidden Singer Concert | |
| 2015 | Wheesung Live Tour Concert 2015 Whee Show | |
| 2015 | 2015 Wheesung & Ailee Concert Back to School | Ailee |
| 2015 | Wheesung & Gummy US Soulmate Concert | Gummy |
| 2015 | Legend Concert Wheesung | |
| 2015 | 2015 The Plaza Countdown Party | |
| 2015 | Someday Festival 2015 | |
| 2016 | 2016 Wheesung Live Concert On Air | |
| 2016 | WHEESUNG CONCERT in TOKYO 2016 | |
| 2016 | Seong Nam Concert with Wheesung | |
| 2016 | Wheesung & K.Will Bromance Show | K.Will |
| 2016 | Wheesung & Yoon Min-soo Concert | Yoon Min-soo |
| 2016 | Wheesung & Zion.T Voice II Men Concert | Zion.T |
| 2016 | Wheesung & Bada Peoplegate The Best Emotion of Concert | Bada |
| 2016 | Wheesung x Gummy x Kim Kyung-ho Summer Dream Concert | Gummy Kim Kyung-ho |
| 2016 | Wheesung & ALi Concert Cantare Festa | ALi |
| 2016 | 2016 JTN Live Concert Wheesung & Lucky J | Lucky J |
| 2016 | 젊은외침 통일 콘서트 | Bada San.E Verbal.J Sool J |
| 2016 | 신사들의 품격 | Yoon Hyung-Ryul Lee Chang-min Han Ji-sang |
| 2017 | 2017 Wheesung Live Concert On Air | |
| 2017 | 2017 Wheesung National Tour Concert Get Sexxy | |
| 2017 | Insomnia with Wheesung Concert | |
| 2017 | Wheesung & Kim Tae-woo Voice II Men Concert | Kim Tae-woo |
| 2018 | Wheesung Concert Get Sexxy Encore | |
| 2018 | Wheesung Concert | |
| 2018 | Wheesung & Gummy Concert | Gummy |
| 2018 | Star Pack Concert 5 | K.Will Ailee |
| 2018 | 2018 Dream Concert | |
| 2018 | Wheesung Real Healing Concert | |
| 2018 | Wheesung & Lyn Summer Concert | Lyn |
| 2018 | 2018 DMC Festival Super Concert | |
| 2018 | Wheesung & Jung in Forest Live (TV Chosun) | Jung In |
| 2018 | Wheesung & Fany Concert | Fany |
| 2018 | 2018 Realslow Wheesung Fan Meeting | |
| 2018 | Mini K-Pop Concert by WheeSung | National Theater, Abu Dhabi |
| 2018 | 2018 Wheesung Realslow Concert Get Sexxy Season 2 & 2019 Encore | |
| 2022 | Wheesung Fanmeeting | |

## Awards and nominations

Year presented, name of the award ceremony, award category, nominated work and the result of the nomination :
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2002 | Golden Disc Awards | Best New Artist | "Can't I" (안되나요) | Won |
| 2002 | MBC Ten Singers Song Festival | Best New Artist | | Won |
| 2002 | Mnet Music Video Festival | Best New Male Artist | "Can't I" (안되나요) | Nominated |
| 2002 | Mnet Music Video Festival | Best R&B Performance | "Can't I" (안되나요) | Nominated |
| 2002 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | R&B Award | | Won |
| 2002 | Seoul Music Awards | Best New Artist | | Won |
| 2003 | Golden Disc Awards | Main Prize (Bonsang) | "With Me" | Won |
| 2003 | MBC Ten Singers Song Festival | Top Ten Singer (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2003 | Mnet Music Video Festival | Best Male Artist | "With Me" | Won |
| 2003 | Mnet Music Video Festival | Best R&B Performance | "With Me" | Nominated |
| 2003 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Main Prize (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2003 | Seoul Music Awards | Main Prize (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2004 | Golden Disc Awards | Main Prize (Bonsang) | "Incurable Disease" (불치병) | Won |
| 2004 | KBS Music Awards | Best Singer (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2004 | Korean Music Awards | Musician of the Year | It's Real | Won |
| 2004 | MBC Ten Singers Song Festival | Top Ten Singer (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2004 | Mnet Km Music Video Festival | Best Male Video | "Incurable Disease" (불치병) | Nominated |
| 2004 | Mnet Km Music Video Festival | Best R&B Video | "Incurable Disease" (불치병) | Won |
| 2005 | Golden Disc Awards | Main Prize (Bonsang) | "Goodbye Luv" | Won |
| 2005 | KBS Music Awards | Best Singer (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2005 | Korean Music Awards | Best R&B and Soul Album | For the Moment | Nominated |
| 2005 | Mnet Km Music Video Festival | Best Male Artist | "Goodbye Luv" | Nominated |
| 2005 | Mnet Km Music Video Festival | Best R&B Performance | "Goodbye Luv" | Won |
| 2005 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Main Prize (Bonsang) | | Won |
| 2007 | Golden Disc Awards | Main Prize (Bonsang) | "Delicious Love" (사랑은 맛있다) | Won |
| 2007 | Mnet Km Music Festival | Best R&B Performance | "Delicious Love" (사랑은 맛있다) | Nominated |
| 2009 | Korean Music Awards | Best R&B and Soul Album | With All My Heart and Soul | Nominated |
| 2009 | Korean Music Awards | Male Musician of the Year | With All My Heart and Soul | Nominated |
| 2010 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Male Solo Artist | "Even Thought of Marriage" (결혼까지 생각했어) | Nominated |
| 2010 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Vocal Performance (Solo) | "Even Thought of Marriage" (결혼까지 생각했어) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Male Solo Artist | "Heartsore Story" (가슴 시린 이야기) | Nominated |
| 2014 | Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards | K-Pop Top Ten Singer Award | | Won |
| 2014 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Vocal Performance (Male) | "Night and Day" | Nominated |
| 2014 | SBS M Best of the Best | Best Male Solo | | Won |
| 2014 | Seoul Success Awards | Singer Grand Prize | | Won |
| 2018 | Soribada Best K-Music Awards | Voice Award | | Won |
| 2019 | Korean Arts and Culture Awards | Music Producer Award | | Won |