Biography
Wheesung is a singer, record producer and actor of the South Korean musical theater. He started his career in 1999 with the group of short -lived boys A4, but he left after their first album due to musical differences. In 2002, he launched his solo career with the album “Like a Movie”, who received praise from prominent artists and earned him a significant popularity. His follow-up album, “It’s Real” (2003), has consolidated his status as a prominent artist in Korea. Over the years, Wheesung has released several albums, including “For The Moment” (2004), “Love … love …!” (2005), “Eternal Essence of Music” (2007) and “Vocolate” (2009). He has also collaborated with numerous artists and has participated in musical theatrical productions, showing his versatility as an artist. In 2017, he established his label, Realslow Company and adopted the name of art Realslow to reflect his passion for R&B music.
On March 10, singer Wheesung was found died at his home in Seoul. His agency, Tajoy Entertainment, confirmed the news, expressing deep pain and asking fans to keep him in their prayers. The rescuers reported that they were already dead before their arrival.
Profile
- Name: Choi Whee-Sung (Wheesung)
- Name at birth: Choi Whee-Sung
- Birthday: February 5, 1982
- Zodiac sign: Acquarium
- Height: 172 cm
- Instagram: @Realslowewee
- Twitter: Realslow1982 (deleted)
Career
Vocal career/rap
Wheesung made his debut in 2002 with like a film, attracting attention to his song “Can’t Be …”. Its subsequent albums, is real and for the moment, has consolidated its place in the music sector. Over the years, he has changed agencies several times before establishing Realslow Company, where he continues his career.
Renowned for its intricate vocal techniques, which initially concentrated on complex R&B songs before incorporating elements more guided by performance. However, the chronic problems of the throat and vocal nodules influenced its song, leading to surgery and a refined vocal style. Despite this, his talent has gained recognition all over the world, he collaborated with Craig David and even impressed Ne-Yo and Rodney Jerkins.
His song is characterized by powerful high notes and a wide range, although his intense vocal approach has led to tension over time. Later, he adapted his techniques, significantly improving his vocal health. In addition to singing, it is also a skilled rapper and a respected vocal coach, having trained artists from Bigbang, Beast, 2am, Girls’ Generation and Shinee.
One of his best known moments was a vocal crack during a 2007 performance at the Busan International Film Festival, which became a viral clip. Although initially he is embarrassed, he later laughed, and his inheritance remains focused on his vocal mastery rather than on the individual accident.
Compose/produce a career
Wheesung has had a long career as a composer and producer, discovering artists such as Youha, Toegoon and Ailee. He is known for his rigorous approach in the recording studio, often training singers in real time to perfect their voices. However, he denies being intimidating, joking that these voices have damaged his chances of getting married.
As a lyricist, he wrote for many artists, including Youna (password 486), Lee Hyori (Hey Mr. Big), T-Ara (I’m going crazy because of you) and twice (dance at night). His texts often attract attention to be bold and captivating, which once admitted was intentional of helping to model the public image of a singer. However, after dealing with the criticisms, he decided to move away from provocative themes.
Despite the conflicting reactions to the texts of his group of idols, his self-scripted songs are praised for their poetic depth. His works often present natural Korean expressions, rich vocabulary and dramatic narrative. Wheesung was particularly prolific as a lyricist in 2010-2011, gaining more from songwriting than from singing to a certain point. His ability to create emotionally loaded texts has led to the admiration and occasional criticisms of being excessively sentimental, a label that does not like.
Personal life
First life
Wheesung grew up in a poor family and faced financial struggles during his childhood. His entertainment career began in middle schools as a backup dancer for entertainment artists SM. He later made his debut in the A4 group under dr. Music, but the group was unable to gain popularity, leading it to a period of personal struggle.
Determined to improve, he joined the Ahyeon Vocational School musical program, training together with artists such as Park Hyo-Shin. It was practiced tirelessly, even in unusual places like a sewage structure. He later joined the SNP of the online music community online, connecting with artists such as Verbal Jint and Defconn.
His talent was recognized in a musical competition, leading to training under the producer Lee Sang-Woo and eventually signed with M-Boat, who collaborated with YG Entertainment. Before his solo debut, he appeared on Jang Nara’s songs and worked as a lyricist. Academically, he pursued journalism, but later he graduated in Business and pursued a master’s degree from Kyung Hee University.
Health
Wheesung is known in the entertainment sector for its relentless dedication. Growing up with a deep sense of inferiority and competitiveness, he has constantly gone to improve. During his vocal training, he practiced tirelessly to overcome his naturally weak voice, surrounded by talented peers such as Kim Bum-Soo and Lee Young-Hyun.
He fought serious depression and insomnia, also fighting to face the cameras at the beginning of his career. Diagnosis of chronic depression in 2005, its test results showed an alarming level, leading to the use of drugs. At a certain point, he attempted suicide by overdosing the sleeping pills but survived. Over time, he worked hard to adopt a more positive mentality and successfully completed his military service.
Despite his struggles, Wheesung has shown a strong comic timing on varieties of varieties such as Radio Star, in which his reactions to the jokes became legendary. He is also known for his extreme weight loss efforts. After weighing 88 kg, he lost 30 kg in just three months through intense exercise. Over the years, he has repeatedly lost and regained weight, following rigorous diets and intermittent fasting.
Even in recent years, he has continued to fight with weight management, expressing frustration due to the difficulty of losing fat. His dedication to his physical and mental health remains a significant part of his journey.
Disputes
2007 Ivy Scandal
In 2007, Wheesung was involved in a scandal involving the singer Ivy. The voices spread that Ivy had a two -stroke relationship between Wheesung and his boyfriend. Speculation was powered by online posts, including Screenshot of the Mini Homepage of Ivy Boyfriend, Wheesung Cyworld Mini Homepage and leaked radio recordings. A distinctive thumb ring was considered a key test. Due to this controversy, Wheesung has often been misunderstood as a “pathetic man” who wrote lyrics of the songs, in particular those with the themed breaking, based on his personal past.
Propophol the accusations of illegal use
Wheesung has faced repeated accusations of use illegally propofol, with affirmations of having used the members of the band to silence the accusers. He denied illegal, stating that the drug was for medical care and provided the police tests. The case initially settled, but was subsequently punished with three days of military detention for unrelated reasons.
In March 2020, new investigations emerged. On March 31, he was found unconscious in a bathroom after injected a sedative, subsequently identified as Etomidido, a drug similar to propofol. Days later, the CCTV movies showed him the purchase of drugs and was found unconscious in a hotel bathroom.
The authorities arrested a supplier and discovered that Wheesung had been designed for the use of drugs since 2019. In August 2020, he was offending for purchases of multiple propofols. In his January 2021 trial, he admitted most of the accusations and received a suspended sentence of one year with the service to the community and the treatment of drugs. The accusation of the accusation for a harder sentence was denied.
As a result, KBS prohibited Wheesung from appearing on his programs in November 2021.
Fun facts
- When he was young, he had many thoughts but rarely spoke, which often led him to be ostracized by his friends.
- During his high school years, he was so poor that he only had enough money for transport.
- Despite being an R&B singer who can sing pop songs well, his knowledge of English is scarce.
- A feature of Wheesung’s song is that opens the wide mouth during the climatic parts of a song.
- At the end of 2008, he mentioned the radio star that one of his goals was to write a fantasy novel in the mid -1930s.
- His double eyelids formed naturally: one appeared while preparing for one album and the other during his military service.
- At a certain point, he smoked cigarettes in an attempt to alter his voice to his preference.
- At the beginning of his career, people often observed that he resembled Kim Yuna.
