Baekho (singer)
Kang Dong-ho (; born July 21, 1995), better known by the stage name Baekho (), is a South Korean singer, songwriter, record producer and television personality currently signed under Pledis Entertainment. He is best known as the main vocalist and music producer of South Korean boy group NU'EST.  

He made his debut as a solo artist in October 2022 with the release of his first extended play Absolute Zero.

Early life and education 
Kang Dong-ho was born on July 21, 1995 in Aewol, Jeju Province, South Korea. He has a younger brother.

He has mentioned that he originally had no intention of going into the music industry prior to being scouted, later citing Korean boy group TVXQ as his role models and musical inspiration. He graduated from Seoul Broadcasting High School, and later from the Paekche Institute of the Arts. On March 10, 2020, together with members JR, Minhyun, and Ren, he enrolled at Hanyang University Institute for Future Talents as freshmen in Practical Music Course.

Career

Pre-debut 
Baekho became a Pledis Entertainment trainee after being scouted by the company in 2010. He became better known after he appeared in After School's music video for the single "Play Ur Love". In 2011, he and bandmate JR appeared on the KBS talk show Hello Counselor and were revealed by After School's Kahi as two of the members of NU'EST.

Prior to his debut, Baekho made appearances in labelmates' music releases as a member of Pledis Boys. He was a backup dancer for After School Blue's "Wonder Boy", and featured in Pledis Entertainment's Christmas release "Love Letter".

2012–2022: NU'EST and solo ventures 

On March 15, 2012, Baekho debuted as the main vocalist of NU'EST. His stage name was chosen by labelmate Uee of After School, because of his resemblance to Slam Dunk character Hanamichi Sakuragi (known as "Kang Baek-ho" in the Korean version).

In 2013, Baekho made a cameo appearance in the television drama Jeon Woo-chi.

In early 2014, he was diagnosed with vocal fold nodules. However, he decided to continue performing with NU’EST while receiving treatment. Pledis Entertainment announced in November that he would be taking a temporary hiatus from all group activities. His doctors advised that he completely rest his voice, and he underwent vocal cord surgery. In February 2016, it was reported that he had completely recovered.

In 2015, Baekho starred in a minor supporting role in Japanese independent film Their Distance alongside NU'EST members.

Baekho began participating in song-writing and music production in 2015, with his first self-produced songs "Lost & Found" and "VVith" included in NU'EST's fourth EP Q is. He has been listed as an album producer for every NU'EST and NU'EST W release since then.

Produce 101 
In 2017, Baekho participated as a contestant on Produce 101 Season 2 alongside NU'EST members JR, Minhyun and Ren. After performing a cover of BTS's "Boy in Luv" on the show, he gained the nickname of 'sexy bandit' from netizens. In the position-based challenge, he covered Blackpink's "Playing with Fire", and the view count of his fancam reached one million views within three days. He was also noted by commenters for his stable vocals in the music removed (MR) performance. His reading of the lyric 'Wow megaton bomb' also went viral, leading to a 400% increase in sales of Lotte's 'megaton bar' ice cream. Baekho eventually placed 13th and did not debut in Wanna One, promoting with the remaining NU'EST members as sub-group NU'EST W from 2017 to 2018.

Mnet vote manipulation investigation 
On November 18, 2020, the Seoul High Court disclosed as part of the ongoing Mnet vote manipulation investigation that Baekho (under his real name Kang Dong-ho) was a victim of voting manipulation when he participated on Produce 101 Season 2. According to the documents the Court released, the manipulation of Baekho's ranking only happened in the final episode of the season, which determined who would debut in the project group Wanna One. It was revealed that Baekho's true rank would have made him part of the group, but was swapped with another trainee's (who was the actual 13th place) by the show's producers, thus taking him out of the lineup.

Although both of the show's producers Kim Yong-bum and Ahn Joon-young alleged that Baekho requested to be removed from the final lineup of his own volition, Pledis Entertainment denied the allegations. CJ ENM (Mnet's parent company) released a statement regarding the progress of negotiations to financially compensate all the trainees who were affected by voting manipulation across all the Produce 101 programs, including Baekho. However, Pledis stated that they had not been contacted by CJ ENM regarding the compensation as of November 18, 2020.

On November 20, 2020, it was revealed that Baekho had been suffering from anxiety disorder during the filming of Produce 101 Season 2, and that Ahn and the Mnet staff were aware of Baekho's diagnosis. Furthermore, Ahn alleged that after speaking to Baekho in May 2017 in regards to his mental health and his involvement in the show, he interpreted Baekho's responses to mean that Baekho wanted to be eliminated from the competition. However, the Court re-affirmed that Baekho was not personally involved in the decision to have his rank manipulated, and ruled him as a victim of unfair elimination through vote manipulation.

Solo ventures 
In June 2018, Baekho participated in vocal competition show King of Masked Singer, advancing to the third round. He participated in his first original television drama soundtrack in January 2019, releasing strings-based power ballad "That Day, We" for historical epic The Crowned Clown.

Baekho attended Paris Fashion Week in January 2020, at the invitation of British luxury fashion brand Dunhill.

From May 31 to June 7, Baekho hosted Power FM's radio show Youngstreet as a special DJ.

Since September 2020 until 2023, he has been selected as the brand representative model for The Wood of J One Cosmetic, releasing haircare products, body wash, foam cleanser and limited perfume.

Baekho took on his first acting role in a musical as the male lead Haram in the stage play Midnight Sun, which ran from May-July 2021. He received praise for his "excellent singing skills with delicate expressive power" and "deep emotional acting" for his role.

On December 19, Baekho released self-written ballad "Forevermore" as an OST track for the drama Now, We Are Breaking Up.

In December 2021, he acted in his second musical, playing boy band leader Matthew in the South Korean production of Off-Broadway concert-type musical Altar Boyz. Shortly after conclusion of Altar Boyz's run, Baekho was cast as rural plague doctor Theo in the two-hander musical Equal, receiving acclaim for his matured "delicate emotional acting" in a difficult two-person play, cementing his status as a rising star in the musical theatre scene.

2022-present: Launch of solo career 
It was announced on February 28, 2022 that NU'EST's exclusive contract with Pledis Entertainment will expire on March 14, 2022 and that Baekho and Minhyun have renewed their contracts with the agency while members Aron, JR and Ren did not.

On March 21, he released punk soul song "Bite!" for KBS2 drama Crazy Love. On April 6-7 and 10, he acted as a special DJ in place of regular host Youngjae at MBC radio show Close Friend.

From July 15 to 17, Baekho held his first fan meeting "Baekation" as a solo artist, where he performed a new unreleased song; "Wanna Go Back" is later included in his debut EP.

He participated in the original soundtrack for ENA drama Good Job with the song "Savior".'

Baekho released his first solo EP Absolute Zero on October 12, 2022. Continuing to take the helm in record production, Baekho weaves a love story throughout the track list, capturing a relationship from its start to downfall. The EP is headed by title track "No Rules", for which he drew inspiration from his hometown Jeju's night seas, a song about liberation in love that mixes his signature bass lines with a rock sound. "No Rules" marked his successful solo debut after 11 years, topping Bugs music charts upon release.

From January to May 2023, Baekho embarked on a mini-Asia tour "BAEKHoney Day", holding concerts in Taipei, Bangkok and Seoul. A Macau stop was also announced but later postponed due to force majeure.

In May 2023, Baekho was cast in his first television drama role, playing Cha Si-Wan in I'll Take the Trip for You (literal translation of 여행을 대신해 드립니다).

Personal life
Baekho is a skilled haedong kumdo practitioner, having reached sam dan rank (third-degree black belt) in his seven years of training during school days. He has also placed first in international kumdo competitions. His kumdo skills are showcased in the teaser video that first introduced him as a member of NU'EST in 2012.

Baekho has struggled with weight since early in his career, and turned to exercise to lose weight instead of dieting, earning him a reputation of being a "fit idol." He has been nicknamed 'Human Benz' by Korean netizens due to resemblance of his chest muscles to the car brand's logo. His thigh circumference once measured up to 25 inches. During NU'EST's appearance in Idol Room in 2019, Baekho succeeded in carrying all four members on his back unaided. After a fan sent a photo of him in a gym to Men's Health Korea, the editorial team invited him to be the cover of the magazine's November 2018 issue. He once again covered the magazine in January 2020.

He enjoys exercise and sports in his free time, including free diving, football, camping and golfing.

Sexual harassment allegations
In June 2017, a former acquaintance alleged anonymously online that in 2009, when she and Baekho were both in middle school, she had been molested by him on the bus on their way home from cram school. She pressed charges against Baekho later that month, while Pledis denied the allegations and filed a counter suit in response. Pledis also filed a complaint against the accuser for violating the laws on information communication network and information protection. The police forwarded the case to prosecutors in September 2017.

On April 16, 2018, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office cleared Baekho of the sexual assault charges, and have since dismissed the case. Baekho was ultimately found not guilty and was acquitted of all charges. The case was also raised to the Korea Communications Commission over the fairness of how the allegations were reported.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

Soundtrack appearances

Compilation appearances

Other charted songs

Songwriting credits

Filmography

Films

Television series

Television shows

Web shows

Musical theatre

Awards and nominations

Concert and tours

Notes

References

External links

1995 births
Living people
People from Jeju Province
Pledis Entertainment artists
Produce 101 contestants
South Korean male idols
South Korean pop singers
21st-century South Korean male singers
Hybe Corporation artists
NU'EST