Biography

Lee Jin-ki, known professionally as Onew, is a South Korean singer, lyricist and actor under GRIFFIN Entertainment. Onew was discovered at the 2006 SM Academy Casting and signed a contract with SM Entertainment the day after his audition. He debuted as the lead vocalist and leader of the South Korean boy band SHINee in May 2008, which went on to become one of the best-selling artists in South Korea. As a singer, he has participated in the original soundtracks for various TV series and released collaborations with various artists. He made his solo debut on December 5, 2018, with the release of his first extended play, Voice, five days before his military conscription on December 10, 2018. After finishing his military service, he released his second EP, Dice, on April 11, 2022, and later that year, on July 6, he made his solo debut in Japan with the release of his first studio album, Life Goes On. He released his first Korean studio album, Circle, on March 6, 2023. He followed this with the release of his third EP, Flow, on September 3, 2024, and his fourth EP, Connection, on January 6, 2025. He released his second Korean studio album, Percent, on July 15, 2025, and his second Japanese EP, Saku, on October 1, 2025. He released his fifth Korean EP, Tough Love, on March 9, 2026. Onew has also contributed to songwriting for both himself and SHINee. As an actor, Onew was cast in multiple musicals, such as Rock of Ages (2010), Shinheung Military Academy (2019), and Midnight Sun (2021–2022) and participated in various television dramas, mostly known for the roles of Baek-su in JTBC's sitcom Welcome to Royal Villa and the cardio-thoracic resident Lee Chi-hoon in the popular KBS2 drama Descendants of the Sun (2016).