Do you know Kai ?

Kim Jung-in (Korean: 김종인 ; born January 14, 1994), better known by his stage name Kai (Korean:카이), is a South Korean singer, model, actor, and dancer. He is a member of the Korean-Chinese boy band Exo, its subgroup Exo-K, and the Korean supergroup SuperM. He made his solo debut on November 30, 2020 with his first extended play (EP), Kai. In addition to his music career, Kai has also appeared in various television dramas, such as Chocobank (2016), Andante (2017), and Spring Has Come (2018). He is widely regarded as one of the best dancers in Korea and K-Pop, and is one of the most influential Korean fashion icons.

Early life

Kai was born on January 14, 1994 in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, South Korea, as the youngest child in a family with two older sisters. His parents initially wanted him to study taekwondo and piano, but after seeing The Nutcracker, he began ballet lessons in the third grade and jazz dance in the fourth grade at the age of eight. According to a film depicting his coming of age featured in Gucci’s 2019 project “The Performers,” it was his late father who benefited most from his exposure to dance, which was so important in his life. Kai attended high school at the Seoul School of Performing Arts, graduating in 2012.

2020–present: Solo debut and enlistment

2020-Present: Solo Debut and Engagement On July 3, 2020, SM Entertainment announced that Kai’s first solo album is currently in production and will be released in the second half of 2020. On October 12, it was announced that he has become the first male muse for cosmetics brand Bobbi Brown.

On November 30, 2020, Kai released his debut extended play Kai and its lead single “Mmmh”. The album reached number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart and was certified platinum by KMCA.

On November 30, 2021, Kai released his second extended play Peaches and its lead single of the same name. The album reached number 3 on the Gaon Album Chart and was also certified platinum.

In February 2023, SM confirmed that Kai was set to release a new solo album, “Rover,” on March 13. On March 13, Kai released his third extended play, “Rover,” and its lead single of the same name.

On May 4, 2023, SM Entertainment announced that Kai would hold a fan meeting titled “Kai’s aKAIve” on May 9 at 7 PM KST at the YES24 Live Hall, and that his live on EXO’s official YouTube channel would also be transferred two days before he departs for the military.

Fashion and endorsements

In March 2020, Kai was appointed as an ambassador for Italian luxury fashion house Gucci alongside Chinese actress Nini. Later that year, Kai was appointed as Bobbi Brown Cosmetics’ first male muse. On September 14, 2021, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that Kai had been selected as the face and global ambassador for the brand for Seoul Fashion Week Spring 2022. On November 1, Kai appeared at the online showcase “TUCSON Beyond Drive,” a collaboration between Hyundai Motors and SM Entertainment, where he performed a music performance titled “Follow Your Hidden Light,” which combined K-POP and AR technology.

In January 2022, Charmzone Mask selected Kai as their new model “in the hope of conveying a youthful and trendy image of Charmzone’s premium mask products.” BlackYak Climbing Crew selected Kai as a model for their Black Yak BCC collection. Later that year, Kai became the muse for Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.