Lee Gi-kwang

Quick Facts: Who was Lee Gi-kwang?

Subject:

Lee Gi-kwang

Known for:

South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor known professionally as Gikwang or Kikwang.

Born:

1990-03-30

Century / Era:

1990s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Lee Gi-kwang (Korean: 이기광; born March 30, 1990), known professionally as Gikwang or Kikwang, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actor. He originally debuted as solo singer with the stage name AJ (Ace Junior), releasing his first mini album First Episode: A New Hero on April 4, 2009. In October 2009, he debuted as the main dancer, visual and a lead vocalist of boy group Beast, which was renamed Highlight in February 2017. He began his acting career with a supporting role in the popular television sitcom High Kick Through the Roof (2009–10) and had supporting roles in dramas My Princess (2011), Me Too, Flower! (2011), Mrs. Cop (2015), Monster (2016), Circle (2017), and Lovely Horribly (2018).

Career & Major Achievements

He also became an MC for various shows such as Hot Brothers and Inkigayo. Lee Gi-kwang was born on March 30, 1990 in Gwangju, South Korea. Gi-kwang found interest in hip hop and had particular liking to many classic hip hop acts. At first he was backed by his family to pursue a musical career but eventually he passed an audition and became a trainee. He was trained under JYP Entertainment for four years before being eliminated.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was asked by the former president of Cube Entertainment to join the agency without auditioning, making him the company's first trainee. He was known as the solo singer AJ or Ace Junior when he debuted and released a mini-album First Episode: A New Hero on April 4, 2009. He made his debut on April 2, 2009 on Mnet M!Countdown, and dubbed by Korean media as the next Rain. However he met controversies when his name created dispute among netizens for having a similar name with Paran's AJ (who later became a U-KISS member). He now goes with his original name when he re-debuted with Beast.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1990 (1990-03-30): Birth of Lee Gi-kwang — South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor known professionally as Gikwang or Kikwang.
2. 2009: 2009 Milestone — He originally debuted as solo singer with the stage name AJ (Ace Junior), releasing his first mini album First Episode: A New Hero on April 4, 2009.
3. 2015: 2015 Milestone — Cop (2015), Monster (2016), Circle (2017), and Lovely Horribly (2018).

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Lee Gi-kwang

True or False: “Lee Gi-kwang debuted as a solo artist under the stage name AJ (Ace Junior) before joining the group Beast.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): He initially released his first mini album as AJ on April 4, 2009, before debuting with the group Beast in October 2009.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. J. P. Taylor — Contemporary (Died in 1990) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Aaron Copland — Contemporary (Died in 1990) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Aishwarya Lekshmi — Contemporary (Born in 1990) (1990): Acclaimed Indian actress working primarily in Malayalam and Tamil cinema.
• Abdel Halim Hafez — Shared historical date (03-30 · Died) (1977): Iconic Egyptian singer and actor, known as 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale'.
• Albert Pierrepoint — Shared historical date (03-30 · Born) (1905): Prominent English hangman who executed hundreds of people in a 25-year career.
• Alberto Lleras Camargo — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Colombian politician who served as President twice and led the founding of the OAS.
• Alberto Moravia — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Italian novelist and journalist known for exploring modern sexuality and social alienation.
• Aage Bohr — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Pioneering Danish nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate for atomic structure theory.
• Abdurrahman Wahid — Historical peer (Died in 2009) (2009): Influential Indonesian politician, Islamic leader, and fourth President known for pluralism.
• Abdul Halim of Kedah — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): Sultan of Kedah and Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a pivotal Malaysian royal figure.
• 1990 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1990
• March 30 (03-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Lee Gi-kwang