Lim Jeong-hee (Korean임정희; born May 17, 1981, in Seoul, South Korea), also known as J-Lim, is a South Korean singer who debuted in 2005 under JYP Entertainment. One of her notable performances in 2005 was the 5th Pattaya Music Festival in Thailand, which helped promote and expose her to the foreign music industry. She was signed under Big Hit Music in 2012 and left the company in 2015,[1] going on to join her current agency, Oscar ENT.[2]

Lim Jeong-hee
Lim Jeong-hee performing at the Cyworld Dream Music Festival, July 23, 2011
Born
Lim Jeong-hee

(1981-05-17) May 17, 1981 (age 43)
Seoul, South Korea
OccupationSinger
Years active2005–present
SpouseKim Hee-hyun (m. 2023)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Piano
  • Guitar
Labels
Korean name
Hangul
임정희
Hanja
Revised RomanizationIm Jeong-hui
McCune–ReischauerIm Chŏnghŭi

Biography

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Lim Jeong-hee grew up in a musical environment; her father was an ardent fan of pop music and a collector of music LPs. She was educated in classical music in her childhood and learnt to play the piano. Despite this, as she grew up, she gained more interest in pop music rather than the classical music she had studied.

When she was in high school Lim participated in a song contest for teens held by Seoul City and won the grand prize. The experience of competing in the song contest and winning the top prize led Lim to enter college to study popular music.[3]

Career

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She signed with JYP Entertainment. However, Lim was more famous on the street music scene than on television or the radio. Even before she had her official debut, Lim held countless street performances on her own which led to the creation of her multiple fan clubs.[4]

Lim debuted in 2005 with her first album Music is My Life. Through her street performances, Lim said that she has learned so much about music and found an increased love and passion towards music, and that she will continue to hold street performances not only in Seoul but also all around the country.[citation needed]

Her third album, "Before I Go, J-Lim", made headlines for featuring Big Boi from Outkast who also appeared in the music video. On May 8, 2011, she released a music video featuring G.NA, Hyuna and comedian Park Hwi Soon called "Golden Lady".[5] On May 12, 2011, she made her comeback performance on M Countdown with her single 'Golden Lady'[6] On July 2, 2011, she announced that she has been cast as the female lead for the musical "Temptation of Wolves" and will be tackling the challenge of her first musical. From July 12 to October 3, Lim Jeong Hee performed as ‘Jung Hankyung‘, a charming girl who's caught between two different guys for her love.[7] On November 20, 2011, she announced that she will be Brian McKnight's duet partner for his twelfth album JUST ME. She stated, "It's a huge honor to be standing on the same stage as world-renowned R&B legend, Brian McKnight".[8][9] In 2011, she also appeared on tvN's survival program Opera Star 2011, where she made it to the semi-finals.[10]

Personal life

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On October 3, 2023, Lim married ballet dancer Kim Hee-hyun, a former soloist at the Korea National Ballet, in Seoul after dating for a year.[11]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[12]
Music is My Life 20
Thanks
  • Released: March 24, 2006
  • Label: JYP Entertainment
  • Format: CD, cassette
8
Before I Go, J-Lim 15

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[16]
It Can't Be Real
  • Released: September 30, 2010
  • Label: JYP Entertainment, Big Hit Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
22
Golden Lady
  • Released: May 9, 2011
  • Label: JYP Entertainment, Big Hit Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
15

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[18]
As lead artist
"Music Is My Life" 2005 Music Is My Life
"Tears That Didn't Fall" (눈물이 안났어) 30
"Don't Go, My Love" (사랑아 가지마) 2006 Thanks
"Trace" (흔적)
"Madly in Love" (사랑에 미치면)
feat. Big Boi & JY Park
2007 Before I Go, J-Lim
"Heaven Breeze" (하늘아 바람아) Non-album single
"On The Way To Break Up With You" (헤어지러 가는 길)
feat. Jo Kwon
2010 3 It Can't Be Real
"It Can't Be Real" (진짜일 리 없어) 5
"Himawari" (Sunflower / 해바라기)
(Masaharu Fukuyama cover)
2011 44 Non-album single
"Golden Lady"
feat. Hyuna
4 Golden Lady
"Luv Is"
feat. Baechigi
2013 7 Non-album singles
"Feel So Good"
feat. Hong Dae Kwang
23
"Crazy" 2016 93
"I.O.U"
"The Christmas Day" 2017
Collaborations
"Beautiful You" (아름다운 널)
with Kolleen Park
2010 11 Non-album singles
"It's Been A Long Time" (오랜만이다)
with Herz Analog
2013 31
"Like A Movie" (영화처럼)
with 40
53
"Perfect Christmas"
with Jo Kwon, Joo Hee of 8Eight, RM & Jungkook
45
"There Is No Love" (사랑은 없다)
with Timber
2014 63
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Soundtrack appearances

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Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[26]
"I Can't Love You" (사랑은 못해요) 2010 81 Smile, Mom OST Part 3
"If You Turn Back Time" (시간을 되돌린다면) 2011 40 Royal Family OST Part 3
"Filament" (필라멘트) 2012 42 Wild Romance OST Part 1
"Don't Love Me" (날 사랑하지마) 34 Five Fingers OST Part 1
"Poison Love" (지독한 사랑) 2013 52 Don't Look Back: The Legend of Orpheus OST
"I'll Be There" (시간에 기대어) 65 Medical Top Team OST Part 4
"Scent of a Flower" (꽃향기) 2014 24 Emergency Couple OST Part 2
"It Hurts, It Hurts" (아파아파) 2015 85 Super Daddy Yeol OST Part 4
"Hope" (바라죠) 2016 My Lawyer, Mr. Jo OST Part 3
"Distressed" (달) Secret Healer OST Part 3
"The Coat" (외투) 2017 Two Cops OST Part 6
"Black Diamond" 2019 Graceful Family OST Part 1
"My Song" 2023 Live Your Own Life OST Part 1[27]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee of the award and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Golden Disc Awards 2005 Best New Artist "Music Is My Life" Won [28]
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2005 Best New Artist Won [29]
2006 Best R&B Performance "Trace" Nominated [30]

References

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  1. ^ "KPOP NEWS – Big Hit Reveals Lim Jeong Hee's Contract Ended in May | Mwave". mwave.interest.me. Archived from the original on December 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  2. ^ "[단독]'가요계 디바' 임정희, 바비킴 소속사와 전속 계약. 가수 인생의 2막 연다! : 스포츠조선". sports.chosun.com. October 8, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  3. ^ "Lim Jeong-hee". world.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "Lim Jeong-hee". world.kbs.co.kr. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "Lim Jeong Hee releases "Golden Lady" MV".
  6. ^ "Lim Jeong Hee has a 'Golden Lady' M! Countdown comeback".
  7. ^ "Lim Jeong Hee cast for musical "Temptation of Wolves"".
  8. ^ "Singer Lim Jeong Hee to perform with Brian McKnight".
  9. ^ "Kpop Obsessions". May 10, 2011.
  10. ^ "'오스타' 테이-JK김동욱 최종결승··문희옥-임정희 탈락". 아시아경제 (in Korean). May 1, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  11. ^ Yoon, Seong-yeol (October 3, 2023). "[단독]임정희♥김희현, 테이·별·박기영 ★들 축가 속 행복한 웨딩마치" [[Exclusive] Lim Jeong-hee ♥ Kim Hee-hyun, Tei, Byul, Park Ki-young ★ Happy wedding ceremony amidst congratulatory songs] (in Korean). StarNews. Retrieved October 3, 2023 – via Naver.
  12. ^ "K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  13. ^ "September 2005 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  14. ^ "2006 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  15. ^ "December 2007 K-Pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  16. ^ "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  17. ^ "May 2011 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  18. ^ Gaon Digital Chart positions for singles: Gaon Digital Chart positions for collaborations:
  19. ^ "2012년 03월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  20. ^ a b "2010년 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 18, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  21. ^ "2011년 03월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  22. ^ "2011년 Download Chart, Domestic, Page 2". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  23. ^ Cumulative sales of "Luv Is":
  24. ^ "2013년 11월 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved May 23, 2018.
  25. ^ "2016년 10주차 Download Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  26. ^ Gaon Digital Chart positions for soundtrack appearances:
  27. ^ Jang Woo-young (September 17, 2023). "임정희, 유이 지원사격…'효심이네 각자도생' OST 첫 주자" [Lim Jeong-hee, Yui supporting fire... The first performer of the ‘Hyosim, Each Life’ OST]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  28. ^ "SG워너비 골든디스크상 대상 차지". Yonhap News (in Korean). December 8, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2022 – via Naver News.
  29. ^ "동방신기 '2005 Mnet KM 뮤직비디오 페스티벌' 제패". Herald Pop (in Korean). November 28, 2005. Retrieved May 18, 2022 – via Naver News.
  30. ^ "플라이투더스카이, MKMF 'R&B부문 최우수상' 수상". Star News (in Korean). November 25, 2006. Retrieved May 18, 2022.