Alex Chu (born Chu Hun-gon September 2, 1979), known simply as Alex (), is a
Korean-Canadian singer and actor. He is the male vocalist of the South Korean
electropop
Electropop is a hybrid music genre combining elements of electronic and pop genres. Writer Hollin Jones has described it as a variant of synth-pop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre was developed in the 1980s and saw a r ...
band
Clazziquai.
Biography
Having immigrated to Canada with his family, Alex rose to fame upon returning to South Korea years later as part of the group
Clazziquai. The group's popularity skyrocketed after featuring on the soundtrack of hit drama series ''
My Lovely Samsoon''.
In 2008, the group announced a temporary hiatus, and its members debuted as solo artists, including Alex. In 2009, Clazziquai returned with the release of Mucho Punk.
Alex Chu became part of the
MBC reality show ''
We Got Married
''We Got Married'' () was a South Korean reality variety show that aired on MBC from 2008 to 2017. The show paired up celebrities who pretended to be married couples and completed various challenges together. The show ran for four seasons and ...
'' and was matched with Korean trot singer
Jang Yoon-jeong in the Lunar Special episode, and actress/model
Shin Ae for the rest of the series. The show also stars Crown J,
Andy of
Shinhwa
Shinhwa () is a South Korean six-member boy band based in Seoul, composed of Eric Mun, Lee Min-woo, Kim Dong-wan, Shin Hye-sung, Jun Jin, and Andy Lee. Launched by SM Entertainment on March 24, 1998, the group signed with Good Entertainment ...
,
Seo In-young
Seo In-young (Hangul: ; born on September 3, 1984), also known as Elly, is a South Korean singer, dancer, model, television host, and actress. She was a member of girl group Jewelry and featured on the reality show ''We Got Married'' with Cro ...
of
Jewelry
Jewellery (British English, UK) or jewelry (American English, U.S.) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, ring (jewellery), rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be at ...
,
Solbi
Kwon Ji-an (; born 30 September 1984), commonly known by her stage name Solbi (), is a South Korean singer, painter, and television personality. She made her singing debut in 2006 as a member of the K-pop group Typhoon, and gained widespread f ...
of
Typhoon
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for a ...
,
Saori and
Jung Hyung-don
Jung Hyung-don (; born February 7, 1978) is a South Korean comedian and television host. He is best known for his roles on the variety shows '' Infinite Challenge'' and '' Weekly Idol''.
Early life and education
Jung was born in Gimcheon in N ...
. Alex and Shin Ae left the show after Episode 8 for Alex to record his first solo album ''Vintage Romance''. They were replaced by
Kim Hyun-joong
Kim Hyun-joong (; born June 6, 1986) is a South Korean actor, singer and songwriter. He is a member of the boy band SS501 and played roles in the Korean dramas ''Boys Over Flowers'' and '' Playful Kiss''.
After debuting with SS501 in 2005, Ki ...
of
SS501
SS501 is a South Korean boy band consisting of five members: Kim Hyun-joong, Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, Park Jung-min and Kim Hyung-jun. They debuted in 2005 with the EP ''Warning'', which included their first number one song, "Never A ...
and
Hwangbo of
Chakra
Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...
. However, due to popular demand, the couple reunited in Episode 13. Alex and Shin Ae made their exit from the show on November 16, 2008.
Alex debuted in his first drama series ''
Pasta
Pasta (, ; ) is a type of food typically made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs, and formed into sheets or other shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking. Rice flour, or legumes such as beans or lentils, are ...
'' as one of the main cast. The drama aired from January 4, 2010 to March 9, 2010 on MBC.
On June 2, 2011, Alex released his second solo album, ''Just Like Me''.
On June 1, 2012, Alex opened a new Italian restaurant, D'asti Plate, in January 2018 known as D'Asti NY. He partnered with three of his close friends to open the restaurant, which is located in the Shinsadong area of Seoul.
In 2013, he appeared in the
KBS variety show ''
Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education'' to participate during the bowling matches from episode 6 to episode 9.
In 2016, Alex started hosting a variety show ''
My Neighbor, Charles
''My Neighbor, Charles'' () is a South Korean reality-variety show that airs on KBS 1TV every Tuesday at 19:35 ( KST).
Synopsis
Each episode follows the daily lives of foreigners in South Korea, filmed over the span of two weeks. Daily routine ...
''.
Personal life
Alex Chu was booked without detention by
Gangnam
Gangnam or Kangnam may refer to:
Places
Stations
Other uses
* Kangnam (singer) (born 1987), a member of the South Korean hip hop group M.I.B.
* Kangnam University, a university in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
See also
* "Gangnam Sty ...
Police in
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the Capital city, capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ...
for driving while intoxicated in Seoul on July 18, 2012. Chu had
blood alcohol content
Blood alcohol content (BAC), also called blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol level, is a measurement of alcohol intoxication used for legal or medical purposes; it is expressed as mass of alcohol per volume or mass of blood. For example ...
of 0.134%.
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
Collaborations
Soundtrack appearances
Television shows
TV drama
Variety show
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chu, Alex
1979 births
Living people
Korean-language singers of Canada
K-pop singers
Male actors from Vancouver
Musicians from Vancouver
South Korean male singers
South Korean pop singers
South Korean pop pianists
South Korean electronic musicians
South Korean jazz singers
South Korean male television actors
South Korean television presenters
South Korean radio presenters
Canadian musicians of Korean descent
21st-century South Korean singers
Jeonju Chu clan
Male pianists
21st-century pianists
21st-century Canadian male singers
Canadian male jazz musicians
Clazziquai Project members