Lai Kuan-lin, also romanized as Lai Guanlin and better known mononymously as Guanlin, (;
Hangul
The Korean alphabet is the modern writing system for the Korean language. In North Korea, the alphabet is known as (), and in South Korea, it is known as (). The letters for the five basic consonants reflect the shape of the speech organs ...
: 라이관린, born 23 September 2001) is a Taiwanese rapper, singer, actor, and film director. He is known for finishing seventh on second season of reality competition series ''
Produce 101
''Produce 101'' () is a reality television talent competition franchise created by South Korean entertainment conglomerate CJ E&M, based around the formation of a K-pop girl group or boy group. The format is noted for having no panel of judges ...
'' and was a member of the South Korean boy band
Wanna One
Wanna One () was a South Korean boy band formed by CJ E&M through the second season of '' Produce 101''. The group was composed of eleven members: Kang Daniel, Park Ji-hoon, Lee Dae-hwi, Kim Jae-hwan, Ong Seong-wu, Park Woo-jin, Lai Kuan-li ...
. He also formed a duo with
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon () is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple polygon, simple pentagon is 540°.
A pentagon may be simple or list of self-intersecting polygons, self-intersecting. A self-intersecting ...
Cube Entertainment
Cube Entertainment Inc. () is a South Korean entertainment company. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production company, and music publishing house. Cube are known for h ...
.
Early life
Lai was born in
Taipei
, nickname = The City of Azaleas
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, pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth
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, Taiwan. Under his English name Edward Lai, he lived in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, US for five years until he returned to Taiwan. He attended Lin-kou High School.
Career
2017–2018: ''Produce 101'' and Wanna One
Lai was recruited by
Cube Entertainment
Cube Entertainment Inc. () is a South Korean entertainment company. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production company, and music publishing house. Cube are known for h ...
during the Cube Star World Audition in Taiwan in 2016. In 2017, Lai participated in the second season of ''Produce 101'', representing Cube Entertainment. He ranked seventh during the final episode with 905,875 votes, securing him a place in the show's project boy group
Wanna One
Wanna One () was a South Korean boy band formed by CJ E&M through the second season of '' Produce 101''. The group was composed of eleven members: Kang Daniel, Park Ji-hoon, Lee Dae-hwi, Kim Jae-hwan, Ong Seong-wu, Park Woo-jin, Lai Kuan-li ...
under
YMC Entertainment
YMC Entertainment () was a South Korean entertainment company established in 2010 by Cho Yoo-myung, the eldest son of trot singer Tae Jin-ah.
The company has been formerly home to artists such as Shin Bo-ra, Kassy and Soulights, as well as act ...
.
In November 2017, Lai appeared in labelmate
Jeon So-yeon
Jeon So-yeon (; born August 26, 1998), known mononymously as Soyeon, is a South Korean rapper and record producer under Cube Entertainment. She first gained attention for competing in the television shows ''Produce 101'' and '' Unpretty Rapsta ...
's music video for her single "Jelly".
As well as being active as a Wanna One member in South Korea, Lai is also active in China, receiving an offer from skincare brand Dr. Jart to be their brand ambassador, resulting in a great success for the company with over
₩
The won sign , is a currency symbol. It represents the South Korean won, the North Korean won and, unofficially, the old Korean Empire won, Korean won.
Appearance
Its appearance is "W" (the first letter of "Won") with a horizontal strike ...
900 million (
US$
The United States dollar (Currency symbol, symbol: Dollar sign, $; ISO 4217, currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and International use of the U.S. dollar, several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introdu ...
800,000) of the endorsed product being sold in 56 minutes.
2019–2024: Acting debut, departure from Cube Entertainment and retirement
After Wanna One's disbandment on 31 December 2018, Cube Entertainment announced that Lai would focus on solo activities in China and that he would debut in a new boy group later in the year. He was confirmed to be the guest on variety show '' Happy Camp''.
In January 2019, Lai was confirmed as male lead in Chinese drama '' A Little Thing Called First Love''. Lai, alongside
Yoo Seon-ho
Yoo Seon-ho (born January 28, 2002) is a South Korean actor, singer, and model. He is best known as a contestant on the survival reality show ''Produce 101'' season 2 and acting in the drama ''Under the Queen's Umbrella''. He has been a cast me ...
and Ha Neul, were chosen as new models for TBJ clothing brand in February 2019.
On 20 February 2019, Cube Entertainment announced that Lai would participate in a new group project alongside
Pentagon
In geometry, a pentagon () is any five-sided polygon or 5-gon. The sum of the internal angles in a simple polygon, simple pentagon is 540°.
A pentagon may be simple or list of self-intersecting polygons, self-intersecting. A self-intersecting ...
's Wooseok titled Wooseok x Kuanlin. The unit released their debut extended play, '' 9801,'' on 11 March, with the title song, "I'm a Star". Lai held his first fanmeeting 'Good Feeling' on 6 April at
Olympic Hall
Olympic Hall is a music venue located within the Olympic Park, Seoul, Olympic Park, in Bangi-dong, Songpa District, Seoul, South Korea. It opened in 2003.
In 2011, the Olympic Hall was renovated as a concert hall by the Ministry of Culture, Spo ...
in
Seoul
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
. Followed by
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
(20 April),
Singapore
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
(30 April),
Taipei
, nickname = The City of Azaleas
, image_map =
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, pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth
, coordinates =
, subdivision_type = Country ...
(4 and 20 May) and
Hong Kong
Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
(11 May).
In July 2019, Lai requested to terminate his contract with Cube Entertainment. One of the claims Lai made was that Cube Entertainment had sold his artist management rights in China to a third party without notifying him. After the legal dispute, Lai moved his career to China. On 17 June 2021, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in Lai's favour and ended his contract with Cube Entertainment.
In June 2020, Lai was cast in youth drama ''Don’t Think About Interrupting My Studies'' as the main lead, Lin Xiao Ran, alongside
Li Landi
Li Landi (; born 2 September 1999), also known as Landy Li, is a Chinese actress, singer and model of Hui ethnicity. She also starred in 2019 Chinese film '' Adoring''. She is best known for her roles in the dramas '' My Huckleberry Friends'' (2 ...
as Nan Xiangwan.
In 2021, Lai debuted as film director for the short film ''Em Chu Em Nie Zi Bo (Winter & Spring Are Fighting)''. The film won for the month of June 2021 in the Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards. Lai won best director while the short film won Best of Fest, Best Cinematography, Best Leading Actress and Best Costume Design.
In June 2024, Lai was photographed with a female companion, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship. Two days after the photos surfaced, he announced his decision to "switch career paths" and retire from the entertainment industry, with speculation that he will focus on being a film director.
Endorsements
In 2018 and 2019, Lai Kuan-lin became an ambassador for Dr.Jart+,MGTV International APP, Chinese Social Assistance Foundation and Green Carpet Action (Marie Claire x China Green Foundation). He has endorsed
Nongfu Spring
Nongfu Spring (; lit. "farmer's spring (hydrology), mountain spring") Is a Chinese bottled water and soft beverage company headquartered in Xihu District, Hangzhou, Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
L'Oréal
L'Oréal S.A. () is a French multinational personal care corporation registered in Paris
and
Downy
Downy, also known as Lenor in Europe, Taiwan and Japan, is an American brand of fabric softener produced by Procter & Gamble that was introduced in 1960.
Brand history
Lenor is a brand name of fabric softener and dryer sheets, also produced by ...
, KM Pharmaceutical (XYLIS), Perfect Diary VIVLAS Lipstick Wolong Nuts and elleair.
In March 2021, Lai announced support for cotton from
Xinjiang
Xinjiang,; , SASM/GNC romanization, SASM/GNC: Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Sinkiang, officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People' ...
in mainland China, after some companies had expressed concerns about
human rights abuses
Human rights are universally recognized moral principles or norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both national and international laws. These rights are considered inherent and inalienable, meaning t ...
. The premier of Taiwan,
Su Tseng-chang
Su Tseng-chang ( zh, t=蘇貞昌, poj=So͘ Cheng-chhiong, p=Sū Zhēnchāng; born 28 July 1948) is a Taiwanese politician who served as premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2019 to 2023. He was the chairma ...
, later said that some of Taiwan's celebrities were selfish for expressing support for Xinjiang's cotton, and said that generations of people had worked hard in Taiwan to achieve democracy and its respect for human rights.