Jang Han-byul

Jang Hanbyul
Jang in 2022
Born
Jason Jang Han-byul

(1990-07-04) 4 July 1990 (age 34)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian[1]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
  • producer
  • television personality
Musical career
GenresK-pop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboard
  • saxophone
Years active2011–present
Labels
  • The Groove Entertainment
  • Universal Music Japan
  • Warner Music
  • Sony Music Korea
Korean name
Hangul
장한별
Revised RomanizationJang Hanbyeol
McCune–ReischauerChang Hanbyŏl

Jang Han-byul (born 4 July 1990) is an Australian-born singer, actor, producer and television personality based in South Korea. He was the host of After School Club along with co-host, Eric Nam and has appeared on the Code: Secret Room and Society Game.[2] He is the former lead vocalist of Led Apple and made his official debut with mini-album CODA in November 2011. His YouTube channel reached almost 1 million subscribers but was deleted in 2015 following a legal dispute with his previous label. As of 2020, Jang's estimated net worth is US$10 million.[citation needed]

Early life and education

Jang was born in Brisbane, Queensland, to South Korean parents. Since he was five years old, Jang had a passion for musical instruments and took private piano, violin, and saxophone lessons during his childhood before growing an interest for singing.Despite his musical talent, Jang's dream was to become a professional football or basketball player at a young age. As a teenager, his parents aspired for Jang to become a golf player because of his athletic abilities but lost his passion for the game after a few years.

Jang attended Brisbane Grammar School. He was a regular of both the football and basketball first teams during his time at Brisbane Grammar. Jang was an all-round A student but particularly excelled in mathematics where he was a regular member of the school Olympiad team as well as dux of Mathematics during his graduating years. He graduated with an OP1, the highest possible academic rank achievable, which made Jang eligible to study any course he wished in university.

Jang was accepted into the School of Dentistry at Monash University, the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney but chose to study Dental Science at the University of Queensland, in order to stay closer to his parents. Jang admitted in an interview with eNEWS24 that he studied dentistry after being given an ultimatum by his parents that they would allow him to go to Korea to audition to become a singer, only if he had a financially secure option aligned for his future. He deferred after his second year of dentistry to pursue music in Korea after receiving overwhelming interest for his talent from major music labels.

Jang is multilingual, having studied languages during high school and throughout his career. He is fluent in Korean, English, Japanese, French, Latin, Chinese and Malay.

Career

Jang started his musical career as a trainee at various major Korean music labels for 2 years, including the same agency as IU at LOEN Entertainment, before making his debut as the frontman of the K-pop band, Led Apple. While he was with the band, Jang found international success with his Music Note song covers on his YouTube channel, most of his covers reaching millions of views. His channel reached almost 1 million subscribers but was deleted in 2015 following a legal dispute with his previous label.

He was a prominent host of many Korean television talk-shows and music programs and rose to worldwide fame among K-pop fans as the host of After School Club alongside co-host, Eric Nam, interviewing global K-pop groups such as BTS, EXO and Miss A. Largely due to Jang's global popularity, Led Apple embarked on several international and European tours. In Japan, Led Apple found huge success selling out concerts in Tokyo and Osaka for several years. Their Japanese debut album, Kiss Tour, debuted at number 12 on the Oricon Album Charts. Their second Japanese album charted in at number 9 on the Top 10 Oricon Album Charts and the album's single, "Greatest World", reached number 10 on the Oricon Singles Charts.

In 2011, Jang's band Led Apple was named one of the most anticipated K-pop acts of 2011 by WaveK. In 2012, Jang was named one of the best vocalists in K-pop as well as one of the most beautiful faces in K-pop in the same year. Led Apple was also awarded best new artist at the 20th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards in this year.

He appeared on several episodes of Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend from 2012 to 2013, receiving standing ovations for his unique renditions of original songs and became well known as a powerful and versatile vocalist often being compared to Lee Hong-gi of F.T. Island. His rendition of "Invisible Love" by Shin Seung-hun was particularly praised.

In 2015, Jang left the band due to mistreatment from his previous label and went on to pursue a solo career. In addition to his singing and acting career, he has also worked as a songwriter and vocal trainer for other K-pop artists.

His solo soundtrack "Winter Wind" for the South Korean drama, Remember, reached the Top 10 QQ Music Charts in China in 2016.

in 2019, Jang participated in a popular Malaysian singing reality competition television series, Big Stage Season 2 and made history by becoming the first and only champion from a foreign country in Malaysian reality television to date.

He was awarded "Best New Artist" at the 2020 MeleTOP Era Awards in his first year in Malaysia but could not attend the award ceremony because he was residing in South Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jang was a contestant on The Masked Singer Malaysia Season 3 as Piza Panas where he finished in third place overall. There was much controversy surrounding the results of the show with many netizens and audience disputing that Jang should have rightfully been the champion of the show. He placed first in six of the 11 weeks of the show including the semi-final, making Jang the only contestant to have won in 6 weeks of competition in the history of The Masked Singer Malaysia.

Jang has been the face and brand ambassador of major brands and products during his career including skin care brand IOPE, hair care house Foresta, fashion house Greedilous, Coway, beverage company Power Root and McDonald's.

Currently, he is active between South Korea and Malaysia.

Discography

Led Apple

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[3]
"With Coffee" (with Zia)[4] 2013 33
  • KOR: 134,529[5]
Non-album singles
"It's Spring" (봄이 왔어요)[6] 2017
"Dumb Love" (뭣 같은 LOVE)
"One A.M." (새벽 한시)[7] 2018 65
"Luka Dan Bahagia"[8] 2019 1 Big Stage 2019
"Used to This" 2021 Non-album singles
"Pesona Kamu"[9] 2022
"Bukan Milikmu"[7]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Soundtrack appearances

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[3]
"I'll Be There For You" 2013 45 7th Grade Civil Servant OST
"Call My Name" 2014 Marriage Not Dating OST
"Shooting Star" 2015 Cheer Up! OST
"Winter Wind" (겨울바람)[7] 2016 Remember OST
"Those Words" (그 말) Blow Breeze OST
"I Love You" (널 사랑해) 2018 I Picked Up a Celebrity on the Street OST
"Like A Star" (마음이 별이 되어) 2020 Mr. Queen OST
"Retak"[11] Dendam Cinta Arissa OST
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Filmography

Music Videos

Year Title Length Publisher Ref.
2018 "One A.M"
(새벽 한시)
3:54 1theK
(원더케이)
2021 "Used To This" 3:27 Sony Music Korea

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Mat Bond Malaya Agent 5 First Malay movie

Television

Year Program Network Roles Notes
2012 Simply Kpop Arirang TV himself host
2012 Lee Seungyeon and 100 Women Story On himself host
2012 Music High SBS Power FM himself host
2012 US M-Countdown Mnet himself host
2013 After School Club Arirang TV himself host
2013 Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend KBS2 himself regular contestant
2015 Code: Secret Room JTBC himself contestant
2016 Touch Q Arirang TV himself contestant
2016 Society Game tvN himself contestant
2019 Big Stage (Season 2) Astro Ria himself contestant on Malaysian Reality Show
2020 Dansa Dan Sing Astro Ria himself Guest Judge on Malaysian Reality Show
2020 MeleTOP Astro Ria himself Malaysian talk show
2020 Cuti Baru Nak Up Astro Ria himself Malaysian Travelogue Show EP8
2020 The Cuba Show: Edisi Ramadan Astro Ria himself First Malay television Show for Ramadhan month
2020 Aku Benci Kpop(I Hate Kpop) Astro Ria Hyun Jun First Malay Telemovie
2020 The Cuba Show: Edisi Raya Astro Ria Himself Second Malay television show for Aidilfitri
2021 I Can See Your Voice Malaysia (season 4) TV3 Himself Guest on Malaysian Reality Show
2021 Kak Kek Ngajar Oppa Kecek Astro Ria Hyun Main cast
2022 Arena Panas: Pro vs Bro Astro Warna Himself Host
2023 Lecturerku Oppa iQIYI Hyun Lead actor

Big Stage Season 2

Jang Han-Byul participated in a Malaysian singing reality competition television series, Big Stage Season 2, in 2019 which aired on Astro Ria.[12] In this reality show, Jang Han-Byul used the name Han-Byul.

Performance:
Week Theme Song Original Artist Result
Week 1 N/A Shooting Star Jang Han-byul SAFE
Week 2 Hype Beat Vroom Vroom Nabila Razali SAFE
Week 3 Glocal Hits I'll Never Love Again Lady Gaga SAFE
Week 4 Duominasi Just Give Me A Reason (ft Sarah Suhairi) Pink & Nate Ruess SAFE
Week 5 Cannot Brain Yang Sedang Sedang saja Iwan SAFE
Week 6 Judge Choice Love Someone Lukas Graham SAFE
Battle Song Bang Bang (Battle With Neeta) Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj
Week 7 Road To Final Boy With Luv BTS Ft Halsey SAFE
Duet Dirgahayu (Duet with Siti Sarah) Dato' Sri Siti Nurhaliza Ft Faizal Tahir
Week 8 Cover Final Lose Yourself Eminem WINNER
New Single Luka Dan Bahagia Jang Han-byul

Han-Byul placed first in all weeks of competition except for the first week. He was number 1 on fan voting in all weeks throughout the whole competition with almost 50% of all audience votes going to Han-Byul. The video of his second week performance, "Vroom Vroom" went viral in Malaysia and made Han-Byul a household name. His challenging and daring song choices was notable throughout the competition where judges such as Siti Nurhaliza gave standing ovations and praised him for his courageous and hard-working artistry.

In the final concert of Big Stage Season 2, Han-Byul made history by becoming the first and only champion from a foreign country in Malaysian reality television. His debut Malaysian single "Luka Dan Bahagia" reached number 1 on the Malaysian radio station Era as well as on several other local radio stations.

The Masked Singer Malaysia Season 3

Jang appeared on The Masked Singer Malaysia Season 3 as the disguised mascot, Piza Panas. He placed first in six of the 11 weeks of competition becoming the only contestant in the history of The Masked Singer Malaysia to accomplish such an achievement. In the final week, he finished in third place overall. There was much controversy surrounding the results of the final week with many of the audience voicing their opinion that Jang should have been the champion of the show. Jang as Piza Panas was number 1 in audience voting in all weeks of competition, making him a fan favourite among netizens for his energetic stage persona and choreographed performances.

Performance as Piza Panas:
Week Song Original Artist Result
Week 1 It's Gonna Be Me NSYNC WIN
Week 2 Pelayaran May WIN
Week 3 Bagaimana Kalau Aku Tidak Baik-Baik Saja Judika WIN
Week 4 Kau Sakiti Amir Masdi WIN
Week 5 Highway To Hell AC/DC WIN
Week 6 Havoc Joe Flizzow feat Altimet & SonaOne 5th
Week 7 Balqis Siti Nurhaliza 4th
Week 8 Sampai Syurga Faizal Tahir 2nd
Week 9 Sudah Ku Tahu Projector Band 2nd
Week 10 Eye Of The Tiger Survivor WIN
Gemuruh (Duet with Nyoq Muda) Awie feat Amy Search
Finals Hilang Naluri Once Mekel 3rd Overall
SriKandi Cintaku (Duet with Amir Masdi) Bloodshed

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2012 20th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards Best New K-pop Artist Led apple WON
2020 2020 MeleTOP Era Awards Best New Artist Himself WON[13]

References

  1. ^ "Brisbane-born Jason Jang becomes K-Pop sensation". Special Broadcasting Service. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. ^ Lee, So-dam (26 February 2016). "前 레드애플 멤버 한별, 새 소속사 둥지 틀고 활동 기지개". OSEN [ko]. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Gaon Digital Chart positions:
  4. ^ 지아-레드애플 한별 듀엣곡, 음원 차트 상위권 랭크 "달콤 하모니". Star Today (in Korean). 15 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. ^ 2013년 05월 Download Chart. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. ^ 장한별, 데뷔곡 '봄이 왔어요' 티저 공개…이국적 정취. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Ng, Scott (25 May 2022). "South Korean singer and ex-LEDApple member Han Byul debuts with Malay-language single 'Bukan Milikmu'". NME. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  8. ^ Mohamad, Zaidi (7 October 2019). "'Lagu siap 10 minit'". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  9. ^ Mohamad, Zaidi (24 February 2022). "Han Byul tak nak nyawa berisiko". Berita Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  10. ^ Cumulative sales of "I'll Be There For You":
  11. ^ "Retak (From "Dendam Cinta Arissa" Soundtrack) - Single by Han Byul". Apple Music US. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Big Stage S2 – Program Pertandingan Nyanyian Terbaru Astro | Gempak".
  13. ^ Budiey (21 December 2020). "List of winners of Anugerah MeleTOP ERA 2020" (in Masai).