Yoo Young-jae (Korean: 유영재; born January 24, 1994), also known mononymously as Youngjae, is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as an idol in the six-member group B.A.P under TS Entertainment, where he served as the main vocalist from 2012 to its dissolution in 2019. He released his debut mini-album Fancy in April 2019.
Early life
Yoo was born on January 24, 1994, in Bangbae-dong in the Seocho District of Seoul. He is the second and younger son of his father and fashion brand business-owning mother. He lived in a wealthy household up until the 1997 Asian financial crisis; his family struggled financially thereafter. They lived in a container home for a period of time and his father moved away. Yoo lived in a villa in Yongin with his mother and they moved into a basement room in Seoul. He spent his youth playing video games and, in sixth grade, wanted to become a pro-gamer.[1] In his second year of middle school, Yoo sang during a talent show with a group of friends; he described the cheers for an encore "only for me". The following year, he enrolled in a music hagwon where he began receiving music lessons.[2]
Yoo auditioned at several music agencies as a high school student. After spending tens months in communication, he became a trainee under JYP Entertainment and was slated to debut in a group at the time.[3] He ultimately left the record company one year later citing "personal reasons". He auditioned for TS Entertainment and was signed to the label soon after.[4]
Yoo was revealed as a member of idol sextet B.A.P on January 18, 2012, where he served as the main vocalist.[5][6] The group debuted eight days later with its single album Warrior.[7] In November 2014, the group filed a lawsuit against its agency. The members sought to nullify its contract with the company citing "unfair conditions and profit distribution".[8] In August of the following year, the two parties ultimately settled and B.A.P resumed its activities under TS Entertainment.[9] In August and December 2018, Yongguk and Zelo left the group and record label following the expiration of their contracts, respectively.[10][11] Yoo and the remaining three members left the agency in February 2019, leading to the dissolution of B.A.P.[12]
2019–present: Solo activities
Yoo established an independent record label to release his solo music.[13] He released his debut mini-album Fancy on April 19.[14] Yoo was cast as the lead role in JTBC's app drama series Kim Seul Gi Genius as the lead character. The app was released on iOS and Android and the first episode was made available to watch on May 18, 2019. It will be made available for streaming in November 2019.[15] Yoo also joined the cast of TvN D's variety, 'Mileage Soccer' where celebrities played soccer with various soccer teams in Korea to raise money for charity.[16]
On August 29, 2019, it was announced that Yoo had signed an exclusive contract with a new agency, DMost Entertainment.[17] Under DMost Entertainment, Yoo would continue to pursue music as well as acting and variety. Yoo was cast in his first major television role in the KBS drama Woman of 9.9 Billion which began airing in November.[18] Yoo also participated in his first OST for the drama. The song, "그녀가 처음 울던날" is a remake of Kim Kwang Seok's song of the same name.[19]
Yoo made his comeback with his second mini-album O,on on October 22.[20]
In March 2020, fans speculated that Yoo had terminated his contract with DMost Entertainment after his profile had been taken down from the company's official website. After fans contacted the company, it was confirmed that he had terminated his contract with them.[21] Yoo was then represented again by his one-man agency, JWorld Entertainment.
In June 2020, it was revealed that Yoo had been cast in tvN's historical comedy drama, Mr. Queen through an official audition process.[22] The drama was first aired on December 12, 2020.
In February 2021, it was announced that Yoo would be making his debut on the big screen with Sing a Song, where he would be playing the lead character Hyun-do, a teenager from an elite family who wants to pursue pop music rather than classical music.[23]
On March 14, 2022, it was revealed that Yoo signed a contract with Forstar Company, who would support him in his acting career.[24] His contract with Forstar Company ended in May 2024, and it was revealed in June 2024 that Yoo signed a contract with A.COMPASS, who would support him in his music and acting career.[25]
Yoo has since continued developing his acting career, taking on the lead role of Na A-reum in tvN's Our Beautiful Summer upon completing his military service.[26] Yoo also made his debut as a musical actor in 2024 through Buchihanan (부치하난) where he was cast in the lead role of Nu-ri.[27]
Personal life
Military service
On November 6, 2022, Yoo posted on Instagram that he would be serving his mandatory military service on November 8, 2022.[28] Yoo completed his military service on 7 May 2024.[29]
^Yoo Byung-cheol (March 14, 2022). "유영재, 포스타 컴퍼니와 전속계약 체결" [Yoo Young-jae signed an exclusive contract with Posta Company] (in Korean). Korean Economic TV. Retrieved March 14, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Hyun-Rok (June 19, 2024). "B.A.P 유영재, 에이컴패스 전속계약[공식]" [B.A.P's Yoo Young-jae, signed an exclusive contract with A.COMPASS] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee Ye-Ju (September 3, 2024). "B.A.P 출신 유영재, tvN '아름다운 우리 여름' 주연 확정 [공식]" [B.A.P's Yoo Youngjae, Confirmed to star in tvN's 'Our Beautiful Summer' as lead [Official]] (in Korean). mydaily. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Naver.
^Kang Yeon-woo (August 9, 2024). "뮤지컬 '부치하난' 9월 초연 개막・・・'정택운・유영재・노윤' 캐스팅" [Musical 'Buchihanan' premiering in September・・・casting of 'Jung Taek-woon・Yoo Young-jae・Noh-yoon' 캐스팅] (in Korean). Maeil. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (November 6, 2022). "유영재 8일 입대 발표…B.A.P 회동 뭉클 [DA★]" [Yoo Young-jae announced his enlistment on the 8th... B.A.P meeting munkle [DA★]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved November 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Tae-Hyun (May 7, 2024). [hhttps://www.news1.kr/entertain/celebrity-topic/5404883 "B.A.P 출신 유영재, 오늘 육군 현역 복무 마치고 전역"] [B.A.P's Yoo Young-jae, completes his mandatory military service and is discharged] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Naver.
^Park Eun-hae (March 19, 2021). "유영재 '폴리스 아카데미' 출연 확정, 경찰대 신입생 변신(공식)" [Yoo Young-jae confirmed to appear in'Police Academy', transformed into a freshman at the police (official)]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
^Kim Jin-seok (June 5, 2022). "유영재, '클리닝 업' 버릇 없는 조카役 특별출연…" [Yoo Young-jae to make a special appearance in 'Cleaning Up' as the naughty nephew...] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Ye-Ju (September 3, 2024). "B.A.P 출신 유영재, tvN '아름다운 우리 여름' 주연 확정 [공식]" [B.A.P's Yoo Youngjae, Confirmed to star in tvN's 'Our Beautiful Summer' as lead [Official]] (in Korean). mydaily. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee Seung-hoon (March 28, 2022). "플레이리스트가 달라졌다, 2022 라인업 공개..'뉴연플리'부터 '약한영웅'⋅'소년비행'까지" [Playlist is changing, 2022 lineup reveal..from 'Love Playlist' to 'Weak Hero' and 'Juvenile Deliquency'] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved March 30, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ji Min-kyung (April 11, 2022). "미미쿠스' 유영재X조유리X김윤우X나나, 출연 확정..4월 크랭크인 [공식]" [Mimicus' Yoo Young-jae X Jo Yu-ri X Kim Yun-woo X Nana confirmed to appear... April crank-in [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved April 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Yeon-woo (August 9, 2024). "뮤지컬 '부치하난' 9월 초연 개막・・・'정택운・유영재・노윤' 캐스팅" [Musical 'Buchihanan' premiering in September・・・casting of 'Jung Taek-woon・Yoo Young-jae・Noh-yoon' 캐스팅] (in Korean). Maeil. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Naver.
