Key

Born

1991-09-23

Birthplace

Daegu, South Korea

Biography

Kim Ki-bum, known professionally as Key, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, dancer, actor, fashion designer and television presenter under SM Entertainment. Born and raised in Daegu, South Korea, he joined SM Entertainment in 2005 after a successful audition. In May 2008, Key debuted as a member of the South Korean boy band SHINee, which later became one of South Korea's best-selling artists. Key is widely recognized as a singer and dancer, but he has also ventured into different careers, notably as a television personality. As a singer, he has collaborated with various artists and formed the duo Toheart with Woohyun of Infinite. He debuted as a soloist in November 2018 with the release of the digital single Forever Yours, and his first studio album, Face, was released later that month. Subsequent releases include Bad Love (2021), Gasoline (2022), Good & Great (2023), Pleasure Shop (2024), and Hunter (2025). Key has also contributed to songwriting for himself and SHINee. As an actor, he has been cast in multiple musicals, such as Bonnie & Clyde (2013), Zorro (2014), and Chess (2015), and in television dramas like Drinking Solo (2016) and The Guardians (2017). In 2015, Key became active as a fashion designer and took part in numerous projects. For instance, he collaborated with Bridge Shop House to design SHINee's concert outfits, and worked with model Irene Kim and the brand Charm's to design fashion apparel. Due to the success of his works, Key was appointed as a fashion director for the group. Since 2020, he has gained prominence as a television personality, appearing on the variety shows DoReMi Market and I Live Alone as a cast member. He has received the Excellence Award from the MBC Entertainment Awards in recognition of his variety performances.