Boohwal

(From left to right)
Kim Tae-won
Date of birth : April 12th, 1965
Position : Guitar

Chae Je-min
Date of birth : March 6th, 1969
Position : Drums

Jeong Dong-ha
Date of birth : April 17th, 1980
Position : Vocal

Suh Jae-hyuk
Date of birth : January 17th, 1975
Position : Bass

Biography
Boohwal made their debut in 1986 with the song “Heeya.” This date is blurry though, being that there was a band with similar members even before 1986. However, for record keeping purposes, the date when the band started being promoted as Boohwal was 1986. Although many changes have occurred in the past 2 decades, the band Boohwal has kept its solid position in the local pop music world. Beginning in 1985, the heavy-metal music in Korea started to grow. Many active bands that had the sound of British heavy-metal music, performed in the Jongro area located in central Seoul. Among the heavy-metal bands, was Boohwal who received the most attention. Since its opening, the Pagoda Theater in Jongro saw its largest crowd when Boohwal was performing.

The band’s first vocalist was Kim Jong-seo. Lee Seung-cheol joined the band a year later in 1986. Since Lee joined the band, Boohwal began to establish a stronger foundation for their music style. Songs like “Heeya” and “The Story of You and Rain” sung by Lee Seung-cheol were sensationally popular. After Lee Seung-cheol left the band, Kim Jae-ki joined Boohwal as a new singer. However, Kim Jae-ki died suddenly from a car accident at the young age of 26. Kim Jae-hee, the younger brother of Kim Jae-ki joined the band in 1994 and the song “As I Love You More” became a smashing hit. With the popularity of the song, 800 thousand copies of Boohwal’s 3rd album were sold. Kim Jae-hee stayed with Boohwal until the band released its 4th album in 1995. After Kim Jae-hee left the band, Park Wan-kyu who had been actively performing on stage within the 8th U.S. military base in Korea, joined the band. Park Wan-kyu gave a refreshing change to the band’s music through more upbeat dance rock music, such as the number “Lonely Night.” Park’s cool and refreshing voice appealed to many pop music lovers enabling the band to enjoy its second heyday. Since then, the band took a two year break, not releasing any new albums.

Then, with Kim Ki-yeon as the lead vocal and Chae Je-min as the drummer, Boohwal released its 6th album introducing a style of rock music that’s still pretty unique to Korea. In 2002, the band reunited with Lee Seung-cheol once again. Seems that the combined forces was still as strong as ever! “Never Ending Story,” the title song of Boohwal’s 8th album featuring Lee Seung-cheol as the main vocalist, became an instant hit. Despite the depression in the album market, more than 370 thousand copies of the album were sold. Just like the name of the band “Boohwal”, which means reincarnation, the band was ‘born again’ in the local pop music world.

In 2005, the band’s 20th anniversary came and went signaling their veteran status in the industry. Then in 2008-2009, leader Kim Tae-won started to appear on many different variety tv shows. This only enlargened their fan base. New member, Jung Dong-ha also helped attract new fans. More specifically, female fans.

Discography
Heeya (1st album, October 3, 1986) : Heeya, The Story of You and Rain, I Only Have You, Lovers On The Street, Doll’s Reincarnation, Sad Fantasy, A Friend Not A Lover, Mark Of Love, Healthy Song

Remember (2nd album, November 1, 1987) : Recollection I, Recollection II, Recollection III, February 7th, At Heaven, Sad Deer, Jill’s Theme

Loss of Memory (3rd album, November 1993) : Rain Shower, Black and White Movie, Loss Of Memory, 8.1.1, The More I Love, Star, When The Gray Rain Falls, Misery Miserable Drawing

About the Idle Thoughts (4th album, 1995) : On the Day that Memories Call, About the Idle Thoughts, Yearning that Comes and Goes

The Discover of Fire (5th album, July 7, 1997) : Lonely Night, A Sad Hope, 21C Depression, To Tiny You, Magician, Yet Another Maze, Faith, Recollection, Discovery of Fire I, Discovery of Fire II, Discovery of Fire III

Strange Line of Sight (6th album, August 3, 1999) : Possibility, To You, Streets, Change, When Called, Recollection II, Your Silence, Ideal Gaze I, Ideal Gaze II, Ideal Gaze III

Color (7th album, December 28, 2000) : Good-bye, A Pain That I Can’t Take For You, I Can Dream Come True, Piece, Ant, Color, In Your Eyes, Second Dimension, Sad Deer, Heeya, Rain Shower, The More I Love, Lonely Night, Sad Hope, Possibility, To You, Ideal Gaze I, Ideal Gaze II

Dawn with Lee Seung-cheol (8th album, August 31, 2002) : Dawn, Island, The Sights A Blind Boy Saw, Recollection II, Fourth Recollection, Never Ending Story, R.E.M., The Opposite Direction Of The World, The Story of You and Rain, At Heaven II

Over the Rainbow (9th album, December 20, 2003) : Promenade, A Beautiful Fact, Wings, Love Song, Rain Shower, Rain, Soloist, 1970, Within Make Believe, Over The Rainbow, Emerald Light At The Beach, Failan

Over The Rainbow (Repackage album, May 4, 2004)

Emotions (10th album, July 5, 2005) : Time, The Other Side of Memories, A Prayer to Overcome Sorrow, Yellow, 4.1.9 The Elephant Escapes, A Spider’s Web, Imagine, Recollection III (In Eternity), Second 8.1.1, Sunset, To Tiny You, To Hope (For My Father)

Love (11th album, Novembe 1, 2006) : Dear Friend- Did You Know, Time 2, Love, Close Your Eyes, Summer of 1971, A Side Effect, IF, Purity, Butterfly, Love (Piano version)

25th Anniversary : Retrospect (12th Part I album, August 14, 2009) : I Think Of You, Again Love, OZ, Yesterday, Sad Deer, Black And White Movie

25th Anniversary : Retrospect II (12th Part II album, March 22, 2010) : Fairy Tale, This Thing Called Love, Someday, You’re White, White Night, The More I Love, Black And White Movie II

Because I Love You (digital single, September 7, 2010)