동해

Early Life

Lee Donghae, known mononymously as Donghae, was born in Mokpo, South Korea. His early aspirations leaned towards becoming a football player, but his father, who had given up on his own singing dreams, encouraged him to pursue music instead. This familial influence led Donghae to enter the entertainment industry, where he signed with SM Entertainment after winning a prize at the SM Youth Best Contest in 2001.

Career

Donghae's career took off after four years of rigorous training at SM Entertainment. He debuted as a member of the boy group Super Junior on November 6, 2005, as part of the twelve-member project group Super Junior 05. His talents extended beyond singing; he made his acting debut in Super Junior's horror documentary "Mystery 6" in early 2006 and later appeared in various music videos and dramas. In 2008, he was part of the Chinese subgroup Super Junior-M, which achieved significant success in both Korea and China. After years with SM Entertainment, Donghae left the label in July 2023 but continues to be an active member of Super Junior. In September 2023, he co-founded a new label, ODE.en, with fellow member Eunhyuk to manage his solo and group activities.

Personal Life

Donghae's personal journey includes a significant milestone when he enlisted in the military as a conscripted policeman on October 15, 2015, coinciding with his birthday. He completed his service and was discharged on July 14, 2017. Throughout his career, Donghae has remained a prominent figure in the K-pop industry, known for his contributions as a singer, songwriter, and actor.