SingerActorIdolKorean

Shin Won-ho

Shin Won-ho is a South Korean singer, actor, and model, best known as a member of Cross Gene and for his roles in TV series including Big and The Legend of the Blue Sea.

1. Overview

Shin Won-ho
Shin Won-ho

Shin Won-ho (born October 23, 1991), also known by his stage name Shin, is a prominent South Korean singer, actor, and model. He is widely recognized as a member of the multinational idol group Cross Gene. Shin gained early notice for his supporting roles in popular television series such as Bachelor's Vegetable Store (2011), Big (2012), and The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016). His career began with commercial film modeling before he officially debuted as an idol with Cross Gene in 2012. Throughout his journey, Shin Won-ho has consistently emphasized the importance of teamwork and continuous personal growth, viewing his group members as family and advocating for joyful learning in his pursuits.

2. Early Life and Education

Shin Won-ho's early life was marked by a blend of academic pursuit and diverse personal interests, including a keen fascination with games and strategic board games like Go, alongside an early exposure to music.

2.1. Childhood and Academic Background

Shin Won-ho was born on October 23, 1991, in Seoul, South Korea. His family includes his father, mother, and grandmother. He completed his foundational education at Gaepo Middle School and subsequently graduated from Whimoon High School. Furthering his studies in the arts, he attended Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts and later pursued higher education in the Theater and Film Arts Department at Digital Seoul Culture Arts University. During his childhood, Shin Won-ho developed a passion for Go, a strategic board game. Encouraged by his parents, he began learning Go and even harbored aspirations of becoming a professional Go player, participating in tournaments and frequently watching Go programs. Although he did not initially embark on a path to become a singer, he was introduced to music from an early age, learning to play both the piano and the clarinet, which fostered a deep appreciation for the arts.

3. Career Beginnings

Shin Won-ho's entry into the entertainment industry was multifaceted, starting with significant success in modeling before transitioning into a prominent role within the K-pop idol scene.

3.1. Pre-Debut and Early Model Activities

Shin Won-ho made his official entertainment debut in 2011 by appearing in the Korean "BEAN POLE" commercial, famously known as the "Twenty-Year-Old Dream" campaign, where he starred alongside G-Dragon from the group Big Bang. This initial foray into commercial films (CFs) quickly established him as a recognizable figure in the advertising industry. His early success as a CF model was significant, leading to his recognition with the CF Model Award at the 2011 Asia Model Festival Awards. Following this, he continued to be active in various advertising campaigns, including those for Skin Food, KT Wireless Internet (specifically the Olleh Wi-Fi Subway advertisement), and Cyworld. In 2013, he also featured in a commercial for Pantech's VEGA IRON. His modeling career continued to flourish with appearances in the Dunkin Donuts Christmas campaign and CFs for Auction, where he partnered with Sulli from f(x). Additionally, in 2014, he was part of the Sumi Chip CF alongside Suzy from Miss A, and appeared in the WEB PRESS campaign for Bean Pole Bike Repair Shop.

3.2. Idol Group Activities (Cross Gene)

After approximately four to five years of dedicated training as a trainee, Shin Won-ho officially debuted as a singer on June 14, 2012, as a member of Cross Gene. The group was initially formed with six members from Japan, China, and South Korea, aiming for a multinational appeal. Shin Won-ho quickly became known for his key roles within the group as both its visual and a vocalist, and he was often referred to by the nickname "Phresh Gene." In 2013, Cross Gene expanded its activities into Japan, making their official Japanese debut and actively promoting there. Following the departure of some Chinese members, the group transitioned to a five-member lineup. Shin Won-ho later took on the leadership role for Cross Gene, succeeding Takuya. His commitment to the group extends beyond his official roles; he deeply values his fellow members, considering them to be like "family." He has openly expressed how much he misses them when they are not together, maintaining frequent contact during individual schedules, and has voiced a desire to continue working with them for a very long time, even suggesting over 18 years.

4. Acting Career

Shin Won-ho has established a diverse acting career, appearing in a wide range of television series, films, and stage productions, showcasing his versatility across different media.

4.1. Television Series

Shin Won-ho has built a notable career in television dramas, often taking on roles that highlight his versatility. His first major television role was in Bachelor's Vegetable Store (2011), broadcast on Channel A, where he played the character of Lee Chan-sol. In 2012, he appeared in Run 60, aired on MBS, portraying Park Hong-ki, also known as Hongki. A significant breakthrough came with his role as Kang Kyung-joon in the KBS2 drama Big (2012), where he exchanged souls with Gong Yoo and co-starred with Suzy and Lee Min-jung. This role garnered him widespread recognition.

His career continued with appearances in various series, including a unique role as Silver in Episode 25 of the Japanese tokusatsu series Shuriken Sentai Ninninger (2015) on TV Asahi, a role that resonated with his childhood interest in Japanese hero shows. The same year, he played Choi Kang in Secret Message, available on Naver TV Cast and LINE. In 2016, he was cast as Koide Enshio in Happy Marriage!? on Amazon Video and gained further prominence as Tae-oh, a genius hacker, in the highly popular SBS drama The Legend of the Blue Sea, starring alongside Lee Min-ho.

His acting journey continued with All the Love in the World (2017) on Naver TV Cast, where he played Geun Jun-huk. He then appeared as Sa Min-ho, the younger brother of Han Ye-seul's character, in the MBC drama Children of the 20th Century (2017). In 2018, he took on the role of Choi Jae-seung in MBC's Risky Romance and Lee Sung-woo in the webtoon-based drama Monkey & Dog Romance on Naver TV Cast, co-starring with Son Ji-hyun. His more recent television works include portraying Park Ji-min in Channel A's Love Affairs in the Afternoon (2019), Kim Tae-hwang in Hip Hop King - Nassna Street (2019) on SBS, Dong-gil in the web drama Lover of the Palace (2020) on Naver TV, and playing himself in Somehow Family (2021).

4.2. Film

Shin Won-ho has also extended his acting prowess to the big screen. In 2012, he appeared in the film Run 60 - Game Over, where he reprised his role as Park Hong-ki, also known as Hongki. Two years later, in 2014, he was cast as the character Nine in the film ZEDD.

4.3. Stage Musicals and Plays

Shin Won-ho has also showcased his talents on stage, participating in musical and theatrical productions. In May 2011, he took on a lead role as Lee Il in the Korean musical Carpe Diem. He later performed in the Korean musical Kyungyeon Sonata, which had runs in South Korea in 2017 and later in Japan in November 2018.

5. Broadcast Activities

Beyond his acting and music career, Shin Won-ho has been active in various broadcasting endeavors, including a wide array of variety shows and radio programs.

5.1. Variety Shows

Shin Won-ho has participated in numerous variety shows, often taking on roles as a host or cast member. In 2012, he appeared as himself on KBS2's 1 vs. 100. The year 2014 was particularly active for him, with appearances as himself in Cross Battle on HTB, Global We Got Married - Season 2 on MBC, Pops in Seoul on Arirang, Idol School on MBC, and Let's Go Dream Team! Season 2 on KBS2.

In 2015, he took on a regular role as a host on JTBC's Dating Alone. He also appeared as himself on Music On TV (M On TV) and Quiz To Change The World on MBC. In 2017, Shin Won-ho joined the cast of SBS's reality survival show Law of the Jungle in Sumatra, where he engaged in various challenges in a jungle environment. The same year, he hosted Yang Se-chan's Ten 2 on JTBC2 and became a regular cast member on Butler Has Appeared, airing on both O'live and tvN.

5.2. Radio

Shin Won-ho has also ventured into radio broadcasting, expanding his presence in the media. Since April 2015, he has been a consistent presence on the radio, notably through his regular program titled SHIN-kun's Night Chuesday. This role has allowed him to connect with his audience through a different medium, showcasing his personality and communication skills beyond his acting and singing endeavors.

6. Personal Life and Interests

Shin Won-ho's personal life reflects a blend of engaging hobbies, a strong dedication to self-improvement through language learning, and a profound appreciation for his interpersonal relationships, especially with his group members.

6.1. Hobbies and Talents

In his personal time, Shin Won-ho enjoys a variety of leisure activities that reflect his diverse interests. He is an avid gamer, particularly enjoying games on PlayStation, and also finds relaxation in reading manga. His early life interest in Go persists, as he enjoys watching Go programs. A notable aspect of his personal interests is his profound affection for Japanese anime, manga, and especially tokusatsu hero shows, such as the Super Sentai Series. He is known to have memorized all the poses and theme songs from these series, and when in Japan, he makes a point of enjoying "Hero Time" on Sunday mornings. This deep interest in Japanese culture has contributed to his impressive linguistic abilities. Shin Won-ho is highly proficient in Japanese, holding a Japanese Language Proficiency Test N2 certification. When asked for advice on language learning, he often emphasizes the importance of making the process enjoyable, stating, "There is no end to language. So learn it happily. If you think of it as studying, you will hate it, so it is best to think of it as playing." Among the books that have significantly influenced his life, he has cited the popular manga series Naruto.

6.2. Values and Relationships

Shin Won-ho places a strong emphasis on his personal values, particularly highlighting his deep bond and commitment to his group members in Cross Gene. He considers his fellow members to be like "family" and expresses profound loneliness when he is not in their presence. This strong connection is evident in his consistent efforts to communicate with them, frequently contacting his members even when he is occupied with individual schedules. He has openly articulated his desire for a long-lasting career with his group, envisioning their collaboration extending for a significant period, even suggesting more than 18 years. This philosophy underscores his belief in strong interpersonal relationships and enduring partnerships. Furthermore, his perspective on learning and self-improvement is rooted in enjoyment and passion rather than obligation, as reflected in his advice on language acquisition, suggesting that true learning comes from treating it as play rather than mere study.

7. Awards and Nominations

Shin Won-ho has received recognition for his early contributions to the entertainment industry, particularly in the fields of modeling and acting.

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
20117th Asia Model Festival AwardCM Model AwardN/AWon
2012Korean Hallyu AwardsBest Male Model AdvertisingBigWon
Best Rookie ActorWon