Jung Dong-ha (born Jung Jae-hwan on April 17, 1980) is a South Korean singer, musical actor, radio personality and a vocal major professor at Kyungpook National University. Jung joined as a vocalist of South Korean rock band Boohwal in 2005, after releasing three albums with Boohwal Jung left the band in 2014.
Biography
Before debut (1980–2005)
Education
Jung was born in Seoul, South Korea and graduated Kwanak High School.
Background
In high school, he was the lead vocalist of a group called Navigator. At the university, he played vocal-guitar role in a space MHZ, and performed under the group alias Block Driver at clubs Hongik University Rollingstones, Koda, Freebird, and so on. While he was serving in the Korean Army, he formed his own rock band. After he was discharged from his military service, he worked on his music career on his own until he joined Boohwal, which is considered by many to be the living legend rock group in South Korea. He started his professional music career since then.
Motivation in musicianship
In an interview, Jung explains that a performance of "Don't Stop Me Now", by Queen, gave such an awe-inspiring impression that it motivated him to become a musician. He explains how amazed he was to experience guitar, bass, drums, and vocal cooperate to create such an amazing sound.
Audition
Completing military service in 2004, Jung entered into a recording studio of a composer he personally had friendship with and prepared his career further. From there he was recommended to bassist Seo, Jae-hyuk and was led to Bohwal's audition. At the time the band was in search of finding the new vocalist. In a radio show Boohwal's leader Kim Tae-won talked about how, in the audition, he heard Jung Dong-ha singing "고해/Gohae/Confession", which is one of well known classic Korean pop song, and was so amazed that he picked him as the new vocal at the spot.
After debut (2005–present)
Debut as the ninth vocalist of rock band Boowhal (2005) In 2005, Jung was initiated as the ninth successor of the legacy of Boohwal vocalists. Jung's name now lists with Boohwal vocalists Kim Jong-seo, Lee Seung-chul, Kim Jae-ki, Kim Jae-hee, Park Wan-kyu, Kim Ki-yeon, Lee Sung-wook, and Jung, Dan. With his debut album Seojeong his career as a musician started.
Freshman of Boohwal (2006–08) In 2006, Jung's second album aka Boohwal 11th Album Saarang was released. He participated in various drama OST's during years 2007, 2008
Boohwal (2009) Starting year 2009, on February, Boohwal 25th Song Book was released. On May, Jung featured on a song titled "Aaeburrlae", and on July, he participation in an O.S.T of Korean broadcasting station MBC's Drama Chinku, Urideuluijeonseul. On August, Boohwal's new official album 25th Anniversary: Retrospect I was released. In the new album he coauthored lyrics of songs named "Thodashi Saarangii", "OZ". In the O.S.T of Drama Chiku he participated in composing the song titled "The Day". Jung joined Korean broadcasting arts performance academy as a vocal trainer in a project called "Hyun Jin-young Go Project". The academy is instituted by the Korean broadcasting station SBS. He took his first step into performing in national tours and make appearance in various media broadcasts. Following that Jung Dong-ha along with Boohwal received 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards as the nominee of Best Rock Award, as well as the nominee of Korean Cultural Entertainment Award's Top 10 Singers awards criteria.