Han Geng

See also

• Nanai
• Super Junior
• Super Junior-M

Awards

• CCTV 2008 Chinese Entertainment Awards 2008: Best Film Rookie (Attack on the Pin-up Boys)-Nominated
• MTV Music Awards 2010: Mainland Most Popular Artist-Won

Notes

Career

Super Junior

On February 6, 2005, Han was officially announced to be part of one of South Korea 's all-boy rotational musical groups, Super Junior, as a member of its first generation, Super Junior 05. Being the first group with a Chinese and foreign member to formally debut in South Korea, the media closely followed the group. Three months later after the announcement, Han made his first media appearance as a runway model in a Fashion Show organized by Bum Suk.

With a total of twelve members, Super Junior 05 officially debuted on November 6, 2005 on SBS 's music programPopular Songs, performing their first single, " TWINS (Knock Out) ". Their debut performance attracted over 500 fans and also garnered oversea viewers from both China and Japan. A full studio album was released a month later, which debuted at #3 on the monthly MIAK K-pop album charts.In March 2006, SM Entertainment began to recruit new members for the next Super Junior generation. However, plans changed when the company added in a thirteenth member, Kyuhyun , and the company declared a halt in forming future Super Junior generations. The group dropped the suffix "05" and became officially credited as Super Junior. The re-polished group hit big after they released their first CD single " U " the following summer, which became Super Junior's most successful single in the music charts until the release of " Sorry, Sorry " in March 2009.

Han was one of the few members of Super Junior who actively appears on variety shows , such as being a regular guest inLove LetterandStar Golden Bell. Being active in variety shows, his popularity within Super Junior grew and Han became popular overseas. Aside South Korea, Han is also well-known in China, where he has made guest appearances in over three different Chinese variety shows, being one of the first K-pop idols to appear in them.Han became a national celebrity in China with the debut of Super Junior's third subgroup Super Junior-M on April 8, 2008 in China. The subgroup released their first Chinese-language studio album ,Meon May 2, 2008. The album debuted on Taiwan 's G-music combo charts as #2 and #1 on many of China's and Thailand's music charts.

Acting

Han made a cameo appearance with band-mate Eunhyuk as a friend of Heechul in an episode of the MBC dramaRainbow Romanceearly 2006. In August 2006, Han played the role of a police officer in Zhang Liyin 's debut music video " Timeless ", starring alongside Lee Yeon-hee and band-mate Siwon . The two-part music video was separately released in September 2006. The music video was ranked #1 for a full four weeks on Melon's Video Chart. In November 2007, Han starred as the lead role in Zhang's debut Chinese music video, "I Will", and "The Left Shore of Happiness" alongside Lee and Siwon. Both music videos were released in February 2008.

Han's first big-scale film wasAttack on the Pin-Up Boys, an SM Pictures production that starred all Super Junior members except Kyuhyun. He played the role of a popular basketball player who later got attacked by a mysterious force. Despite positive critical ratings, that film did not do well in the box-office. However, all four versions of the film's DVD were sold out and broke chart records.

Late 2008, Han filmed the CCTV mini drama calledStage of Youthin China. He plays Xia Lei, a young man who has to go through numerous obstacles and challenges in order to achieve his dream to become the new generation's dancing star. The 12-episode drama was a Chinese New Year Special and also a tribute to the Beijing Olympics 2008. It aired on CCTV -Children (少儿频道) from January 19–31, 2009.

2008 Beijing Olympics torch bearer

On March 20, 2008, Han was announced to be one of the torch bearers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics , the first boy-band member to be chosen in history.Being active in a foreign country, Han has simultaneously promoted Chinese culture to Korea, earning him a spot as torch bearer.His torch relay was in the Beijing route on August 7, 2008. He was runner number 240. Not only was he a torch bearer, he'd also sung in the Beijing Olympic theme song "Beijing Welcomes You (北京欢迎你)".

First recommended Solo single during his ongoing lawsuit

On July 6, Han Geng published a complete demo version of his first album title song entitled "My Logo". The song was published by American producers Tearce "Kizzo" Keaz , Rene Van Verseveld and Craig Williams who also produced for Jane Zhang the first English songs of her debut albumThe One.My Logowas written by Craig Williams and his team of award-winning United States music producers Tearce "Kizzo" Keaz , Rene Van Verseveld , Craig Williams , and Francesca Richard .Remarkably,Han Gengand Craig Williams invited Travis Payne and Stacey Walker (best known as Michael Jackson 's choreographers) along with Michael Jackson's This Is It dancers - Dres Reid , Shannon Holtzapffel, Tyne Stecklin and Daniel Celebre to join the choreography for this MV. The MV for "My Logo" was produced and directed by "Craig Williams". The 20 minute video brings much attention due to its shocking visual effects .

Controversies

Performance restrictions

Before his debut, Han entered Korea with a vacation visa and had to return to China every three months for a new one.After debuting in 2005, his company obtained an E-6 (Entertainment Industry) passport, allowing him to stay for longer periods. However, the passport strictly limited his promotional activities and appearances in various broadcasting corporations in Korea. By law, a foreigner in Korea is only permitted to perform on three television stations. Han was allowed to perform on KBS and SBS , as stated by Lee Soo Man during a Harvard Korean Wave conference in early 2007. Fellow labelmate, Zhang Liyin, also experienced the same issue. Initially, the company did not know of the procedures, and was fined because of it. Before Han signed contracts with KBS and SBS, he performed on stage with a mask and a hat to hide his face on screen. Many thought Han was a back-up dancer until three months later when a band mate (Heechul) finally revealed him to the media by publicly taking off his mask.

Despite visa restrictions, Han performed with the rest of Super Junior at the 2007 M.NET/KM Music Festival and the 2007 Golden Disk Awards. Both award ceremonies air on channels that Han was restricted to perform on.With the debut of more foreign artists in Korea, the Korean government lifted its restriction on foreign performers on August 1, 2008.

Early life

Han Geng, an ethnic Nanai from Northeast China , was born in Mudanjiang , Heilongjiang , China.At the age of 13, he was accepted into Central University for Nationalities and left Mudanjiang for Beijing to perfect his craft in dance.In December 2001, Han's friend notified him of a talent scouting audition that was going to be held in Beijing, and his friend encouraged Han to sign up with him. Although hesitant at first, Han agreed to audition with his friend. Together they signed up for theH.O.T. CHINA Audition Casting, a casting audition that was hosted by Korean talent agency and label SM Entertainment . The competition rate was 3000 to 1, and Han had no hopes of getting selected after auditions ended.

After the audition, Han began to work briefly as a cameo actor in short low-budget Chinese films to earn a salary before entering college. In late August 2002, Han was notified that he had been accepted into SM Entertainment.After Han's graduation at the Central University for Nationalities, he was sent to South Korea and received private lessons in singing, dancing, and acting, as well as learning the Korean language . Mid 2003, Han moved into dormitories and lived with other trainees who were under the same label. With the other trainees, he was enrolled in training classes. He started out as a Class C dancer (the lowest class for dancing), but later on he went straight to Class A, skipping Class B. At that time, there were only 4 people in Class A, including Han Geng.

Albums

• 2010:Geng Xin(庚心)

Tracklist:
01.MY LOGO
02.因為 夢 (Because of Dream)
03.給陌生人的情書 (Love Letter to a Stranger)
04.心疼.笔记本 (Heartache , Notebook)
05.撐傘 (Holding An Umbrella)
06.簡單的人 (Simple Person)
07.愛的翅膀 (Wings of Love)
08.SAY NO
09.女皇 (Queen)
10.飛蛾撲火 (Fire / Fatal Attraction)

Film

Television series

Music video appearances

• 2006: "Timeless" –Zhang Liyin(Feat.XiahofTVXQ)
• 2008: "I WILL" – Zhang Liyin
• 2008: "The Left Shore of Happiness" – Zhang Liyin
• 2008: "Beijing Welcomes You" – Various artists (100-day countdown for2008 Beijing Olympics)
• 2010: "Geng Xin"

1. (Chinese)Sina.com. March 31, 2008.
(Korean)Daum.net. (Chinese)Xicn.net. June 7, 2006. (Chinese)Yonhapnews.com. March 20, 2008. (Korean)“13년 전속계약 풀어달라” ‘슈주’ 한경도 SM에 소송 ("Release Me from My 13-year Contract", Super Junior's Hankyung Asks SM) . . December 22, 2009. (Korean)"한경 너마저…" 슈퍼주니어 쇼크 ("Is That Yoo, Hankyung..." Super Junior in Shock) . . December 21, 2009. (Korean)
2. ^^{a b c d} [From an episode inA Date with Luyu]
"Album Sales of December 2005" (in Korean).Recording Industry Association of Korea: pp. 1. . Retrieved 2007-10-16. (Chinese)Sina.com. (Chinese) (Chinese) August 20, 2007.
3. ^ July 6, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
(Chinese)Ent.163.com. December 15, 2007.