Kai (EXO)

Kim Jong In, who’s more known by his stage name Kai, is a South Korean singer and actor.

He’s best known as a member of boy group EXO, before expanding his solo career in music and acting, and appearing in drama series such as Choco Bank (2016), Andante (2017), and Spring Has Come (2018).

Career

Kai started dancing when he was just eight years old. He got inspired to learn ballet after watching The Nutcracker.

In 2007, when 13 years old participated in SM Youth Best Contest.

He managed to win as Best Dancer and joined SM Entertainment. During his time as trainee, he developed his skills in hip hop, popping, and locking.

This Capricorn man was presented as member of new boyband EXO in 2011. He is the first member to be introduced to the public.

Prior to EXO’s debut, Kai made an appearance in SBS’s Gayo Daejun event. It was his first ever televised performance, taken place in December 2011.

He officially had his debut with EXO in 2012 with the release of EP Mama. Back then, EXO was divided into two sub-units: EXO-K and EXO-M.

Kai was part of EXO-K, promoting the album to the Korean market. The EP managed to reach number 1 on Gaon Album Chart and number 8 on Billboard World Albums Chart.

With EXO, the man born in 1994 continues to reach new height of success. The group got international recognition after performing at the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.

Kai had a solo stage where he got to show off his dancing skills.

Following this, EXO released Don’t Mess Up My Tempo on November 2018. The album reached number 23 on Billboard 200 and number 1 on World Albums Billboard Chart.

It was EXO’s fastest selling album to sold over 1 million copies before being overtaken by their 2021 released Don’t Fight The Feeling.

Other than being active in EXO, Kai is also part of Kpop Supergroup called SuperM. They debuted in October 2019 with EP SuperM.

It was really well received and reached number 3 on Gaon Album Chart and top the Billboard 200 chart.

He started his solo career in 2020. He released the album KAI (开) in November. It was released along with single Mmmh and 5 other tracks.

Profile

Real Name: Kim Jong In (김종인)
Chinese Name: Jin Zhong Ren (金鐘仁)
Stage Name: Kai (카이)
Nickname: Kkamjong, Sun-kissed Boy
Birthday: January 14, 1994
Birthplace: Suncheon, South Jeolla, South Korea
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Nationality: South Korean
Position: Main Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Sub Rapper (EXO)
Sub-Unit: EXO-K
Super Power (Badge): Teleportation
Religion: Christian
Profession: Singer, Actor
Education: Seoul Arts High School
Hobbies: Biking, dancing, listening to music, reading a book, watching Youtube videos, and going online
Facebook: –
Twitter: –
Threads:
Instagram: Jennie BLACKPINK
Tiktok: –
Youtube: –

Height, Weight, & Physical Appearance

Height: 180 cm (5’11”)
Weight: 67 kg (148 lbs)
Blood Type: A
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Body Measurements: –
Shoe Size: 9.5 (US)

Family

Father: –
Mother: –
Brother: –
Sister: 2

Girlfriend & Dating History

Jennie (BLACKPINK)

In December 2017, Kai was captured going on a date with Jennie, a Korean singer who’s a member of girl group BLACKPINK.

Dispatch reported their relationship in January 2018. Shortly after, both of their agencies confirmed their romance.

Unfortunately, they announced their separation only a month later. According to a source, they chose to part ways because of their busy schedules..

Krystal Jung

The singer-actor dated Krystal, an actress, singer under former group f(x), and his labelmates, in 2016.

The couple officially announced their breakup in June 2017 for undisclosed reasons.

Net Worth

Multiple sources estimated his net worth to be around $10 million to $15 million. He appears to earn his income mostly as a singer in EXO and as a solo, as well as an actor.

Plastic Surgery

There is no known information on whether he has undergone any cosmetic surgery to change his appearance.

Facts

Kai’s family consists of father, mother, and two sisters (One is nine years older and the other five years older.
His father passed away because of chronic illness on May 7, 2018.
His personality type is INFJ.
He specializes in dancing Hip Hop, Jazz, Ballet, and Popping and Locking.
Before his debut, he appeared in 13 EXO teasers.
Many people think he has cold and arrogant personalities because of his stage persona. But he is actually quiet, gentle, a bit shy, and really kind.
One of his habits is biting his lips.
Kai likes listening to R&B and Hip Hop the most.
Some of his favorite movies are Pirates of The Caribbean and Billy Elliot.
He enjoys playing video games. He admits to being good at all types of it.
This talented dancer loves eating roast duck and fried chicken.
Kai is quite close to Timoteo from HotShot, Taemin from SHINee, Sungwoon from Wanna One/HotShot, Jimin from BTS, and Ravi from VIXX.
He has appeared TVXQ’s music video for HaHaHa Song and TaeTiSeo Twinkle.
Kai looks up to Michael Jackson.
If he’s not in EXO, he would like to be a ballet dancer.
He’s chosen by fellow idols as Best Dancer in Kpop for three years in a row.
He picks Exodus as his favorite EXO album.
He doesn’t like raw oyster.
One of his favorite memories as EXO member is volunteering at Red Cross.
Kai is not someone who would take initiative to approach a girl. He would try to slowly get to know her.
He has accepted that people compare him to a bear. He often wears clothes with bears, calls himself a bear, and even has fan club named erigoms (gom means bear).
Kai was on the cover of December 2017 Big Issue. The sales beat the record since its creation.
He used to wear his hair long as a child because his mother liked it. Many people mistook him as a girl because of this.
This artist becomes the face of Levi’s Live in Levi’s.
His father promised to buy him nintendo to get him to audition for SM Entertainment.
He has a poodle named Monggu and two toy poodles named Jjangah and Jjanggu.
This actor drew designs for the cups of his sister’s cafe Kamong.
He always wishes happiness to everyone because it’s the most important thing in the world.
His ideal type is someone gentle and affectionate, like Han Yeseul.

See Full EXO Members

Drama Series

The Miracle We Met (KBS2 | 2018), as Ato
Spring Has Come (WOWOW | 2018), as Lee Ji Won
Andante (KBS1 | 2017), as Lee Shi Kyung
To The Beautiful You (SBS | 2012), as EXO-K member

Web Series

7 First Kisses (Naver TV Cast, YouTube ⏐ 2016), as Kai
Choco Bank (Naver TV Cast, YouTube ⏐ 2016), as Kim Eun Haeng
Exo Next Door (Naver TV Cast ⏐ 2015), as himself

TV Shows

Honeymoon Tavern (tvN, TVING ⏐ 2021), as himself (cast member)
Sooro’s Rovers (KBS2 ⏐ 2019), as himself (cast member)
Under Nineteen (MBC ⏐ 2018), as himself (special director)

Awards

2022 Blue Dragon Series Awards – Best New Male Entertainer – New World
2021 Asian Pop Music Awards – Best Male Artist (Overseas) – Kai (开)
2021 Asian Pop Music Awards – People’s Choice Award (Overseas) – Kai (开)
2018 StarHub Night of Stars – Favourite Korean Drama Character – Andante

2023 MAMA Awards – Best Dance Performance (Male Solo) – Rover
2021 Asian Pop Music Awards – Best Dance Performance (Overseas) – Mmmh
2020 Golden Disc Awards – Disc Bonsang – Kai (开)
2018 KBS Drama Awards – Best New Actor – The Miracle We Met
2018 KBS Drama Awards – Best Couple Award (with Ra Mi Ran) – The Miracle We Met

Quotes

“It’s not easy to show two sides of myself within one concept.”

“I have always felt that, especially with a job like this, I do tend to pay attention to how other people see me, and to what they talk about. But even within that, I make an effort to find what I want to do and what I like. And doing this, I think, really is freedom.”

“Happiness can be considered trivial. It’s just doing what you like. [But] I do think that feeling happiness within the smallest of things might be true happiness. But just to feel that little something, I think you need to put in a lot of effort.”

“I really change my style often according to my moods – my hair colour, my mood that day, or even just the order in which my clothes were hung [in the closet]. So even when I go out, I never plan my outfits beforehand.”

“You’re doing a great job. So just keep doing what you’re doing. This is what I want to tell him because I am quite satisfied with how things are now, and I feel like the past 10 years are what made the Kai of today.”

“I really like the Jongin that I am right now.”

Pics of Kai

1. Kai looks super cute in this bear sweater

instagram/zkdlin

2. The clash of colors somehow works on him

instagram/mr.jonginkim

3. He can also pull off a fun-funky look

instagram/mr.jonginkim

4. Looking cool with his hair pushed back

instagram/mr.jonginkim

5. Kai in black suit just spells classy

instagram/mr.jonginkim

FAQs

Who is Kai?

He is a a South Korean singer and actor.

Who is Kai’s real name?

His real name is Kim Jong In (김종인).

What makes Kai famous?

He’s famous as a member of boy group EXO, before expanding his solo career in music and acting, and appearing in drama series such as Choco Bank (2016), Andante (2017), and Spring Has Come (2018).