Shoo (singer)

Shū Kunimitsu (邦光 洙, Kunimitsu Shū, born 23 October 1981), also known as Yoo Soo-young and professionally as Shoo, is a Japanese-born Korean actress and singer.

Shoo
Shoo in 2017
Born
Shū Kunimitsu (邦光 洙)

(1981-10-23) 23 October 1981 (age 42)
Yokohama, Japan
Other namesYoo Soo-young
EducationKorea Kent Foreign School
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1997–2018, 2022–present
Spouse
Im Hyo-sung [ko]
(m. 2010)
Children3
Musical career
GenresK-pop
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsSM
Korean name
Hangul
유수영
Hanja
柳水永
Revised RomanizationYu Su-yeong
McCune–ReischauerYu Su-yŏng
Stage name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationSyu
McCune–ReischauerSyu

Shoo debuted as a member of the South Korean girl group S.E.S. in 1997 and continued until 2002 when the group disbanded. She contributed songs as a solo artist after the group's disbandment, before she went on hiatus from her music career to pursue an acting career in 2006. She returned to the music industry, releasing her single album Devote One's Love in 2010. Afterwards, she went back on hiatus for four years to take care of family before transitioning back to acting in 2014. Shoo has appeared in many variety shows, like Oh! My Baby with her family. In 2016, Shoo took part in a special 20th anniversary comeback with her S.E.S group members and the trio released a special album alongside a special concert. In December 2018, Shoo ran into legal issues and went on a hiatus. Upon returning in October 2020, she released her first Japanese digital album I Found Love.Shoo made an official comeback in 2022 with a documentary about her life. She is now an ambassador of Korean Gambling Prevention Treatment Agency.

Early life

Shoo was born Shū Kunimitsu on 23 October 1981, in Yokohama, Japan. Her parents are ethnic Koreans. After living in Japan for 15 years, Shoo and her family moved to Korea in 1996. She was initially part of a mixed-gender project group with Son Ho-young and Danny Ahn of g.o.d and Kim Hwan-sung of NRG, but she decided to join SM Entertainment after successfully auditioning for the company.[1][2]

Career

1997–2002: S.E.S.

Shoo made her debut with S.E.S. in 1997. The group debuted with the album I'm Your Girl and lead single of the same name on 1 November 1997. The group since went on to become the top-selling K-pop girl group for their generation of artists. Since their debut, the group has released five Korean albums and two Japanese albums. The group officially parted ways in 2002, due to the expiry of their contracts with SM Entertainment. Members Bada and Eugene left SM Entertainment after the expiry of their initial contracts, while Shoo stayed with SM Entertainment until 2006.

2003–2015: solo career

Shoo remained signed under SM Entertainment until 2006. In the time during which she was signed, Shoo participated on SM Town albums in 2003 and 2004. In 2006, Shoo departed from SM Entertainment and signed onto JIIN Entertainment.[3] In 2005, she began her stage musical career in the Korean adaptation of Bat Boy: The Musical,[4] which sold over 110,000 tickets in Korea and Japan. In December 2006, she stated that she would pursue acting and would be putting her singing career on hiatus.[5]

In January 2010, Shoo returned to the music scene with the release of her first mini-album, Devote One's Love with the lead track "Only You".[6]

In March 2014, Shoo signed with RUN Entertainment and returned to her career as an actress.[7]

In December 2014, Shoo along with her bandmate Bada made a special comeback on Infinite Challenge, in the episode "Saturday for Singers", and performed two songs ("I'm Your Girl" and "I Love You") with Girls' Generation member Seohyun, who was filling in for Eugene due to her pregnancy, but they stated that she wished they could have performed together.[8] In January 2015, she appeared on the show Roommate with her twin daughters, Im Ra-yool, Im Ra-hee and her husband, Hyo-sung.

2016–present: S.E.S. reunited

On 28 May, Shoo with S.E.S. members Bada and Eugene attended a charity event, Green Heart Bazaar. In October 2016, Shoo along with Bada and Eugene re-formed S.E.S. to celebrate their 20th anniversary since the debut of the group.[9] They started their project of the 20th anniversary debut with released digital single "Love[Story]", a remake of their 1999 single "Love", through SM Entertainment's digital project SM Station on 28 November[10] and its music video released on 29 December.[11]

In early December 2016, they aired their ten episode reality show Remember, I'm Your S.E.S., which broadcast through mobile app Oksusu. To accompany their 20th anniversary debut, they held a concert, Remember, the Day, on 30 and 31 December at Sejong University's Daeyang Hall in Seoul.[12]

On 2 January, the special album of their 20th anniversary debut Remember was released. The album consists of double lead singles. "Remember" was digitally released on 1 January and "Paradise" was released along with the album on 2 January.[13][14] They held a fanmeet as their last project of 20th anniversary debut called I Will Be There, Waiting For You on 1 March 2017.[15]

Personal life

Shoo married basketball player, Im Hyo-sung on 11 April 2010, at the Seoul Renaissance Hotel. Shoo was pregnant at the time.[16] In June 2010, the couple welcomed their first son, Im Yoo. In April 2013, Shoo gave birth to twin daughters.

In December 2018, Shoo was prosecuted for gambling in several countries.[17]

Discography

Single albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak positions
KOR
[18]
Devote One's Love
  • Released: 8 January 2010
  • Label: Es Management, Kakao M
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. Intro
  2. Sexy Motion
  3. Other than me (자기밖에)
  4. With Me ( with Bada & Eugene)
  5. 자기밖에 (Inst.)
18
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Collaborations

TitleYearPeak positionsAlbum
KOR
[19]
"Agape" (...지애(之愛)) (with Yoo Young-jin)2001...지애(之愛) (Agape)
"He Didn't Fall for You" (그 앤 너에게 반하지 않았어 ) (with Kan Mi-youn)2006Refreshing
"One Day" (with SoRi)2 Be One
"Yunanhi" (쇼하우) (with Show How)2008Show How – 1st Mini Album
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Participation in albums

TitleYearPeak positionsAlbum
KOR
[19]
JPN
[20]
"One [Japanese version]" (with V6)2002Feel Your Breeze / One
"Let's Sing a Song [Japanese version]" (with V6)
"One [Korean version]" (with V6)
"Let's Sing a Song [Korean version]" (with V6)
"One – Japanese version -" (with V6)seVen
"One – English version -" (with V6)
"Snow in My Mind" (with BoA & M.I.L.K)2002 Winter Vacation in SMTown.com – My Angel My Light
"I Miss You" (with Shinvi, Eric Mun & Andy Lee)
"Fell Like" (연인처럼)20032003 Summer Vacation in SMTown.com
"Summer in Dream" (with Moon Hee-jun, BoA, Jae-won, Seo Hyun-jin, Park Hee-Von)
"White"2003 Winter Vacation in SMTown.com
"Time After Time" (꿈속에서)20042004 Summer Vacation in SMTown.com
"—" denotes release did not chart.

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2008Santamaria (잘못된 만남)Yeon-Hee, Kang Il-do's wife.Supporting role[21]

Dramas

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
200320 Years Old (스무살)Jeong Soo Yeong[22]
2008Urban Legends Deja Vu Season 3 (도시괴담 데자뷰 시즌3)HyunaMain role[23]

Variety show

YearTitleNotes
2015Oh! My BabyFixed appearance
2016King of Mask Singeras There is No Failure on My Life
2022My WayCast[24]

Hosting

YearShows
2002SBS Beautiful Sunday
KBS2 Music Bank
2008O'live Kiss the date
2010MBC Every 1 Anaeleul Butaghae (아내를 부탁해)
2011Food TV Super wipe
2015MBC Apeulika Eolin-i Dobgi Huimang-ui Son-eul Jab-ajuseyo (아프리카 어린이 돕기 희망의 손을 잡아주세요)

Ambassadorship

  • Ambassadors solve gambling problems (2022)[25]

Musical theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Dong-A Ryeon (동아비련)IwamotoShe was selected as the lead woman of the drama by Fuji TV Japan and Kansai TV. Tokyo, Osaka performances.
2002Dong-A Ryeon (동아비련)Iwamoto[26]Play on Fuji TV and Kansai TV encore
Dong-A Ryeon (동아비련)IwamotoPerformances at Korea
2005Bat Boy: The MusicalShelley Parker[27]Performed in five cities in Japan
2006Bat Boy: The MusicalShelley ParkerKorean encore performances, 7 cities in Japan
2007Singin' in the RainYumiri
High School Musical on Stage!Taylor McKessie[28]Japan's musical Fuji TV. Performances at Tokyo and Osaka .
2008Musical The White Dog (백구)Baekgu[29][30]Hosted by Yale troupe, at OBS Gyeongin TV
Singin' in the RainYumiri[31][32]
2012Resurrection- The Golden Days (부활 – 더 골든 데이즈 )Jimin/ Yoon Hee[33]
2017Special Liar (스페셜 라이어)Mary Smith, John's wife[34]At Dong Sung Art Center Hall

References