Top 10 Best Lead Vocalists of Korean Boy Bands
In every boy band, each member has a specific role, such as lead vocalist, lead dancer, or rapper.
The lead vocalist often sings the majority of the parts in a song, making their voice particularly influential in shaping our listening experience.
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Yesung - Super Junior
Kim Kang-hoon, born Kim Jong-woon and better known by his stage name Yesung, is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the South Korean boy band Super Junior and its subgroups Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-H, and he has participated in SM the Ballad. Yesung has also released solo albums... read more
Everyone always chooses Kyuhyun, but I think it's mainly because he has a lot of younger fans who are biased towards his good looks. Although he is a good singer, Yesung is overlooked a lot despite having the most abilities. Also, people think he can't sing live when the other members say he is among the top.
I think it's because he always sings such high notes that it gets tiresome, and not to mention that his voice is husky so it doesn't blend well with microphones. When he sings on radio shows or just variety shows though, it's amazing!
There's practically no reason why he shouldn't be the best lead vocalist. In every song he sings, you can always feel the emotions that he puts into singing.
Many people compare Kyuhyun's voice to Yesung's and choose Kyuhyun, but their way of singing is different. Kyuhyun's voice is smooth and soothing, just like a lullaby that can make you go to sleep. However, Yesung's voice is deep and husky, and it just makes the listeners feel as if Yesung himself is suffering from heartbreak or similar emotions because he really puts all his emotions into singing.
His voice is simply amazing. His vocals amaze me a lot too, and he can hit high notes, unlike many other people who said that he can't.
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Kyuhyun - Super Junior
Cho Kyu-hyun, born February 3, 1988, is a South Korean singer and actor. He is a member of the boy band Super Junior and its subgroups Super Junior-M and Super Junior-K.R.Y. He was also a member of the ballad group S.M. The Ballad.... read more
Technically, all of the KRY is good with well-taught singing skills. I choose him over Yesung and Ryeowook because he has a more powerful vocal than the two. A lot of people think Yesung's voice is very powerful, but if people listen closely, he tends to lose strength when shouting high notes. I have to admit that Kyuhyun lacks pitch control, but maybe it's the effect of bringing too much emotion. Yesung and Ryeowook have better pitch control.
But still, I love his voice, and I think Kyuhyun's way of singing is just effortless. Besides, the improvisations he chooses to use are often quite hard, and vocally, he has a bigger range than Yesung and Ryeowook.
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Jung Yong-hwa - CNBLUE
Yong Hwa has a very versatile voice with so much power, you need to hear it live to truly appreciate what a strong vocalist he is. His voice is able to carry above the instruments during his rock numbers with clarity, nuance, and emotion. I've heard him sing live in a concert with other singers, and you can tell the difference. His is a true rock voice, not about shouting but projecting his powerful voice above the music.
I love how he can go from sexy and raspy to emotional and rock, to smooth and jazzy, and his transition to falsetto is so natural. And when he raps, you feel that he's telling you a story. I now love everything about Yong Hwa, but it was his voice that first got me to truly notice him.
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Ryeowook - Super Junior
Kim Ryeowook, born June 21, 1987, is a South Korean singer, actor, and musical performer. He is best known as a member of the boy band Super Junior, which debuted in 2005, and its sub-groups Super Junior-K.R.Y. and Super Junior-M. He was discovered through the CMB Youth ChinChin Festival in 2004 and... read more
He's got one of the most unique vocals in K-pop. And despite what most people think, he isn't all about high notes. His collaboration song with Beige shows that he can hit low notes as well, and after many years, the emotion in his singing has greatly improved.
He has great technique and powerful, sharp vocals that can either give you energy or help you relax. His technique is better than Yesung's, and his unique sound puts Kyuhyun and his generic (but still beautiful) voice out of the way. He is Super Junior's secret and rare gem. Very underrated but very talented.
Ryeowook's voice is my personal favourite out of all the Super Junior boys'. It's so clear and chiming, yet it has a certain sort of edge to it at the same time, a sweet kind of iciness. If crystals could be heard, they would probably sound like his voice.
He may not be the most versatile vocalist. On some songs, he is easily outshined by fellow bandmates Kyuhyun and Yesung, and his strong points aren't brought out as well. But in the songs that suit him, I swear his voice glimmers. He's got a lovely voice and lungs of steel to boot.
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Ken - VIXX
Ken's voice is actually better than Leo's, and he's more consistent live. Ken really deserves more recognition. The songs VIXX sings are crazily choreographed and composed, and Ken is good enough to handle it all.
A voice that mesmerizes and captivates audiences due to his flawless execution and consistency. Some may even be bothered by this perfection, but no one can deny his raw gift.
Ken's voice is slightly better than Leo's, in my opinion. He can belt effortlessly. His voice is thick and versatile, which matches my personal taste.
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Jonghyun - SHINee
His voice is the reason I got into K-pop. The moment I heard his first lines in "Ring Ding Dong," I was totally captivated. I thought his voice was incredible, despite the fact that I was kind of weirded out by the dancing, the song, and the video, plus he looked kind of scary (his eyebrows, you know).
But now he's my ultimate bias, and I can't get enough of him. I know there are other great K-pop vocalists, but Jonghyun's voice never fails to amaze me. He has complete voice control and the right emotion put into his singing.
He's pretty much consistent in all the registers: lower chest, mix voice, and falsetto/head voice. His musicianship and musicality are also impressive, not to mention his ability in song composing and lyric writing. Definitely one of the best amongst the best.
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Chen - EXO
High notes and low notes aside, Chen's technique is incredible. He's a dedicated vocalist who wants to sing more than anything. He didn't even want to be an idol at first because he thought it wasn't really singing. He debuted with an already impressive voice but has continued to work hard to improve since then.
Just listen to "Best Luck" (an incredible OST) compared to his recent OST, "I'm Not Okay." The difference is just astounding. He's really grown into what was an already amazing voice, and if he continues, I honestly think he might be one of the top vocalists in Korea.
For further evidence, just look up an analysis of his voice. He's not only truly gifted but works hard to use that gift to the best of his abilities.
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Onew - SHINee
Lee Jin-ki, better known by his stage name Onew, is a South Korean singer, actor, and MC. He debuted in 2008 as the leader and main vocalist of the boy group SHINee under SM Entertainment. Onew has also pursued solo music projects and appeared in various television dramas and musicals.
Once you hear his voice, you'll never forget it. You'll never be wrong in recognizing it again. It's really awesome. Some people might not think his voice is as good as others, but I really like it.
Go hear him sing "Friend" at SHINee World II and be amazed. He held a note for over 48 seconds straight, and it never wavered, perfectly clear the whole time.
He really has the voice of the angels. It's like a blend of honey and chocolate, sweet and soft.
This voice is somewhat deeper, which makes it much more unique.
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Leo - VIXX
Leo's voice melts my heart, and his high notes are really amazing. He does it so easily. His voice contains so much power. He is an amazing vocalist, and I believe he will be well received if he goes solo.
Leo has an angelic voice, and his voice is consistent (no cracking during live performance). He has the skill, and his voice can really melt your heart, especially his high notes.
Leo's voice is just heavenly. There's a power to it that one wouldn't expect from a shy and almost-whisper voice kind of guy.
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D.O. - EXO
I think there's no need to have a great voice and technique in singing to create a beautiful song. It just needs something, and he has that one thing. (This doesn't mean that his technique is bad. It's good for sure).
Somehow, he gives soul to the song, and he always seems to sing from the heart. When he sings sorry, you just want to forgive him. And when he sings I love you, you can't help but love him back. Ballad songs are destined to be sung by him.
I just love D.O's smooth vocals. He is one of the main reasons I started stanning EXO. Those runs he can do and the way he can hold a note live, wow, that's hard to do. Even when he's singing backup, music experts still pick out his backup vocals.
He needs to drop an R&B album.
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Lee Changsub - BTOB
He has a natural, smoky voice and is also an attractive vocalist in BtoB. Despite being eliminated so soon in King of Mask Singer, he can still be considered one of the best singers among K-pop idols. His voice carries a lot of emotion, especially when he sings ballads.
He's not as handsome as other idols, but he's good-looking in interesting ways. I came to BtoB because of Seo Eunkwang-nim (a perfect singer, too), but I stayed with BtoB because of Changsub's sweet voice. He is absolutely a great choice for anyone who enjoys Korean music.
Changsub has a soothing, honey-like voice that can melt away all your stress and worries. He also does an amazing falsetto and his unique high-pitched tone makes him very suitable for ballads and many other difficult songs. Last but not least, he sings with so much heartfelt emotions that make it impossible not to fall in love with his voice.
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Jungkook - BTS
Jeon Jung-kook was born on September 1, 1997, in Busan, South Korea. Known professionally as Jung Kook, he is a singer and songwriter best known as the youngest member of BTS.
His solo songs within BTS' discography include Begin, Euphoria, and My Time. He released his debut studio album, Golden... read more
Maybe not the most technically perfect singer, but he conveys such great emotion when he sings. Go listen to The Truth Untold. If you don't like him now, you will change your mind.
He has a unique and strong vocal voice with a good range. It really shows out.
Seriously, he has such a talented voice why isn't he higher up in the list!?
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Daesung - BIGBANG
He can sing so many genres really well, from hip hop and trot to even heavy metal. You've got to listen to his version of This is the Moment. It's going to blow your socks off!
His voice is really powerful and can be sweet too, just like when he did a feature in Gummy's Japanese song. I can't understand why he's not in the top 10.
He should have been in the top 5. Not bragging, but he can sing different genres, maybe all of them in fact, from slow to hip hop and so many more. His voice is very unique and can fit many languages when he sings in different languages.
Even if he is not singing seriously, his voice is very soothing and relaxing.
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Junsu - JYJ/TVXQ
Probably one of the most expressive and talented vocalists in South Korea, if not all of Asia. He's been acknowledged by countless music experts as being the best male idol vocalist and has also been heavily praised by one of the most famous singers in South Korea, Patti Kim. Several musicians known for condescending idols have actually admitted that Junsu would make a really good musician and that including dances in his performances is a waste of his vocal talent, which they believe he should focus more on.
Many of the people on this list actually admire Junsu, and more than one of them entered the K-Pop industry because of him. His voice is known as "Asia's treasure." If that doesn't speak for itself, I don't know what will.
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Taeyang - BIGBANG
Taeyang is a very good singer with a powerful voice.
The best male vocalist in Korea so far!
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Changmin - TVXQ
Changmin is indeed a powerful singer who possesses both range and technique when it comes to singing those broad high notes that he's famous for. He is well known for being able to execute them live, and he has been mentioned numerous times over the years for his extreme talent.
Therefore, I believe that he should be number 1.
Changmin can hit notes that I haven't heard from anyone else! Ever! It's like a talent from the heavens!
His voice is really beautiful!
Changmin deserves to be in the top 10. His vocal range is unbelievable, and his high notes are incredible. SM has these amazing vocalists. JYH is an awesome singer, so no comments about his place, but still, according to me, the order should be:
1. Kyuhyun
2. Changmin
3. Ryeowook
4. Yesung
5. Onew
6. Jung Yong Hwa
7. Jonghyun
8. D.O.
9. Chen
10. Baekhyun
11. Sangmin
It should be in this order.
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Daehyun - B.A.P
To be honest, Daehyun is one of the very few vocalists in the K-Pop industry who managed to leave a remarkable first impression on me. The first time I heard Warrior, I wasn't that interested until I heard his part, and his powerful vocals blew me away!
I was even more impressed when I found out that those powerful vocals actually belonged to the handsome member of B.A.P, Daehyun!
Up to this day, I still keep repeating his parts in Warrior because his voice is just too good. Personally, I love Daehyun best.
Daehyun possesses not only an incredible voice, but also an incredible way of using it. He's versatile, has an unbelievable range, and has a rawness to his voice that leaves me with goosebumps every time I hear him sing.
The emotion he puts into whatever he's singing is also terribly beautiful, and his control is remarkable. He's truly a fantastic vocalist in my opinion.
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Lee Hong-gi - FTISLAND
Hongki deserves to be better known. The fact that he is less known than most other candidates explains his low ranking. He is the only singer who makes me feel the songs. His husky voice is incredibly powerful and full of emotion.
Furthermore, compared to most other singers, he does not use microphone effects or soundtracks. He always sings live, delivering really impressive performances with their intensities. Hongki's voice is pure talent. He is born with it and did not need to have years of training like most idols.
I hope Hongki and other F.T. Island members attract more interest. They really deserve it, whatever their talent level or personality.
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G.O - MBLAQ
His voice amazes everyone who listens to it because at moments it can be sweet, and at other times, it can be really manly. This turns out to be very impressive since, due to that ability, he can please different kinds of tastes.
If you haven't heard it yet, please go ahead and try it. I bet you'll be amazed too!
When he starts to sing, everything stops. His voice is marvelously flexible, and his high notes are wonderful.
His part in "Mona Lisa" is amazing, and he even sings English covers well. I know for sure that he's great at pronouncing vowels and mimicry, since he doesn't speak it fluently.
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Yoseob - BEAST
Recently, BEAST songs have been featuring very high-pitched notes, and yet their choreography is quite complex. Yet, Yoseob can still reach the notes even when he has a complex dance routine and always gives a real live singing performance.
His voice is powerful and can touch everybody's heart. The feeling and heart that he puts into singing are great. He has an incredible voice, just like an angel's voice.
Yang Yoseob's singing has gotten much better these days! This already proves that he can sing live with those kinds of exhausting dance steps without making mistakes. He is the best among the best.
He can sing rock and ballad songs very well. He also can dance well. Indeed, he is the main vocal. No hesitation. Proud to be B2UTY! B2ST forever!
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Jun. K - 2PM
I'm a solid 2PM and 2AM addict. I started liking them during Hot Blood, a variety documentary covering their trainee days. I heard the charismatic voice of Junsu when he was only a trainee. I like his voice because it is full of emotion, and he is also a funny guy.
His voice can make us melt. I am more than willing to lend my ear to hear his voice. I do not agree with this ranking - Kim Jun Su should be in first place. His voice is different from others, and I would rather choose him.
He is still the number one lead vocalist. Nobody can challenge him.
2PM Fan, especially Junsu Oppa (saranghae)
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Sunggyu - INFINITE
I seriously love Kim Sunggyu. To be honest, I always liked Baekhyun's, Leo's, Ken's, and even Chen's voices, but Sunggyu's voice just hits my feels the most. I honestly view him as the best of the best. No matter the genre, he sings beautifully and delicately. His voice makes me want to curl up and think about everything. It fits my moods, and his songs are just perfection.
He doesn't get the recognition he deserves, but I know the ones who do recognize him love him dearly. I seriously don't want him getting too popular because of sasaengs LOL, but I seriously love him. He's also very friendly and knows how to keep the audience addicted.
Not just him, but all of INFINITE. They are just purely amazing, and their brotherhood is seriously amazing. Their hard work and companionship warm my heart. Overall, I love him a lot.
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Luhan - EXO
Lu Han is a Chinese singer and actor. Known as Luhan, he was a member of the South Korean-Chinese boy group EXO and its subgroup EXO-M before filing a lawsuit to terminate his contract in October 2014. After ending his activities with EXO, he launched a successful solo career in China.
When I heard him sing Open Arms. And not just that, but he has the most beautiful voice! He has good control, is soothing, and can handle high notes really well. He is the one for me.
Luhan's voice is the most angelic voice I have ever heard. His voice can get powerful when he needs to, though. Not a very strong vocalist, but a beautiful voice!
He is the best. His voice makes me fall in love with him and still makes me faint because his voice is lovely.
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Lee Junho - 2PM
Junho has immense talent, especially in his dancing. However, his vocal ability has evolved to a greater level after Jay left. His voice is consistent, does not crack as easily (evident in the last two years), and is soothing and sweet to listen to, and his vocal range is quite large. Plus, his falsetto is one of the highlights of 2PM's recent songs, which is a reason why he now shares more parts of higher difficulty with Jun.K.
Although he is not as outstanding as Jun.K, the main vocalist, he is reliable and is slightly more solid as the second lead vocalist than Wooyoung, who admitted Junho's voice was better. Junho, in my opinion, is among roughly the top 20 vocalists in K-pop.
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Changmin - 2AM
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Jimin - BTS
Park Ji-min, known mononymously as Jimin, is a South Korean singer, dancer, and songwriter. He is a member of the globally successful boy band BTS, which debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. Jimin is recognized for his vocal ability, dance performances, and contributions to the group's music.... read more
His voice is beautiful - very soft and yet incredibly powerful. I especially love when he sings in Don't Leave Me. It's my second favorite song after DNA. In my opinion, Jimin's voice is a close second after V's.
I don't know what this feeling is, but this man is really awesome when he sings. He has a very husky voice.
This guy is the fairy prince of BTS. Love this cutie-pie and his beautiful voice.
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Kim Jaejoong - JYJ
Kim Jaejoong, also known mononymously as Jaejoong, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, director, and designer. He first gained fame as a member of the boy band TVXQ before leaving the group and forming the trio JYJ in 2010. He later pursued a solo career and became a member of the duo JX, further... read more
Jaejoong puts his heart and soul into his song lyrics. He works hard and would do anything to keep singing for the rest of his life.
He has the most beautiful singing voice, and when he sings, you can feel his emotions through his lyrics.
His voice is very gentle and calm.
You can feel a lot of emotions when he sings.
His voice is very unique and incredibly relaxing to hear.