Ben (South Korean singer)

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Eun-young (born July 30, 1991), better known by her stage name Ben, is a South Korean singer and songwriter.^[1][2][3] She made her official debut in October 2012, with their first extended play 147.5. As of 2020 she released one studio album, five extended plays and fifteen singles.

Ben
Ben in January 2019
Born	Lee Eun-young (1991-07-30) July 30, 1991 (age 31) Incheon, South Korea
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2010–present
Spouse	Lee Wook (m. 2021)
Musical career
Genres	R&B Ballad
Labels	Y-WHO Enterprise Happy Face The Vibe Major9
Korean name
Hangul	이은영
Revised Romanization	I Eun-yeong
McCune–Reischauer	Yi Ŭn'yŏng
Stage name
Hangul	벤
Revised Romanization	Ben
McCune–Reischauer	Ben

Career

She was a member of South Korean band Bebe Mignon [ko] from 2010 to 2011.^[4] The band disbanded after the departure of member Gaeul, but she made the transition to vocal soloist thanks to her mentor, Vibe's Yoon Minsu.^[5]

In October 2012, she released her first album, 147.5, as a solo vocalist, a compilation of sad ballads with string arrangements and piano,^[3] with the title referring to her diminutive height, reported as between 147.5 cm and 153 cm, or around 4 feet 10 inches to 5 feet tall.^[6]

In August 2015, she released her second EP My Name Is Ben, with nine tracks, including the title dance song "Looby Loo",^[7] which differed from her past ballad style,^[8] and other songs including jazz and R&B.^[9]

In November 2015, she released an album, Soulmate, which includes duets with singers MIIII and Sejun Im.^[10][11][12]

She has recorded many soundtracks, abbreviated as OSTs, for South Korean films and Korean drama or k-drama for television in South Korea. In 2015, these included "Give Me A Hug" for Hello Monster, "Stay" for Oh My Ghost, "You" for Healer,^[1] and "Darling You" for Oh My Venus,^[2] a duet with Kim Tae-woo.^[10] In 2016, she sang "Like a Dream" for Another Oh Hae-young,^[13] recorded a duet with Xia Junsu for his fourth album, Xignature, entitled "Sweet Melody",^[14] sang "Misty Road" composed by Jinyoung of B1A4 for Love in the Moonlight and in 2017, she sang "Memory", one of the OSTs for "Introverted Boss".

On 2018, she released her first studio album, Recipe which contains nine tracks overall, she also released her fifth extended play Off The Record which was released in April 2020.

Personal life

Ben is married to businessman Lee Wook. Their wedding took place on June 5, 2021 in a small ceremony with family and friends.^[15] On July 18, 2022, Ben announced that she was pregnant with her first child; she is expected to give birth in January or February 2023.^[16]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR ^[17]
Recipe	Released: May 8, 2018 Label: Major9 Format: CD, digital download Track listing Love Recipe (skit) Iced Coffee Love,ing Bat Blank My Name Am I Right? Iced Coffee (instrumental) Love,ing (instrumental)	37	KOR: 985+^[18]

Extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR ^[17]
147.5	Released: October 10, 2012 Label: Happy Face Entertainment Format: CD, digital download	—	—
My Name Is Ben	Released: August 25, 2015 Label: The Vibe Entertainment Format: CD, digital download	36
Soulmate	Released: November 24, 2015 Label: The Vibe Entertainment Format: CD, digital download	49
180˚	Released: December 7, 2018^[19] Label: Major9 Format: CD, digital download	35	KOR: 1,429^[20]
Off the Record	Released: April 26, 2020^[21] Label: Major9 Format: CD, digital download	26	—

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Sales	Certifications	Album
		KOR
		Circle ^[22]	Hot
"Don't Go Today" (오늘은 가지마)	2012	—	—	—	—	147.5
"When You Do Well"		—	—
"I Love a Gangster" (언제 사람 될래 (부제: 아가씨와 건달들)	2015	—	*			Soulmate
"I've Decided to Be Introduced" (소개받기로했어)		42		KOR: 111,325^[23]		My Name Is Ben
"Looby Loo"		—		—
"Last Time" (마지막이니까) (with Im Se Jun)		—				Soulmate
"Not Ok" (안 괜찮아)	2016	28		KOR: 71,051		Non-album singles
"Sweety" (달달해) (featuring Yo$sap)	2017	—		—
"Love Recipe"	2018	—	—			Recipe
"Iced Coffee"		—	—
"Love, ing" (열애중)		6	7	KOR: 2,500,000^[24]	KMCA: Platinum^[25]
"180 Degree" (180도)		1	1	KOR: 2,500,000^[24]	KMCA: Platinum^[26]^[A]	180˚
"Thank You for Goodbye" (헤어져줘서 고마워)	2019	1	1	—	—	Non-album single
"Bad" (나쁜 놈)	2020	26	29			Off the Record
"Lonely Night" (혼술하고 싶은 밤)		18	56			Lonely Night
"Because I Am a Woman" (여자이니까)	2021	109	—			Non-album singles
"Come & Talk" (지금 뭐해)		158	75
"Spring Days" (벚꽃이 피면 우리 그만 헤어져)	2022	47	53
"A Memorial Day" (기념일)		136	*			"Talks About Memory"
"Waiting.." (늘..)		162				Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. "*" denotes the chart did not exist at that time.

Collaborations

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR ^[27]
"Love in Spring" (with Haegeum, Stranger, and Im Se-jun)	2012	—	—	Global Project Pt. 2
"Baby Baby" (with Kim Won-joo of 4Men)	2013	—		The Serenade Part. 1
"Lonely Christmas" (나홀로 크리스마스) (with Vibe, 4Men, Im Se-jun, MIIII, and Min Yeon-jae)	2014	47	KOR: 32,590^[28]	Lonely Christmas (Made in the Vibe)
"Celebrate Love" (축가) (with Vibe, 4Men, Im Se-jun, and MIIII)	2015	27	KOR: 95,296^[29]	Celebrate Love (Made in the Vibe)
"Konus" (Korean ver.) (Feat.bigtone)		—	—	Konus (Made in the VIbe)
"You Are My Christmas" (넌 나의 크리스마스) (with Vibe, 4Men, Im Se-jun, and MIIII)		—		You Are My Christmas (Made in the Vibe)
"Don't Go Today" (with Im Se-jun)	2016	—		Don't Go Today (Made in the Vibe)
"The Reason Why I'm Beautiful" (내가 예뻐진 이유) (with Eunji and Jihyo)	2016	97		Inkigayo Music Crush Pt.1
"Each Other" (서로의 서로) (with Shin Yong-jae of 4Men)	2017	—		Each Other (Made in the Vibe)
"The First Night" (첫날밤) (with Kim Won-joo)	2018	—		Non-album singles
"Ordinary Love" (보통의 연애) (with CSP)	2020	132
"Can Love Be Fair" (사랑이 공평할 순 없을까) (with G.Soul)	2021	118
"That Man, That Woman" (그 남자 그 여자) (with Shin Yong Jae)		130		That Man, That Woman (Revibe Vol.6)

Other songs

Year	Title	Format	Album	Notes	Ref.
2019
	"Hee Jae" (희재)	Digital download, streaming	[Vol.4]You Hee Yul's Sketchbook 10th Anniversary Project: 2nd voice "Sketchbook X Ben",	original song by	^[30]
	"Purple Breeze" (보라빛 향기)		[Vol.5] You Hee Yul's Sketchbook 10th Anniversary Project: 2nd Voice "Sketchbook X Ben"	original song by	^[31]
2013	"To J" (J에게)		Music Voyage Yesterday	original song by Lena Park	^[30]

Soundtrack appearances

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Sales	Album
		KOR
		Gaon ^[22]	Hot
"Stop the Love Now"	2014	93	—	KOR: 17,988^[32]	Marriage, Not Dating OST
"You"	2015	52	—	KOR: 60,417^[33]	Healer OST
"Stay"		—	—		Oh My Ghost OST
"Palpitations"		29	—	KOR: 208,347^[34]	The Producers OST
"Hug Me" (안아줘요)		80	—	KOR: 27,746^[35]	I Remember You OST
"Darling U" (with Kim Tae Woo)		—	—		Oh My Venus OST
"Sometimes" (때론)	2016	—	—		One More Happy Ending OST
"Like a Dream" (꿈처럼)		6	—	KOR: 993,525^[36]	Another Oh Hae-young OST
"My All"		—	—		Second to Last Love OST
"Misty Road"		10	—	KOR: 313,552^[37]	Love in the Moonlight OST
"Memory"	2017	—	—		Introverted Boss OST
"Can't Go" (갈 수가 없어)		—	67		Because This Is My First Life OST
"Love Me Once Again" (미워도 다시 한 번)	2018	73	75		Re:Playlist, Vol.3
"If We Were Destined" (운명이라면)		—	—		A Korean Odyssey OST
"If You Were Me"		88	87		Mr. Sunshine OST
"Can You Hear Me?" (내 목소리 들리니)	2019	3	4		Hotel Del Luna OST
"Deep Sorrow" (한숨만)		158	—		Chief of Staff OST
"Dear My Love" (그대여 그대여 나의 그대여)	2020	—	—		Hyena OST
"I'll Be"		—	—		Mystic Pop-up Bar OST
"Whenever Wherever Whatever"		—	—		Alice OST
"I'm Still Here"		—	81		More Than Friends OST
"With Your Everything"	2021	—	—		Trickster M OST
"Leave Me" (떠나요)		154	94		She Would Never Know OST
"Dialog of Dream" (꿈의 대화)		—^[B]	—		Fly, Again OST
"Starlight Heart" (잠들지 않는 별)		169	—		The Red Sleeve OST
"My Only One" (내게 단 한 사람)	2022	—	—		Tomorrow OST
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Filmography

TV series

Year	Title	Role	Network	Notes
2015–present	Mother's Spring	herself	TV Chosun	Cast
2015–2016	I Can See Your Voice	herself	Mnet	Regular panelist

Awards and nominations

Gaon Chart Music Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2018	Discovery of the Year - Ballad	Ben	Won
2019	Artist of the Year - Digital Music (December)	"180 Degree"	Won
2020	Artist of the Year - Digital Music (July)	"Thank you for Goodbye"	Won

Genie Music Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2018	Song of the Year	"Love, ing"	Nominated	^[39]^[40]
		"Cant Go"	Nominated
	Vocal Track (Female)	"Love, ing"	Nominated
	OST Award	"Cant Go"	Nominated
	Genie Music Popularity Award	Ben	Nominated
2019	The Female Solo Artist		Nominated	^[41]
	The Vocal Artist		Nominated

Golden Disc Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
2022	Digital Song Bonsang	"Lonely Night"	Nominated	^[42]
	Seezn Most Popular Artist Award	Ben	Nominated

Korea Popular Music Award

Year	Category	Recipient	Result
2018	Best OST	"Cant Go"	Won

Melon Music Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result
2019	Top 10 Artists	Ben	Nominated
	Song of the Year	"180 Degree"	Nominated
	Best Ballad		Nominated
	Album of the Year		Nominated

Mnet Asian Music Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result
2019	Best Vocal Performance – Solo	"180 Degree"	Nominated
	Song of the Year		Nominated
	Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10	Ben	Nominated

Notes

1. Certification for downloads^[24]
2. "Dialog of Dream" did not enter the Gaon Digital Chart, but appeared at number 143 on the component Download Chart.^[38]

References

1. Kim, Areum (August 10, 2015). 가수 벤, 종영 앞둔 ‘너를 기억해’ OST ‘안아줘요’ 발매…OST 여제로 등극할까 (in Korean). Newsway. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
2. "벤" (in Italian). iTunes. March 6, 2016.
3. Kim, Hyeong (October 10, 2012). 베베미뇽 벤, 첫솔로앨범 ‘147.5’ 발표 (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
4. Choi, Ji-ye (2016-02-06). "[한복인터뷰②]벤 "데뷔 후 연습생으로 유턴, 참 많이 울었어요"". My Daily. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
5. "Ben's Vocal Analysis". 21 July 2016.
6. '홀로서기' 벤, 앨범명 '147.5' 속 숨겨진 비밀은? (in Korean). Daily Asia Economy. October 10, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
7. POP, 헤럴드 (2015-11-24). "[오늘뭐듣지] 벤과 임세준의 '감성 입맞춤'…'마지막이니까'". pop.heraldcorp.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-06-03.
8. "BEN's 2nd mini album 'My Name Is BEN' 제 이름은 '벤'입니다". Culture M Magazine. August 26, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
9. Kim, Jin-Kyung (August 25, 2016). [포토] 벤 'My Name Is BEN' (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
10. 벤, 신곡 ‘마지막이니까’ 24일 12시 공개… 임세준-미 지원자격 (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo. November 24, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
11. Won, Jinhae (November 24, 2015). 新OST 강자 벤, 겨울감성으로 돌아왔다…‘소울메이트’ 발매 (in Korean). New Daily. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
12. Chung, So-Young (November 24, 2015). (in Korean). Top Star News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
13. Son, Ji-hyoung (May 16, 2016). "Next 'Oh Hae-young Again' soundtrack song features actress". The Korea Herald. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
14. 4집 XIGNATURE (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
15. Lee Woo-joo (June 4, 2021). "벤♥이욱, 내일(5일) 미뤘던 결혼식 올린다 "축가는 김태우·2F" [공식]". Naver (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
16. Jeong Bit (July 18, 2022). "[단독]'이욱♥'벤, 임신 3개월…혼인신고 2년 만에 새 생명(종합)" [[Exclusive] 'Lee Wook ♥' Ben, 3 months pregnant... New life after 2 years of marriage registration (comprehensive)] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Naver.
17. "Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Studio albums:
    • "Recipe charting". Retrieved April 25, 2019.
    Extended plays:
    • "My Name Is Ben charting". Retrieved April 25, 2019.
    • "Soulmate charting". Retrieved April 25, 2019.
    • "180˚ charting". Retrieved April 25, 2019.
18. "2018년 05월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
19. 한국경제티브이 (10 December 2018). "벤(BEN), 새 앨범 타이틀곡 '180도' 멜론 포함 5개 음원 차트 1위 등극". www.wowtv.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-06-03.
20. "2018년 12월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
21. SEDAILY. "가수 벤, 새 미니앨범 '오프 더 레코드(Off The Record)' 오는 26일 발매" (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-04-23.
22. "Gaon Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
    • "Stop the Love Now". July 19, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Lonely Christmas". December 20, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "You". January 24, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Celebrate Love, Palpitations". May 16, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "I've Decided To Be Introduced, Palpitations". June 13, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Hug Me". August 15, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Like A Dream".
    • "Love, Ing". September 15, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
    • "If You Were Me". September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
    • "180 Degree". December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
    • "Thank You for Goodbye". July 13, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
    • "Can You Hear Me?". August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
    • "Deep Sorrow". November 23, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
    • "Bad". May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
    • "Come & Talk". October 30, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
    • "Starlight Heart". December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
    • "Spring Days". April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
    • "A Memorial Day". September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
    • "Waiting." October 15, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
23. Cumulative sales for "I've Decided to Be Introduced":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, June 2015 (see #42)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
24. "South Korean single certifications – Ben" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved January 7, 2020.
25. "Love, ing" was certified platinum for 100 million streaming in March 2019. and for 2.5 million downloads in September 2019.
26. "Gaon Certification - Streaming". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2019.
27. "Gaon Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
    • "Stop the Love Now". July 19, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Lonely Christmas". December 20, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "You". January 24, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Celebrate Love, Palpitations". May 16, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "The Reason Why I Become Beautiful". Gaon Chart (in Korean). 2016-11-13. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
    • "I've Decided To Be Introduced, Palpitations". June 13, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Hug Me". August 15, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Like A Dream".
    • "Love, Ing". September 15, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
    • "If You Were Me". September 29, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
    • "180 Degree". December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
    • "Thank You for Goodbye". July 13, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
    • "Ordinary Love". February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
    • "Can Love Be Fair". March 13, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
    • "That Man, That Woman". December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
28. Cumulative sales for "Lonely Christmas":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, December 14-20, 2014 (see #25)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
29. Cumulative sales for "Celebrate Love":
    • . Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
30. "그대 내 맘에 들어오면은". Melon.
31. "You Are Crying". Melon.
32. Cumulative sales for "Stop the Love Now":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, July 20-26, 2014 (see #86)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
33. Cumulative sales for "You":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, January 11-17, 2015 (see #30)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, January 18-24, 2015 (see #84)". Gaon Music Chartpublisher= Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, January 25-31, 2015 (see #79)". Gaon Music Chartpublisher= Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
34. Cumulative sales for "Palpitations":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, May 24-30, 2015 (see #50)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, May 31 - June 6, 2015 (see #64)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, June 7-13, 2015 (see #15)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, June 14-20, 2015 (see #17)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • . Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, June 28 - July 4, 2015 (see #52)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
    • "Gaon Download Chart, July 5-11, 2015 (see #86)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
35. Cumulative sales for "Hug Me":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, August 9-15, 2015 (see #50)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
36. Cumulative sales for "Like a Dream":
    • "Gaon Download Chart, 2016 (see #35)". Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
37. Cumulative sales for "Misty Road":
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 38". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 39". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-09-29.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 40". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 41". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 42". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 43". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 44". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
    • "Gaon Download Chart - Week 45". gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
38. 2021년 47주차 Download Chart [Week 47 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 28, 2021.
39. "2018 MBC Plus X Genie Music Awards Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. October 1, 2018.
40. ""BTS·워너원·트와이스·볼빨간"…'2018 MGA' 후보 공개, 투표 시작". Naver (in Korean). October 1, 2018.
41. "Here's the 2019 M2 X Genie Music Awards nominees". SBS PopAsia HQ (in Korean). June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
42. Kim, No-eul (December 8, 2021). "BTS·임영웅·김호중·아이유…제36회 골든디스크 어워즈 후보 공개" [BTS, Lim Young-woong, Kim Ho-joong, IU...Candidates for the 36th Golden Disc Awards.]. X Sports News. from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.