Yim Jae-beom

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Wikipedia

Yim Jae-beom
Born (1962-10-14) October 14, 1962 (age 63)
Seoul, South Korea
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1986–2026
Formerly of
Korean name
Hangul
임재범
Hanja
任宰範
RRIm Jaebeom
MRIm Chaebŏm

Yim Jae-beom (Korean: 임재범; Hanja: 任宰範; also spelled Yim Jae-bum; born October 14, 1962)[1][2] is a former South Korean rock ballad singer who is widely regarded as one of South Korea's best vocalists.[3][4] He debuted in 1986 as the vocalist for the heavy metal band Sinawe. After recording with other bands, including Asiana and Rock in Korea, Yim released his first solo album in 1991.[5] On January 4, 2026, it was announced Yim Jae-beom would be retiring after his final concert on February 28, and the release of his eighth full album.[6][7]

Career

In 2011, Yim joined the cast of I Am a Singer (나는 가수다) where he placed first two times. On May 23, 2011, I Am a Singer announced that Yim would be taking a temporary leave from the show.[8]

He released a new solo album, "Day by Day" (날이 갈수록) which reached No.2 on Hanteo Daily Charts on September 19.

He also took part in the OST of the successful Korean drama City Hunter with the song "Love" (사랑; Sarang).[9]

In 2013, Yim released a duet with South Korean singer, Ali, titled "I Love You".[10]

Personal life

Yim was married to musical actress Song Nam-yeong from 2001 until her death from cancer in 2017.[11] The couple has one daughter named Ji-soo.[12]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
RIAK
[13]		 KOR
Circle
[14][a]
On The Turning Away
  • Released: October 1, 1991
  • Label: Shinsegye Sound
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 No data —
  • KOR: 600,000[5]
The Flight (비상)
  • Released: July 1, 1997
  • Label: DMR
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 —
Confession (고해)
  • Released: September 1, 1998
  • Label: DMR
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 29 —
Story of Two Years
  • Released: May 16, 2000
  • Label: Warner Music Korea
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 9 —
Coexistence (공존)
  • Released: October 12, 2004
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 7 —
To...
  • Released: July 11, 2012
  • Label: Yedang Entertainment
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
 No data 9
Seven,
  • Released: October 22, 2022
  • Label: Blueseed Company
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 97

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
RIAK
[13]		 KOR
Circle
[14][a]
Live & Life
  • Released: January 1, 2006
  • Label: Iset Communications
  • Formats: CD
 25 —
Geotdabomyeon (걷다보면)
  • Released: December 2, 2013
  • Label: C&T Company
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 No data 16

Remake albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
Circle
[14]
Free (풀이)
  • Released: December 8, 2011
  • Label: Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 3
After the Sunset: White Night
  • Released: November 27, 2015
  • Label: Windmill Media
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
 14

Filmography

Television shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 Begin Again - Intermission Cast member spin-off [24]
Sing Again Judge Season 3 [25]

Web shows

Year Title Role Ref.
2022 Take 1 Participant [26][27]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards Best OST "Love" (City Hunter) Nominated [28]

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Circle Chart, formerly known as the Gaon Chart, was established in 2010.

References

  1. ↑ Jin, Ju-hui (October 13, 2014). "10월 14일 스타 임재범". Sports Today (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  2. ↑ Lee, Jin-ho (September 10, 2015). "Yim Jae Bum and SNSD Taeyeon′s ′Scars Deeper Than Love′ Rising Quickly on Music Charts". Mwave. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ Im, Jin-mo (April 3, 2013). "[레전드 100] 대한민국 최고의 보컬 20인". Mnet (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 26, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Lee, Sang-hun (December 4, 2013). "디씨인사이드가 뽑은 한국 최고의 보컬에서 윤도현 누른 1위 누구". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Choe, Seong-cheol (December 22, 2016). "[대중음악가 열전] 38. 초인 보컬리스트 임재범". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  6. ↑ "임재범, 은퇴 선언 "40주년 공연 끝으로 무대 떠날 것"". Maeil Business Newspaper.
  7. ↑ ""광주에서 다시 부른다"…임재범, 노을빛 감성→40주년 무대 예고". Top Star News. December 26, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Im Jae Bum to take temporary leave from 'I Am A Singer'". Archived from the original on May 25, 2011.
  9. ↑ [MP3] [City Hunter OST] love - Yim Jae Bum. YouTube. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ "ALi releases duet 'I Love You' with Lim Jae Bum". allkpop. December 22, 2013. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ Lee, So-ra (June 13, 2017). ""아! 여보"... 애틋했던 임재범의 6년". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  12. ↑ Choe, Na-yeong (May 16, 2011). "임재범, 딸이 보낸 편지 공개 '뭉클'..'딸바보'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  13. 1 2 Recording Industry Association of Korea monthly chart positions:
  14. 1 2 3 Circle (formerly Gaon) Album Chart positions:
  15. ↑ 9월 가요 음반판매량집계 [September Music Album Sales Ranking] (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on October 22, 1999. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  16. ↑ "2000 K-pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  17. ↑ "October 2004 K-pop Album Sales Volume" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ Cumulative sales of To...:
  19. ↑ "Album Chart, 2022 Weeks 37". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved November 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2006.1월 - 가요 음반 판매량" (in Korean). Recording Industry Association of Korea. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  21. ↑ "2013년 12월 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  22. ↑ Cumulative sales of Free:
  23. ↑ Cumulative sales of After the Sunset: White Night:
  24. ↑ Jeong Bit (December 10, 2022). "[단독] '비긴어게인', 최정훈-강민경-김필-헤이즈-HYNN-정동환-하동균 출격" [[Exclusive] 'Begin Again', Choi Jeong-hoon - Kang Min-kyung - Kim Pil - Heize - HYNN - Jeong Dong-hwan - Ha Dong-gyun sortie] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Naver.
  25. ↑ Lee, Seul (November 8, 2023). "'싱어게인3' 최초 슈퍼 어게인→"내 OST가 가장 유명" 참가자까지" ['Singer Gain 3' first super gain → "My OST is the most famous" participant]. X-ports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  26. ↑ Han, Hye-jung (July 12, 2022). "조수미·임재범·유희열·비…넷플릭스, 美친 라인업 '음악쇼' 제작" [Jo Su-mi, Lim Jae-beom, Yoo Hee-yeol, Rain… Netflix to produce 'Music Show', a beautiful lineup] (in Korean). Maeil, Star Today. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Naver.
  27. ↑ Ahn, Tae-hyun (September 15, 2022). "조수미부터 임재범까지…넷플릭스 '테이크 원', 10월14일 공개 확정" [From Jo Sumi to Im Jae-beom... Netflix's 'Take One' to be released on October 14] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Naver.
  28. ↑ "2011Mnet Asian Music Awards part 1" Archived June 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. MAMA. Retrieved January 20, 2015.