Kim Myung-soo (
Korean: 김명수; born March 13, 1992), also known professionally as L, is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a vocalist of boy band
Infinite in 2010 and its sub-group Infinite F in 2014.
Early life
Kim Myungsoo was born on March 13, 1992,[2] in
Seongdong-gu,
Seoul, South Korea.[1] He has a brother, Kim Moon-soo, who is two years younger than him.
Kim attended Duk-soo High School and graduated from Daekyung University on February 15, 2013, majoring in practical music.[3]
Career
2010–2016: Music and acting career
As a high school student, L auditioned for
Woollim Entertainment after being street cast for his good looks. He was selected as the first member of
idol group
Infinite.[4] He made his debut as a vocalist of the boy group in June 2010.[5] In 2011, he made his acting debut in Japanese drama Jiu Keishicho Tokushuhan Sousagakari, which aired on
TV Asahi in July.[6] In 2012, he was cast in
tvN's romance comedy series Flower Band, as a guitarist of a rock group.[7] He was also cast in
MBC's sitcom What's The Deal, Mom?[8]
On May 15, 2013, L released a
photo essay book titled L's Bravo Viewtiful, showing photos taken by him on a 93-day journey. The book was a best-seller, and reached No. 1 in pre-orders on online bookstores such as
Yes24 [
ko] and
Kyobo.[9] In August 2013, he had a cameo in
SBS's Master's Sun, playing the younger version of
So Ji-sub's character.[10]
With bandmates
Sungyeol and
Sungjong he comprised the subgroup
Infinite F, which released a single album, Koi No Sign, in Japan on November 19, 2014, and a Korean album, Love Sign, in December 2014.[13]
In 2015, he was cast in his first film Mister Shark, about a boy who befriends a shark.[14]
2017–present: Rising popularity and military enlistment
In 2017, L starred in MBC's historical drama The Emperor: Owner of the Mask.[17] His portrayal of a commoner who stands in for the king earned viewers' approval, and he was named Actor of the Month in June by MBC Dramanet.[18]
In 2018, L starred in the legal drama Ms. Hammurabi portraying a judge.[19][20] His performance in the series was well-received, earning him increased recognition.[21][22][23]
Before his enlistment, he released his debut single album Memory on February 3. He also held an online fan meeting on February 20.[29] While serving his military enlistment, it was announced on September 25, 2021, that L will make his musical theatre debut in the military musical Meisa's Song alongside
EXO's
Chanyeol,
B.A.P.'s
Daehyun and actor Moon Yong-suk.[30]
On March 7, 2023, L signed a contract with Look Media.[31]
^Park, Se-yeon (May 2, 2010).
신예 인피니트 엘(L), 김범 닮은꼴 '눈길'. Newsen (in Korean).
Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
^포토엔,인피니트,긴장되는 첫 무대~ (in Korean). Newsen. June 9, 2010.
Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
^Yang, Yu-jin (March 7, 2023).
"김명수, 루크미디어와 전속 계약...'넘버스'로 2년만 안방 복귀 [공식]" [Kim Myung-soo, exclusive contract with Look Media... Return to home after 2 years with 'Numbers' [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily.
Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023 – via
Naver.
^"[단독]김명수, 해병대 합격...내년 2월말 입소". Sports Seoul (in Korean). December 28, 2020.
Archived from the original on December 28, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
^"매니지먼트 이상". www.2sang.kr.
Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
^Lee Hoon-joo (August 22, 2022).
"인피니트 엘, 해병대 전역 소감..."파트2 시작합니다" [Infinite L, the feeling of being discharged from the Marine Corps... "Part 2 begins] (in Korean). Star Today.
Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via
Naver.
^"Gaon Album Chart" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association.
Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
"Memory". February 6, 2021.
Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
^Yang, So-young (September 10, 2020).
"김명수, '암행어사' 출연확정...현대판 킹스맨 암행어사". Star Today (in Korean).
Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
^Seong Min-ju (February 6, 2023).
"인피니트 김명수-이성열, '회계법인'에서 재회 [공식]" [Infinite Kim Myung-soo and Lee Seong-yeol, reunited at 'Accounting Firm' [Official]] (in Korean). TV Report.
Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023 – via Naver.
^Bae Hyo-joo (August 28, 2023).
"'완벽한 가족' 김병철→박주현 돛 올린다..日 유키사다 이사오 감독 연출" ['Perfect Family' Kim Byeong-cheol → Park Joo-hyun raises the sails. Directed by Japanese director Isao Yukisada] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
^Jeong, Hee-yeon (September 21, 2022).
"전역한 김명수(엘), '2022 창원 K-POP 월드 페스티벌' MC [공식]" [Kim Myung-soo (L), discharged from military service, MC of '2022 Changwon K-POP World Festival' [Official]] (in Korean). Sports Donga.
Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kang Min-kyung (September 23, 2021).
"엑소 찬열·김명수, 軍 뮤지컬 '메이사의 노래'로 첫 도전 [공식]" [EXO Chanyeol and Kim Myung-soo, first challenge with military musical 'Meisa's Song' [Official]]. Star News (in Korean).
Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Jung Ji-hyun (January 1, 2022).
"차태현·이도현·김소현·박은빈, 최우수상 수상 [2021 KBS 연기대상]" [Cha Tae-hyun, Lee Do-hyun, Kim So-hyun, Park Eun-bin, Grand Prize Winner [2021 KBS Drama Awards]] (in Korean). My Daily.
Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Lee Chang-gyu (January 1, 2022).
"1980년 5월을 빛내주신 분들께"...김민재·정용화·권나라·고민시, 미니시리즈 우수상 [KBS 연기대상]" ["To the people who made May 1980 shine"... Min-jae Kim, Yong-hwa Jung, Nara Kwon, Min-si Ko, Miniseries Excellence Award [KBS Acting Awards]] (in Korean). EXportsnews.
Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via
Naver.
^Yoon, Sang-geun (October 8, 2022).
"수리남' 하정우, 2022 코리아드라마어워즈 대상 "드라마 대상 처음"[종합]" [Suriname' Ha Jung-woo, the 2022 Korea Drama Awards Grand Prize "Drama Grand Prize for the first time" [General]] (in Korean). MT Star News.
Archived from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Lee, Seung-rok (December 30, 2017).
"[MBC연기대상] 신성록·한선화, 미니시리즈 우수상 수상 영광" [[MBC Acting Awards] Shin Sung-rok and Han Seon-hwa, Glory of Excellence Award for Miniseries] (in Korean). My Daily.
Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Jang, Woo-young (December 30, 2017).
"[MBC연기대상]김선호·김정현·서주현·이선빈, 신인상 수상 영광" [[MBC Acting Awards] Kim Seon-ho, Kim Jung-hyun, Seo Joo-hyun, Lee Seon-bin, Glory of Rookie of the Year Award] (in Korean).
Herald POP.
Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via
Naver.
^"[종합] '연인'이 여닫았다 (MBC 연기대상)". sports.khan (in Korean). December 30, 2023.
Archived from the original on December 31, 2023. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
^Lee Han-lim (August 20, 2021).
"서울드라마어워즈 2021', 한류드라마상 온라인 투표 진행" [Seoul Drama Awards 2021', online voting for Hallyu Drama Awards]. TheFact (in Korean).
Naver.
Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^"Excellent Actor Prize". Twitter (in Korean). August 20, 2021.
Archived from the original on August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.