Huh Gak

In this Korean name, the family name is Huh.

Huh Gak (Korean: 허각; born November 15, 1984)^[1] is a South Korean singer. He rose to fame after winning the 2010 Mnet talent competition series Superstar K 2, during which he became known as "the Korean Paul Potts".^[2][3]

Huh Gak
Huh Gak at Lover Letter showcare event on 31 January 2017
Background information
Born	(1984-11-15) November 15, 1984 (age 40) Incheon, South Korea
Genres	K-pop R&B
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Play M BPM
Korean name
Hangul	허각
RR	Heo Gak
MR	Hŏ Kak

Early life and education

Huh Gak was born in Incheon, South Korea on November 15, 1984.^[1] His parents divorced when he was 3, and he and his twin brother, Huh Gong, were raised by their father.^[4] Due to his family's financial difficulties, Huh dropped out of school after finishing middle school and worked as a repairman and event singer.^[5] Huh later earned his high school diploma in 2018.^[6]

Career

2010–present: Superstar K 2, debut, and First Story

In 2010, Huh Gak competed on the Mnet talent competition series Superstar K 2 and took the first place spot in the show's finale in October.^[2] Following the show, Huh released his debut single "Always", which topped the Gaon Digital Chart.^[7] On 16 November, he released his self-titled, first mini album.^[8]

After joining A Cube Entertainment in early 2011,^[9] Huh released the mini album First Story on 16 September.^[10] The album spawned the hit single "Hello", which took the number-one spot on the Gaon Digital Chart (also earning a "triple crown" for topping the component Download, Streaming, and BGM charts)^[11] and Billboard's K-pop Hot 100 chart.^[12]

On October 8, 2021, Huh Gak left Play M Entertainment after his contract expired.^[13] On October 27, 2021, Huh Gak signed with BPM Entertainment.^[14]

Personal life

On October 3, 2013, Huh Gak married his "first love", whom he dated in middle school when they were 16 years old. They met again after 13 years in February 2012.^[15][16] Huh and his wife have two sons: Huh Geon (born 2014) and Huh Gang (born 2015).^[17]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [18]
Little Giant	Released: February 5, 2013 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	14	KOR: 4,198[19]
Hello	Released: December 28, 2020 Label: Play M Entertainment, Kakao M Formats: CD, digital download	61	—

Extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [18]
Huh Gak 1st Mini Album	Released: November 16, 2010 Label: Mnet Media, CJ E&M Formats: CD, digital download	6	—
Like 1st Mini Album "First Story"	Released: September 16, 2011 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	4	KOR: 13,059[20]
Lacrimoso	Released: April 3, 2012 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	9	KOR: 3,357[21]
Reminisce	Released: November 11, 2013 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	—	—
Snow of April	Released: March 17, 2015 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	13	KOR: 1,072+[22]
Story of Winter	Released: November 23, 2015 Label: A Cube Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	23	KOR: 740+[23]
Lover Letter	Released: January 31, 2017 Label: Plan A Entertainment, LOEN Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	34	—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR [24]
"Always" (언제나)	2010	1	KOR: 1,753,708[25]	Huh Gak 1st Mini Album
"Hello"	2011	1	KOR: 3,583,763[26]	Like 1st Mini Album "First Story"
"I Told You I Wanna Die" (죽고 싶단 말 밖에)		2	KOR: 2,494,120[27]	Lacrimoso
"The Person Who Once Loved Me" (나를 사랑했던 사람아)	2012	4	KOR: 2,500,000[28]
"It Hurts" (아프다)		7	KOR: 982,196[29]	Non-album single
"1440"	2013	5	KOR: 1,016,420[30]	Little Giant
"I Want to Love" (사랑하고 싶어서)		21	KOR: 257,911[31]
"You Are Mine" (넌 내꺼라는걸) (feat. Swings)		1	KOR: 676,064[32]	Non-album single
"Memory of Your Scent" (향기만 남아)		3	KOR: 911,978[33]	Reminisce
"Day N Night" (feat. Simon Dominic)	2014	9	KOR: 210,995[34]	Non-album single
"Snow of April" (사월의 눈)	2015	1	KOR: 1,049,002[35]	Snow of April
"Up All Night" (밤을 새)		7	KOR: 320,211[36]	Story of Winter
"Back in the Day" (그날을 내 등 뒤로)		6	KOR: 235,820[37]
"Miss You" (혼자, 한잔)	2017	23	KOR: 170,414[38]	Love Letter
"Only You" (바보야)		9	KOR: 219,810[39]	Hello
"The Last Night" (마지막으로 안아도 될까)	2018	51	—
"Empty Words" (흔한 이별)		17
"Without You" (듣고 싶던 말)	2020	76
"How Did We" (우린 어쩌다 헤어진 걸까)		34
"Confession" (고백)	2021	10		Romance 101 X Huh Gak
"I Can't Go to Sinchon" (신촌을 못가)		54		Non-album singles
"Save Me" (구해줘)	2022	137
"Apgujeong Rodeo" (압구정로데오)		164
"Endless"	2023	88
"The Work of Erasing You" (너 하나 빼는 일)		156
"With You" (물론)		14
"Sob Your Heart Out" (운다 운다)		107
"It's You" (사랑인걸)	2024	113
"To Heaven" (천국으로 보낸 편지)		151
"I'm in Tears" (눈물이 왈칵 쏟아진다)		148
"Too Late to Love You" (사랑은 언제나 걸음이 느려서)	2025	147
"Only" (단)		171
"Get Ready to Leave" (떠나보낼 준비해 둘걸 그랬어) (featuring Onestar)		182

Collaborations

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [24]
"Whenever You Play That Song" (그 노래를 들때마다) with LE	2011	3	KOR: 2,228,493[40]
"I Need You" with Zia	2012	1	KOR: 2,500,000[28]
"Short Hair" (짧은머리) with Jung Eun-ji	2013	1	KOR: 1,207,766[30]
"Break Up to Make Up" (이제 그만 싸우자) with Jung Eun-ji	2014	1	KOR: 803,627[41]
"Town Bar" (동네술집) with Jungin	2015	5	KOR: 462,234[42]
"Already Winter" (벌써 겨울) with Vromance	2016	60	KOR: 81,008[43]
"Bada Ocean.wav" (바다) with Jung Eun-ji		5	KOR: 407,547[44]
"#Begin Again" (#떨려) with Plan A Boys		—	KOR: 17,447[45]
"Band-Aid" (반창고) with MC Mong	2017	22	KOR: 171,574[46]
"Oasis" (오아시스) with Apink, Victon		—	KOR: 22,488[47]
"Let You Go" (이별은 늘 그렇게) with Eunji	2019	34	—
"Rain" with 2F	2021	—
"Drunken Night" (술이 뭐길래) with Zia	2022	74
"My First Love (Would You Marry Me)" (나와 결혼해 줄래요) with 2F, Onestar, Son Dong-woon, Joo Ho and Kim Hee Jae		159
"Happiness" with Shin Yong Jae and Onestar as HYB	2023	105
"The Winter" (그 겨울엔 네가 있어) with Shin Yong Jae and Onestar as HYB		151
"I Hope" (좋겠다) with Park Bo-ram	2024	140
"Because of Love" (사랑을 하기는 했나 봐) with Zia		138
"Old Song" (오래된 노래) with Lee Mu-jin, Onestar, Lee Jin-sung, Kim Hee-jae and An Nyeong		27
"T.B.H" (Ballad ver.; 고민중독) with Shin Yong Jae and Onestar as HYB		78

Soundtrack appearances

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR [24]
"My Best" with John Park	2011	43	—	Glove OST
"Please Don't Forget Me" (나를 잊지 말아요)		1	KOR: 2,505,076[48]	The Greatest Love OST
"One Person" (한사람)	2012	2	KOR: 1,653,310[49]	Big OST
"Tears Fallin' Like Today" (오늘 같은 눈물이)	2014	2	KOR: 745,484[41]	My Love from the Star OST
"The Reasons" (너란 이유)	2017	—	KOR: 30,999[50]	Man to Man OST
"Since I Met You" (그댈 만난 이후로)		—	—	Andante OST
"Cosmos"	2018	—		Clean with Passion for Now OST
"Because of You"	2019	—		Angel's Last Mission: Love OST
"Your Warmth" (너의 온기)		—		The Tale of Nokdu OST
"Farewell In Tears" (눈물로 너를 떠나보낸다)	2020	—		The World of the Married OST
"Someday" (그 시간, 그 공간)	2021	—		Hello, Me! OST
"Under the Lonely Sky" (하늘 아래 그대와)		—		Undercover OST

Other charted songs

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR [24]
"My Heart"	2010	44	—	Huh Gak 1st Mini Album
"Running in the Sky" (하늘을 달리다)		10
"Happy Me" (행복한 나를) with John Park		16
"I Miss You" (니가 그립다)	2011	29	KOR: 362,518[51]	Like 1st Mini Album "First Story"
"All of My Life" (평생의 전부)		36	KOR: 248,689[51]
"Before Farewell" (옷깃을 붙잡고) with Huu		55	KOR: 172,334[52]
"Love Love Love" (사랑 사랑 사랑)	2012	56	KOR: 60,558[53]	Lacrimoso
"Grabbing Your Wrist" (손목을 쥔다)		56	KOR: 56,943[53]
"Monodrama" (모노드라마) feat. Yoo Seung-woo	2013	2	KOR: 1,645,880[30]	Little Giant
"Knowing We're Going To Break Up" (헤어질걸 알기에) with Jung Eun-ji		29	KOR: 234,885[31]
"Your Wedding" (술 한잔하면)		42	KOR: 119,320[54]
"Simple Story" (간단한 이야기) feat. Miryo		47	KOR: 89,041[54]
"I'll Become Tears" (눈물이 되어줄게)		62	KOR: 41,027[55]
"I Want To Sing" (노래하고 싶다)		71	KOR: 39,002[55]
"Unemployed" (백수가)		91	KOR: 31,352[55]
"Time To Say I Love You" (오늘만은 말할게)		50	KOR: 38,390[56]	Reminisce
"Falling" (사랑했다)		53	KOR: 38,347[56]
"Linger On" (여운)	2015	49	KOR: 39,756[57]	Snow Of April
"After Love" (사랑아)		57	KOR: 34,184[57]
"Miss You" (그리워합니다)		29	KOR: 49,615[58]	Story of Winter
"A Bride" (없었던 것처럼)	2017	86	KOR: 20,630[59]	Lover Letter

Concerts

As well as numerous appearances on Superstar K2, on 18 January 2011, he participated in a Traditional Korean music concert called "Noon concert".^[60]

Filmography

Television show

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2022	The Listen: The Voice We Loved	Cast Member		[61]

SuperStar K2

Episode (live broadcast started from Episode 9)	Song
Episode 9	The Happy Me(에코)
Episode 10	Early Morning Discount(이문세)
Episode 11	I'll Be There(Jackson 5)
Episode 12	Don't Say Goodbye(이승철)
Episode 13	Running Through the Skies(이적)
Episode 14	Love Rain(김태우)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result
2010	Superstar K2	1st Place (Winner)	Won
	Soribada Awards[62][unreliable source?]	Best Male Solo Artist	Won
2011	4th Korea Drama Awards	Best OST (The Greatest Love – "Don't Forget Me")	Won
	3rd MelOn Music Awards[63][unreliable source?]	Top 10 Artists (Bonsang)	Nominated
		Best New Artist	Won
	13th Mnet Asian Music Awards[64][unreliable source?]	Best New Male Artist	Won
		Best OST	Nominated
		Best Vocal Performance – Solo	Nominated
	19th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards	Popular Music Top Honor	Won
	Bugs Music Awards	Netizens' Popularity Award	Nominated
		Best Solo Artist	Won
		Ballad of the Year ("Hello")	Won
2012	26th Golden Disk Awards	Best Newcomer	Won
	1st Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards[65]	Best New Male Solo Artist of the Year	Won
	4th MelOn Music Awards	Top 10 Artists (Bonsang)	Won
	27th Golden Disk Awards	Digital Music Bonsang ("The Person Who Once Loved Me")	Won
	22nd Seoul Music Awards	Bonsang	Won
2013	5th MelOn Music Awards	Best R&B/Ballad ("Monodrama" – tied with K.Will)	Won
2014	16th Mnet Music Awards	Best Collaboration ("Break Up to Make Up" with A Pink's Eunji)	Nominated
2015	Mnet Asian Music Awards[66]	Best Vocal Performance – Solo	Nominated
		UnionPay Song of the Year	Nominated