Sam Kim

Not to be confused with Sam Kim (chef), or Produce 101 contestant Samuel Kim.

Sam Kim (Korean: 샘김) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist based in South Korea. He signed to Antenna Music after finishing as the runner-up on the talent show K-pop Star 3 in 2014. He made his official debut on April 10, 2016, with the EP I Am Sam, following it with the studio album Sun and Moon on November 22, 2018.

Sam Kim 김건지
Kim during an autograph event at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center, December 2018
Background information
Birth name	Kim Gun-ji
Born	(1998-02-19) February 19, 1998 (age 27) Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres	R&B soul pop folk jazz
Occupations	Singer songwriter guitarist
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboards
Years active	2013–present
Labels	Antenna Music (2014–2024) Herbigharo

Life and career

After passing preliminary auditions in Los Angeles, Kim moved to South Korea at the age of 15 to participate in the third season of the talent show K-pop Star.^[1] He placed second in the competition and was signed by Antenna Music's CEO You Hee-yeol, a judge on the show.^[2][3]

Sam released the first part of his debut EP, My Name Is Sam, on March 28, 2016.^[4] It contained three tracks including the pre-release single "Mama Don't Worry".^[5] His full-length EP, I Am Sam, was released on April 10.^[6] Its lead single was "No 눈치 (No Sense)", featuring Crush. His debut performance was at the finale stage of K-pop Star 5 on the same day.^{[7][unreliable source?]}

The music video for the single "Make Up" was released on October 23, 2018, ahead of Sam's upcoming studio album, Sun and Moon.^[8] It was his second lead single to feature Crush. The full album was released on November 22, 2018, along with a music video for the second single "It's You", featuring Zico.^[9][10]

On March 8, 2024, Antenna published a post on its social media accounts, stating that Sam would be amicably parting ways with the company after ten years under the label.^[11][12] On September 20, it was announced that Sam had signed to Park Hyo-shin's company Herbigharo.^[13]

Personal life

On January 26, 2023, Antenna Music announced that Sam Kim's father had been killed during the course of an attempted robbery. According to local media, on January 13 (US time), the restaurant owner, Mr. Kim, was shot then transported to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. With the investigation over the funeral was held on the 24th at the Bonnie Watson Funeral Home in the United States.^[14]

Discography

Kim performing in 2016

Studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales (CD)
		KOR [15]
Sun and Moon	Released: November 22, 2018 Label: Antenna Formats: CD, digital download, vinyl	23	KOR: 2,192[16]

Extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions	Sales (CD)
		KOR [15]
I Am Sam	Released: April 10, 2016 Label: Antenna Formats: CD, digital download	11	KOR: 2,077[17]

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales (DL)[a]	Album
		KOR [18]
As lead artist
"Mama Don't Worry"	2016	—	—	I Am Sam
"No Sense" (No 눈치) (featuring Crush)		37	KOR: 59,348[19]
"Make Up" (featuring Crush)	2018	56	—	Sun and Moon
"It's You" (featuring Zico)		88
"When You Fall" (featuring Chai)		—		Non-album singles
"Where's My Money"	2019	—
"What About" (featuring Penomeco)	2020	—
"The Juice"	2021	—
"These Walls"		—		Ad campaign single
"Look at Me" (바라봐줘요) (George cover)		—		You Hee-yul's Sketchbook: 78th Voice
"Aqua Man" (Beenzino cover)		—
Collaborations
"For Now" (여기까지) (with Kwon Jin-ah)	2016	17	KOR: 141,804[20]	Love Antenna
"Think About' Chu" (with Loco) (Asoto Union cover)	2017	16	KOR: 197,273[21]	Boys and Girls Music, Vol. 1
"Like a Fool" (with NIve)	2020	—	—	Non-album singles
"Everything Is OK (with Antenna Version)" (with Antenna artists) (Peppertones cover)		—
"Our Christmas Wish for You" (겨울의 우리들) (with Antenna artists)		107[b]		2020 Antenna Christmas Carol
"Closer" (with Jukjae and Kwon Jin-ah)	2021	—		Ad campaign single
"Hello Antenna, Hello Christmas" (with Antenna artists)		124[c]		2021 Antenna Christmas Carol
"Before 4:30 (She Said...)" (with Mew Suppasit)		—[d]		Non-album single
"Nap Fairy" (낮잠) (with Yeri)	2022	—[e]		SM Station Season 4
As featured artist
"~42" (Primary feat. Sam Kim, Esna)	2017	44	KOR: 92,674[28]	Shininryu
"23" (Punchnello feat. Sam Kim)	2019	—	—	Non-album single
"Bless You" (Primary feat. Sam Kim, Woodz, pH-1)	2020	—		Paktory Playlist 2020
"Someday" (Raisa feat. Sam Kim)	2021	—		It's Personal
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Sales (DL)[a]	Album
		KOR Circle [18]	KOR Hot 100 [29][f]	US World [30]
"Who Are You"	2016	3	—	15	KOR: 914,314[31]	Goblin OST
"I Do" (with Kwon Jin-ah) "Everyday" (with Kwon Jin-ah) "Cooking"	2017	—		—	—	The Lovebirds: Year 1 OST [ko]
"Scent" (향기)	2019	137	—	—		Search: WWW OST
"Breath" (숨)	2020	59	61	—		It's Okay to Not Be Okay OST
"Love Me Like That"	2021	116	—	—		Nevertheless OST
"Summer Rain" (여름비)	2022	37	45	—		Our Beloved Summer OST
"For You"		—	—	—		Cleaning Up OST
"Confession" (고백)		—[g]	—	—		Cheer Up OST
"Say You Love Me" (그대라는 봄)	2023	—[h]	—	—		My Demon OST
"Shining You"	2024	—[i]	—	—		Cinderella at 2 AM OST
"Playing Pretend"		—	—	—		Love in the Big City Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Like a Moonlight"	2025	—	—	—		'My Perfect Secretary' OST Part. 3 '
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other charted songs

Title	Artists	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
			KOR Circle [18]	KOR Hot 100 [29]
"What Do You Do When You Play?" (놀면 뭐해?)	Boi B, Gaeko, Choiza, Geegooin, Gray, Crush, Wonstein, Mommy Son, Zior Park, Sam Kim	2019	62	51	Yoo-plash
"Everest"	AKMU with Sam Kim	2021	60	48	Next Episode

Features

Title	Artists	Year	Album
"~42"	Primary featuring Sam Kim and Esna	2017	Shininryu
"Alright, Summer Time"	Loco featuring Sam Kim		Summer Go Loco
"We Are" (우리 시작)	Lee Jin-ah with Sam Kim, Kwon Jin-ah, Jung Seung-hwan, Chai	2018	Jinah Restaurant Full Course
"Forever Dumb"	Soyoon featuring Sam Kim	2019	So!YoON!
"Color You"	Chai featuring Sam Kim		Give and Take
"23"	Punchnello featuring Sam Kim		Non-album single
"Jungle"	Punchnello featuring Penomeco, Sam Kim		Show Me The Money 8 Final
"Aura"	George featuring Sam Kim		LEEEE
"Awake"	Lee Jin-ah featuring Sam Kim	2020	Candy Pianist
"Bless You"	Primary featuring Sam Kim, Woodz, pH-1		Non-album single
"Overthink"	Shindrum featuring Sam Kim	2021	Who I Am
"Everest"	AKMU with Sam Kim		Next Episode
"Someday"	Raisa featuring Sam Kim		It's Personal
"Midnight" (잘 어울려)	Babylon featuring Sam Kim	2022	Ego 90's
"Loveholic's Hangover"	Bibi featuring Sam Kim		Lowlife Princess: Noir
"Same Same" (너나나나)	Jukjae featuring Sam Kim		The Lights
"Only U"	Kangziwon featuring Sam Kim	2023	Non-album single
"Heaven"	Nayeon featuring Sam Kim	2024	Na

Kpop Star 3 songs

Year	Title	Original artist	Peak chart positions	Sales (DL)	Album
			KOR [18]
2014	"I'm in Love"	Ra.D	—	—	K-pop Star Season 3 Battle Audition Part.1
	"That XX" (그XX)	G-Dragon	—		K-pop Star Season 3 Top10 Part.1
	"Billie Jean"	Michael Jackson	—		K-pop Star Season 3 Top8
	"You're the One" (너 뿐이야)	Park Jin-young	37	KOR: 39,620[38]	K-pop Star Season 3 Top6
	"Stand by Me"	Ben E. King	96	KOR: 18,287[39]	K-pop Star Season 3 Top4
	"Honey"	Park Jin-young	88	KOR: 19,974[40]	K-pop Star Season 3 Top3
	"Lies" (거짓말)	Big Bang	77	KOR: 21,938[41]	K-pop Star Season 3 Top2
	"Englishman in New York"	Sting	37	KOR: 41,031[41]	K-pop Star Season 3 Top2
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Songwriting credits

See also: I Am Sam (EP) § Track listing, and Sun and Moon (album) § Track listing

The following credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association database,^[42] unless indicated otherwise.

Songs produced by Sam Kim for other artists

Title	Year	Artist	Album	Lyrics		Music		Arrangement
				Credited	With	Credited	With	Credited	With
"All My Love" (English version)[43]	2020	Park Bo-gum	Non-album single	Yes	—	Yes	—	Yes	Jehwi
"All My Love" (Korean version)[43]				Yes	Jisoo Park	Yes	—	Yes	Jehwi
"Someday"[44]	2021	Raisa feat. Sam Kim	It's Personal	Yes	Raisa	Yes	Raisa, Jukjae	Yes	Jukjae
"Before 4:30 (She Said…)"[45]	2021	Mew Suppasit, Sam Kim	Non-album single	Yes	—	Yes	—	Yes	—
"December's Spring" (12월의 봄)	2022	Yun Hu	Non-album single	No	—	Yes	—	Yes	—

Songs co-written by Sam Kim for other artists

Title	Year	Artist	Album	Lyrics		Music		Arrangement
				Credited	With	Credited	With	Credited	With
"Ending Scene"	2017	IU	Palette	No	—	Yes	—	No	—
"Eternal Sunshine"	2021	Gray feat. Meenoi	Grayground.	No	—	Yes	Gray, Hoody	Yes	Gray
"Looks Like a Real Thing" (English version)[46]	2022	Jehwi	Snowdrop OST	Yes	—	No	—	No	—
"On the Way"[47]	2022	Onew	Dice	No	—	Yes	Cha Cha Malone, Adrian McKinnon, Tay Jasper, Singing Beetle	No	—
"Rain on Me" (우중산책)[48]	2023	Onew	Circle	No	—	Yes	Jisoo Park	Yes	Jisoo Park
"Echoes"	2024	Jehwi	Non-album single	Yes	Jehwi, SU2	No	—	No	—

Concerts and tours

Headlining concerts

• Sam Kim 1st Concert: Sun and Moon (Seoul; February 16–17, 2019)^[49]
• Sam Kim 2019 Europe Tour (Paris, London, Berlin; April 27–30, 2019)^[50]
• Sam Kim 2019 Concert in Singapore (Singapore; July 26, 2019)^[51]
• 2019 Sam Kim Live: Kunge (Seoul; November 23–24, 2019)^[52]

Collaborative concerts

• Hello, Antenna: The Label Concert (Seoul; September 23–25, 2016)^[53]
• Antenna Angels Concert: 우리, 시작 (Seoul; March 16–19, 2017) with Lee Jin-ah, Jung Seung-hwan, Kwon Jin-ah^[54]
• With, Antenna: The Label Concert (Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Los Angeles, New York; September 2–29, 2017)^[55]

As opening act

• Charlie Puth: Nine Track Mind tour (Seoul; August 18, 2016) with Kwon Jin-ah^[56]
• Tom Misch: 2018 Asia Tour (Seoul; August 21, 2018)^[57]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Network	Notes	Ref.
2013–2014	K-pop Star 3	SBS	Contestant	[1]
2016	The Friends in Costa Rica	K-STAR	Main cast (with Eric Nam and Song Yuvin)	[58]
2022	Tripmate: Who Are You?	KBS World	Main cast	[59]

Web shows

Year	Title	Network	Notes	Ref.
2016	Sam Kim Music Documentary	Naver TV, V Live	Documentary series produced as a tie-in with My Name Is Sam	[60]
2019	Sam Kim & Jung Seung-hwan Self Live Tour	YouTube	Reality series produced by Visit Singapore and Dingo Travel	[61]
2021	Antenna TV: Clumsy Antenna	Kakao TV	Main cast (with artists from Antenna)	[62]

Awards and nominations

Award	Year	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
Beautiful Mint Life Awards	2016	Best Rookie	Sam Kim	Won	[63]
Grand Mint Festival Awards	2017	Best Rookie	Sam Kim	Nominated	[64]
Melon Music Awards	2016	Best Rookie	Sam Kim	Nominated	[65]
		Best Folk/Blues	"No Sense"	Nominated

Notes

1. Gaon stopped releasing download sales numbers in January 2018.
2. "Our Christmas Wish for You" peaked at 24 on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100.^[22]
3. "Hello Antenna, Hello Christmas" peaked at 14 on the Billboard K-pop Hot 100.^[23]
4. "Before 4:30 (She Said...)" peaked at 4 on the Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart^[24] and at 8 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart.^[25]
5. "Nap Fairy" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 50 and 74 on the Circle BGM Chart and Download Chart, respectively.^[26][27]
6. The K-pop Hot 100 was discontinued on July 16, 2014. The chart was later re-established following the term date of May 29 – June 4, 2017.
7. "Confession" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 46 and 79 on the Circle BGM Chart and Download Chart, respectively. ^{[32] [33]}
8. "Say You Love Me" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 16 and 78 on the Circle BGM Chart and Download Chart, respectively. ^{[34] [35]}
9. "Shining You" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 16 and 77 on the Circle BGM Chart and Download Chart, respectively. ^{[36] [37]}