Eun Ji-won: Sechs Kies Leader, Solo Rapper & Variety Star
Eun Ji-won is a South Korean rapper, singer, and entertainer born June 8, 1978. He is the leader of first-generation K-pop group Sechs Kies and has released six solo studio albums. He is also a prominent variety show personality known for 1 Night 2 Days and New Journey to the West.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Eun Ji-won (은지원) |
| Born | June 8, 1978 |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Occupation | Rapper, singer, actor, entertainer |
| Active Years | 1997–present |
| Agency | YG Entertainment (2016–present) |
| Former Agency | DSP Media (1997–2000), GYM Entertainment (2000–2016) |
| Group | Sechs Kies (leader, main rapper) |
| Debut (Group) | April 15, 1997 |
| Debut (Solo) | October 27, 2000 |
| Genres | K-pop, hip-hop, R&B |
| Nickname | Eun Choding (Elementary Eun) |
| Spouse | Lee Soo-yeon (m. 2010; div. 2012), Unknown (m. 2025) |
| Height | 174 cm |
| Blood Type | A |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Table of Contents
Who Is Eun Ji-won?
Eun Ji-won is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor, and entertainer who has remained a fixture in Korean entertainment for nearly three decades. He is best known as the leader and main rapper of Sechs Kies, one of the first-generation K-pop idol groups that debuted in 1997 and helped establish the blueprint for fandom culture in Korea. Beyond his group activities, Eun has built a substantial solo music career rooted in hip-hop, released six studio albums, and become one of the most recognizable variety show personalities in the country through programs like 2 Days & 1 Night and New Journey to the West. His ability to move between music, acting, and entertainment has made him a rare example of a first-generation idol who successfully reinvented himself across multiple eras of the Korean entertainment industry.
Early Life and Education
Eun Ji-won was born on June 8, 1978, in Seoul, South Korea. His mother, Kim Seong-ah, was a singer from the female duo the “Lily Sisters,” giving him an early connection to the music industry. As a teenager, Eun studied abroad in Hawaii, attending Hawaiian Mission Academy from Grade 9 through Grade 12. He was schoolmates with Kang Sung-hoon, who would later become a fellow Sechs Kies member. During his time in Hawaii, Eun worked part-time as a café DJ, where he developed an interest in music. It was during this period that he was scouted by the CEO of DSP Entertainment, who was vacationing in Hawaii. The agency originally planned to debut Eun and Kang as a duo, but the success of SM Entertainment’s H.O.T. prompted a shift toward forming a six-member boy group instead.
Eun is also related to two former South Korean presidents: Park Chung-hee was his grand-uncle, and Park Geun-hye is his first cousin once removed.
Sechs Kies: The First Generation
Sechs Kies (젝스키스), pronounced “ZEKS-kees,” debuted on April 15, 1997, on KMTV’s Show! Music Tank with their first single, “School Anthem.” The group was formed under Daesung Entertainment (later DSP Media) and consisted of six members: Eun Ji-won, Kang Sung-hoon, Lee Jai-jin, Kim Jae-duck, Jang Su-won, and Ko Ji-yong. Eun served as the group’s leader and main rapper.
The group’s debut album, School Anthem, released on May 15, 1997, became a commercial success. Multiple tracks from the album gained popularity, including “School Anthem,” “Remember Me,” and “The Way This Guy Lives.” Their second album, Welcome to the Sechskies Land, released on November 1, 1997, featured 20 tracks and gave the group their first number one spot on SBS Inkigayo with the title track “Chivalry.”
During their active years from 1997 to 2000, Sechs Kies enjoyed significant popularity, with their fandom rivaling that of H.O.T., the other major first-generation boy group of the era. Eun has described the period as hectic, with back-to-back schedules and little rest. The group released several more albums before formally disbanding on May 20, 2000. At the time of disbandment, Eun stated that the members decided it would be best to disband at the peak of their career. Following the disbandment, the group released a final track online titled “Thanks.”
Solo Career: From Idol to Hip-Hop Artist
Eun Ji-won began his solo career on October 27, 2000, with the self-composed mini-album G. He followed this with his first full-length album, G Pop, released on March 29, 2001. The album featured tracks like “Murmur” and showcased a dance-oriented sound. His second album, Heavy G, released on February 26, 2002, marked his first full hip-hop album, signaling a shift in his musical direction.
His third album, Drunken in Hip Hop (also known as Drunk in Melody), released on September 6, 2003, became his breakthrough into the hip-hop scene. The album, produced with contributions from Tiger JK, solidified Eun’s status as a rap artist and helped him shed his idol image. The title track “Drunk in Melody” won him the Hip Hop Award at the 2003 SBS Gayo Daejeon and the KMTV Korean Music Awards. He repackaged the album later that year as *G1-03*.
Eun continued to release music throughout the 2000s. His fourth album, The 2nd Round, was released in February 2005. After a hiatus, he returned in October 2007 with the single album Love Death, Introspection, featuring the title track “Adios,” which became a top 10 hit. He released the EP G Code in 2008 and the album Platonic in 2009. In 2010, he released the single “You’re My V.I.P.,” and in 2012, the single “I Munna.” He released the EP Trauma in 2015.
His sixth studio album, G1, was released on June 27, 2019, through YG Entertainment. It marked his first studio album in 10 years and his first solo release since 2015. The album featured the lead single “I’m On Fire,” with lyrics and composition by Mino of WINNER. G1 demonstrated Eun’s continued relevance as a solo artist in a vastly changed K-pop landscape.
Variety Career: “Eun Choding” and Beyond
Eun Ji-won’s second act as a variety show personality has been as significant as his music career. He became a cast member of KBS’s 2 Days & 1 Night in 2007, where his childish on-screen persona earned him the nickname “Eun Choding” (Elementary Eun). His time on the show, which lasted until 2012, made him a household name. In 2010, he won the Best Entertainer Award at the KBS Entertainment Awards for his work on the program. In 2011, the cast of 1 Night 2 Days collectively received the Daesang (Grand Prize) at the same awards.
Eun’s collaboration with producer Na Young-seok led to a string of successful variety shows. He became a core cast member of New Journey to the West, a travel-reality show that began in 2015 and has aired multiple seasons. The show also spawned spin-offs including Kang’s Kitchen, a restaurant-themed series where Eun served as the hall and dessert manager. In 2025, he appeared in the Netflix variety show Three Meals in Kenya (also known as Three Idiots in Kenya) alongside Lee Soo-geun and Kyuhyun, embarking on a safari adventure in Africa.
He has also been a cast member of KBS2’s Mr. House Husband 2 (Men Who Do Housework 2), where he has shared details of his personal life, including his remarriage and family planning discussions. In 2025, he won the Best Entertainer Award (Reality) at the KBS Entertainment Awards for his role on the show.
Acting and Other Activities
Eun made his on-screen debut in 1998 with the lead role in the film Seventeen, which also featured fellow Sechs Kies members. He appeared as a special guest on the sitcom Nonstop from 2001 to 2003. In 2004, he starred in the film Marrying a High-School Girl. His most notable acting role came in 2012 when he played Do Hak-chan in the hit drama Reply 1997. The role, which drew on his own experiences as a first-generation idol, was well-received and introduced him to a new generation of viewers.
Eun has also worked as a radio DJ, hosting MBC FM4U’s Chinhan Chingu (Close Friend) from 2002 to 2003. In 2009, he founded his own entertainment company, GYM Entertainment, to produce and nurture new artists.
Musical Identity and Artistic Evolution
Eun Ji-won’s musical career is defined by a deliberate transition from idol pop to hip-hop. While his early solo albums G Pop and Heavy G contained dance-oriented tracks, his third album, Drunken in Hip Hop, marked a clear pivot toward hip-hop, both in sound and image. The album’s production, which involved Tiger JK, and its title track’s success demonstrated that Eun could command respect in the Korean hip-hop scene rather than being dismissed as an idol attempting a genre shift.
His later work, including Platonic and G1, continued to explore hip-hop while incorporating elements of R&B and electronic music. The involvement of younger artists like Mino on G1 showed an openness to collaborating with newer generations of artists. Throughout his career, Eun has maintained a distinctive vocal delivery and rap style that prioritizes rhythmic clarity and a laid-back cadence, setting him apart from both the more aggressive delivery common in Korean hip-hop and the polished vocal techniques of idol pop.
Discography
Studio Albums
| Release | Date | Notable Tracks |
|---|---|---|
| G Pop | March 29, 2001 | “Murmur,” “Delay,” “Knot” |
| Eun Ji Won 2 (also known as Heavy G) | February 26, 2002 | “Money (Part II),” “Silver Wing,” “Monologue” |
| Drunken in Hip Hop | September 6, 2003 | “Drunk in Melody,” “High High,” “I-Go” |
| *G1-03* (repackage) | December 11, 2003 | Repackaged version of Drunken in Hip Hop |
| The 2nd Round | February 2005 | “So Gone,” “8t Truck,” “Owl” |
| Platonic | 2009 | |
| G1 | June 27, 2019 | “I’m On Fire,” “How We Do,” “Sexy,” “Hooligan” |
EPs and Single Albums
| Release | Date | Type | Title Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | October 27, 2000 | Mini album | |
| Love Death, Introspection | October 2007 | Single album | “Adios” |
| G Code | 2008 | EP | |
| Trauma | 2015 | EP |
Singles
| Song | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| “A-Ha” | 2001 | Debut solo single |
| “Murmur” | 2001 | From G Pop |
| “Drunk in Melody” | 2003 | From Drunken in Hip Hop |
| “Adios” | 2007 | Top 10 hit |
| “Dangerous” | 2008 | |
| “I Munna” | 2012 | |
| “I’m On Fire” | 2019 | From G1; featuring Blue.D |
Awards and Achievements
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Netizen Popularity Award | Won | |
| 2003 | SBS Gayo Daejeon | Hip Hop Award | “Drunk in Melody” | Won |
| 2003 | KMTV Korean Music Awards | Hip Hop Award | “Drunk in Melody” | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Entertainer | 1 Night 2 Days | Won |
| 2011 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Daesang (Grand Prize) | 1 Night 2 Days (shared with cast) | Won |
| 2011 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Entertainer | Nominated | |
| 2025 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Entertainer (Reality) | Mr. House Husband | Won |
Personal Life
Eun Ji-won married Lee Soo-yeon, a judo athlete two years his senior, in April 2010 in Hawaii. The couple divorced by mutual agreement in 2012. Eun later revealed on MBN’s Dolsing Fourmen that he never registered the marriage, explaining that it was difficult to register a marriage between people of different nationalities in the United States at the time.
In June 2025, YG Entertainment confirmed that Eun was preparing to remarry. His fiancée is a stylist nine years younger than him, and the couple held a private wedding ceremony with close relatives in October 2025. Eun has since spoken openly about his marriage on Mr. House Husband 2, sharing that his wife manages his fashion and that they bond over gaming. He has also discussed his decision not to have children, revealing on the show that he had undergone a vasectomy, though he later clarified the details of his statement.
Eun’s exact net worth is not publicly available. His income sources include music releases, concerts, variety show appearances, acting roles, and endorsements.
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Official Account |
|---|---|
| @1_kyne_g1 | |
| X / Twitter | @G1cloverG1 |
| YouTube | Not publicly available as a personal channel |
| Weverse | Not publicly available |
Eun’s Instagram account was briefly set to private in 2016 following news of President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, reflecting the sensitivity surrounding his family connection to the former president. He has since maintained a more public presence on the platform.
Interesting Facts About Eun Ji-won
- Eun Ji-won was scouted by DSP Entertainment’s CEO while studying in Hawaii, where he worked as a café DJ.
- His mother was a member of the 1960s female duo the “Lily Sisters.”
- He is related to two former South Korean presidents: Park Chung-hee (grand-uncle) and Park Geun-hye (first cousin once removed).
- His Sechs Kies nickname was “Soy Sauce” (깜시), reportedly because of his dark skin.
- The nickname “Eun Choding” (Elementary Eun) came from his childish persona on 1 Night 2 Days.
- He made his acting debut in the 1998 film Seventeen, which also featured other Sechs Kies members.
- His third album, Drunken in Hip Hop, was produced with contributions from Tiger JK.
- He won Hip Hop Awards at both the SBS Gayo Daejeon and KMTV Korean Music Awards in 2003.
- He founded his own entertainment company, GYM Entertainment, in 2009.
- He formed the hip-hop project group Clover in 2011 with Gilme and Typhoon.
- He was part of the project group HOTSechgodRG with Moon Hee-jun, Tony An, Chun Myung-hoon, and Danny Ahn.
- He played Do Hak-chan in the 2012 drama Reply 1997.
- His 2019 album G1 featured the song “I’m On Fire,” written and composed by Mino of WINNER.
- He hosted MBC FM4U’s radio show Chinhan Chingu from 2002 to 2003.
- He was the first DJ on MBC FM4U’s Chinhan Chingu program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eun Ji-won?
Eun Ji-won is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor, and entertainer. He is the leader of the first-generation K-pop group Sechs Kies and has had a successful solo career in hip-hop and a prominent career as a variety show personality.
When was Eun Ji-won born?
Eun Ji-won was born on June 8, 1978.
Where was Eun Ji-won born?
He was born in Seoul, South Korea.
What group is Eun Ji-won the leader of?
Eun Ji-won is the leader of Sechs Kies, a first-generation K-pop boy group that debuted in 1997.
When did Sechs Kies debut?
Sechs Kies debuted on April 15, 1997.
When did Eun Ji-won make his solo debut?
Eun Ji-won began his solo career on October 27, 2000, with the mini-album G.
What agency is Eun Ji-won signed to?
Eun Ji-won is signed to YG Entertainment, which he joined in 2016.
What is Eun Ji-won’s nickname?
His most famous nickname is “Eun Choding” (Elementary Eun), which he earned from his childish persona on 1 Night 2 Days. His Sechs Kies nickname was “Soy Sauce.”
What variety shows has Eun Ji-won appeared on?
He has appeared on 2 Days & 1 Night, New Journey to the West, Kang’s Kitchen, Mr. House Husband 2, and Three Meals in Kenya, among others.
What is Eun Ji-won’s most famous solo song?
“Drunk in Melody” from his 2003 album Drunken in Hip Hop is considered his breakthrough hit. “I’m On Fire” from his 2019 album G1 is also notable.
Who is Eun Ji-won related to?
He is related to former South Korean presidents Park Chung-hee and Park Geun-hye.
Is Eun Ji-won married?
Eun Ji-won married his first wife, Lee Soo-yeon, in 2010 and divorced in 2012. He remarried in October 2025 to a stylist nine years his junior.
What is Eun Ji-won’s blood type?
His blood type is A.
How tall is Eun Ji-won?
He is 174 cm tall.
What is Eun Ji-won’s religion?
He is Buddhist.
Conclusion
Eun Ji-won’s career spans nearly three decades and multiple reinventions. As the leader of Sechs Kies, he helped establish the idol group model in Korea during the late 1990s. As a solo artist, he deliberately moved away from pop toward hip-hop, earning credibility and awards that transcended his idol origins. As a variety show personality, he became a household name through 1 Night 2 Days and built a lasting creative partnership with producer Na Young-seok.
His 2019 album G1 demonstrated that he could still command attention as a solo musician, while his ongoing presence on programs like Mr. House Husband 2 and Three Meals in Kenya shows that his appeal as an entertainer remains undiminished. Eun Ji-won is a rare example of a first-generation K-pop star who not only survived the transition to a new era of Korean entertainment but thrived in it.
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