K-Pop, a musical phenomenon that has conquered the world and that is increasingly opening up to international artists, has, for a few years, had great talent from Chile. The Telethon 2018 witnessed this fact (which was so important for future generations) when the group W24, with a Chilean member as lead vocalist, performed before thousands of viewers. Cheong Ho Won, also known as Howon, has shown that dreams can come true, no matter how far away they may seem, taking his passion from Chile to South Korea.
From hobby to K-Pop star
Cheong Ho Won was born in Chile and, due to his father’s work, lived in several Latin American countries before settling in South Korea at the age of 19. Although singing was initially a hobby, his life changed drastically when he was accepted into the J Army Entertainment company. There the young artist began arduous training with four other members who, after two years of great effort, managed to form W24. The band officially debuted on March 8, 2018 with the EP Singing Dancing.
In their songs, the boys usually combine different musical styles. Their second digital mini album was released in October 2018 and included the hit single “Sosime.”
A bridge between Chile and South Korea
For Howon, adapting to Korean culture, even with Korean ancestors in his family, represented a significant challenge. However, his fluency in Korean, English and Spanish allowed him to constantly improve himself and make his way in a highly competitive environment. Furthermore, on his way to success, the young artist also completed his military service in Korea and pursued university studies.
Howon also brings a special touch to the group’s music with his influence from his upbringing in Latin America. “Sometimes I listen to Latin music like cumbia and reggaeton, especially when I need energy or think about my childhood memories. I also like the britishpophe pop rock and the ballads,” he commented in an interview. This musical diversity is reflected in W24’s very particular style, which is constantly seeking to open up to new genres and connect with people from all over the world.
Returning to Chile and finding his roots
The presentation of W24 at Teletón 2018 represented a special moment for Howon, who returned to Chile with his bandmates to participate in this solidarity crusade. Furthermore, the group made its first fan meetings in Concepción and Santiago, offering Chilean fans the opportunity to meet them in person faster than any other K-pop group has managed to do.
“I miss the food, the culture, the people, the atmosphere… Everything!” said the Chilean singer about his native country. Despite having left Chile at a young age, he has fond memories of his childhood and is deeply grateful for the support he has received from all the people who follow him. At that time, the young man added that “We are very happy to finally be able to see the fans that we always see on social networks. With Teletón, we began our musical career in Latin America. We feel that we have a great responsibility but also a great opportunity.”
Some interesting facts about W24
The group’s name means “World 24 Hours” and reflects the desire for their music to be heard around the world 24 hours a day. While they were originally a quintet, they are currently composed of Kim Yun-soo (guitarist), Kim Jong-gil (drummer and leader), Cheong Ho-won (vocalist) and Park Aaron (keyboardist). Their original bassist, Park Ji-won, left the band in December 2020 after ending his contract.
Before their official debut, W24 practiced hard for two years, perfecting their style and coming together as a group. Cheong Ho-won was the last member to join the lineup, eight months before the debut, after successfully auditioning.
From the beginning, the band focused on creating music accessible to all types of audiences. His first mini album, Singing Dancingreleased on March 8, 2018, included the lead single “Always Missing You.” Later that year, the band released “Sosime,” a song that addresses shyness and introspection, characteristics that also reflect the members.
The impact of W24 was such that in 2018 they received the Focus Award at the Asia Artist Awards and became the first K-pop group to perform at the Telethon in Chile. The following year, they released their second mini-album, Stay a Momentalong with several singles during 2020, including “Joahaeyo” and “Sunday Night.”
W24 also demonstrated his talent in the reality show Asian Top Band of 2020, where they won first place and in March 2021 they celebrated their third anniversary with the digital single “Breath.”
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