U;Nee
Encyclopedia
Heo Yoon better known by her stage name U;Nee, was a South Korean singer and actress. Before dedicating her career to music, she used the stage name Lee Hye-Ryeon. After debut as a singer, she used the second stage name U;Nee professionally until her death.
singer, with upbeat songs (although some of her songs were upbeat songs, she rapped in many of them), as heard in her very first single, 가 (Go). The song was well-received by Korean media, and garnered her many fans. The track was then featured on her debut album, U;Nee Code
, released on June 12, 2003. U;Nee Code sold well.
, with sales equally similar to U;Nee Code, even though the lead single, Call Call Call, was performed frequently and landed within the Top 10 of Korean Music Charts. U;Nee's record company then tried to advertise her more as a sexy singer, which gave her harsh criticism from netizens. U;Nee, who was personally soft-spoken and reserved, found this difficult to bear. U;Nee was also known as "ユニ" (Yuni) in Japan
.
in February 2006. The single also included an alternate version of Sun Cruise from her debut album, U;Nee Code, and Follow Me, a song that would later appear on her 3rd and final album, Habit
. She held a showcase performing a variety of her songs from her Call Call Call album with great reviews, thus gaining her many fans in Japan.
, Malaysia. Abdul Razak Baginda
, a political analyst, was charged in connection with the murder of Altantuya.
Following the murder, photographs purportedly of her circulated in Malaysian and Singapore
an tabloids. The photographs were later shown to her father, Shaariibuu Setev, who denied they were of his daughter, saying: "That's not her...don't spoil her name." Readers subsequently established that the photographs were those of U;Nee.
According to The Straits Times
, these photographs were posted via e-mail
throughout Malaysia; the emails were titled Altantuya@Mongolia. Shaariibuu Setev, in a later interview in Bernama
, criticized the press for publishing them.
, South Korea. After her death, her mother held a press conference at the hospital. She confirmed that U;Nee suffered from early bouts of depression
, for which she took medication
, and had problems dealing with the pressure of fame, as well as personal problems.
U;Nee's management company released her third album
as planned on January 26, 2007, five days after her death.
Early life
U;Nee was born Heo Yoon, on May 3, 1981 in Seo-gu, Incheon, South Korea. No information is known about her mother besides the fact she held a press conference after U;Nee's death, but her father died young and she was raised by her grandmother. This led to an early development of depression at age 7. U;Nee got into acting at the age of 17, under the stage name Lee Hye-Ryeon, but it was her dream to become a singer.2003: Debut and U;Nee Code
In 2003, U;Nee debuted as a dance-popDance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
singer, with upbeat songs (although some of her songs were upbeat songs, she rapped in many of them), as heard in her very first single, 가 (Go). The song was well-received by Korean media, and garnered her many fans. The track was then featured on her debut album, U;Nee Code
U;Nee Code
U;Nee Code is the debut studio album by K-pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on June 12, 2003, on Synnara Music.-Overview:U;Nee Code marks the debut of K-pop singer, U;Nee...
, released on June 12, 2003. U;Nee Code sold well.
2005: Image Transition & Call Call Call/Passion & Pure - EP
In 2005, her record label started to market her as a sexy singer, focusing more on her image, while transforming her dance-pop style music into a sexy R&B sound, as heard in her 2005 single, Call Call Call. U;Nee underwent plastic surgery, enlarging her breast size in the process and having slight surgery on her jaw and nose. Soon after, U;Nee released her 2nd album, Call Call CallCall Call Call
Call Call Call is the second studio album by K-pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on February 18, 2005, by Synnara Music...
, with sales equally similar to U;Nee Code, even though the lead single, Call Call Call, was performed frequently and landed within the Top 10 of Korean Music Charts. U;Nee's record company then tried to advertise her more as a sexy singer, which gave her harsh criticism from netizens. U;Nee, who was personally soft-spoken and reserved, found this difficult to bear. U;Nee was also known as "ユニ" (Yuni) in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
2006: U;Nee in Japan
In 2006, U;Nee was marketed abroad in Asia. Her debut single, One, taken from Call Call Call, was released in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in February 2006. The single also included an alternate version of Sun Cruise from her debut album, U;Nee Code, and Follow Me, a song that would later appear on her 3rd and final album, Habit
Habit (U;Nee Album)
Habit is the third and last studio album by Korean pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on January 26, 2007, on Synnara Music, five days after her death.-Overview:...
. She held a showcase performing a variety of her songs from her Call Call Call album with great reviews, thus gaining her many fans in Japan.
Performances
During the majority of her performances, U;Nee often showcased her extraordinary dance skills, as she was known before and after her debut as an excellent dancer.Altantuya scandal
U;Nee's image became associated with a scandal involving Altantuya Shaaribuu, who was murdered in October 2006 in SelangorSelangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, Malaysia. Abdul Razak Baginda
Abdul Razak Baginda
Abdul Razak Baginda is a former political analyst from Malaysia, and close associate of the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. He became prominent in 2006 when he was charged with abetting the murder of a Mongolian woman. He was acquitted on October 31, 2008 when the Malaysian High...
, a political analyst, was charged in connection with the murder of Altantuya.
Following the murder, photographs purportedly of her circulated in Malaysian and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an tabloids. The photographs were later shown to her father, Shaariibuu Setev, who denied they were of his daughter, saying: "That's not her...don't spoil her name." Readers subsequently established that the photographs were those of U;Nee.
According to The Straits Times
The Straits Times
The Straits Times is an English language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings . It is the country's highest-selling paper, with a current daily circulation of nearly 400,000...
, these photographs were posted via e-mail
E-mail
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
throughout Malaysia; the emails were titled Altantuya@Mongolia. Shaariibuu Setev, in a later interview in Bernama
BERNAMA
BERNAMA is a news agency of the government of Malaysia. It is an autonomous body placed under the Information, Culture and Communications Ministry. It was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1967 and started work on 26 May 1968....
, criticized the press for publishing them.
Death
On January 21, 2007, U;Nee died by suicide - she was found, hanged, in her home in Seo-gu, IncheonIncheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
, South Korea. After her death, her mother held a press conference at the hospital. She confirmed that U;Nee suffered from early bouts of depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, for which she took medication
Psychiatric medication
A psychiatric medication is a licensed psychoactive drug taken to exert an effect on the mental state and used to treat mental disorders. Usually prescribed in psychiatric settings, these medications are typically made of synthetic chemical compounds, although some are naturally occurring, or at...
, and had problems dealing with the pressure of fame, as well as personal problems.
U;Nee's management company released her third album
Habit (U;Nee Album)
Habit is the third and last studio album by Korean pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on January 26, 2007, on Synnara Music, five days after her death.-Overview:...
as planned on January 26, 2007, five days after her death.
Filmography
- "New Generation Report – Adults Don’t Know"
- "Seventeen"
- "Zilzu"
- "Speeding"
- "The Theme Game"
- "The Tears of a Dragon"
- "The King and the Queen"
- X-ManX-Man (TV series)X-Man was a popular South Korean game show which ran from November 8, 2003 to April 8, 2007 on SBS. Its popularity peaked in 2004, but a decline in ratings led to its cancellation...
Discography
- U;Nee CodeU;Nee CodeU;Nee Code is the debut studio album by K-pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on June 12, 2003, on Synnara Music.-Overview:U;Nee Code marks the debut of K-pop singer, U;Nee...
(2003) - Call Call CallCall Call CallCall Call Call is the second studio album by K-pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on February 18, 2005, by Synnara Music...
(2005) - HabitHabit (U;Nee Album)Habit is the third and last studio album by Korean pop singer, U;Nee. It was released on January 26, 2007, on Synnara Music, five days after her death.-Overview:...
(2007)