1. Kwon Bo-ah, known professionally as BoA, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actress often called the "Queen of K-pop".
43 Facts About BoA
1. 2.
BoA has since released twenty studio albums, including ten in Korean, nine in Japanese, and one in English.
3.
BoA has sold over ten million albums throughout her career and is one of only three female artists with six consecutive number-one studio albums on the Oricon Albums Chart since her debut, alongside Japanese singers Ayumi Hamasaki and Hikaru Utada.
4.
BoA is the recipient of numerous awards in South Korea and Japan, including eight MAMA Awards, six SBS Music Awards, five Japan Record Awards, and five Japan Gold Disc Awards.
5.
At the age of eleven, BoA accompanied her older brother to an SM Entertainment talent search.
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BoA has said that her early influence as a singer was Seo Taiji.
7.
BoA underwent two years of training, and at the age of thirteen she released her debut album ID; Peace B in South Korea on August 25,2000.
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BoA was forced to quit school to prepare and in early 2001, BoA released her first mini-album, Don't Start Now; it sold around 90,000 units.
9.
BoA began her Japanese music career singing at the Avex-owned club Velfarre.
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The album was a breakthrough in BoA's career, becoming an RIAJ-certified million-seller and debuted atop the Oricon, the first album by a Korean artist to do so.
11.
From 2001 to 2007, BoA hosted Beat it BoA's World, a radio program on the Japan FM Network.
12.
In support of the album, BoA launched BoA 1st Live Tour Valenti, her first Japanese concert tour.
13.
That May, BoA renewed her contract with SM Entertainment until 2012.
14.
BoA performed "Everlasting", the image song for Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist.
15.
BoA voiced Heather the possum in the Korean and Japanese version of the animated film Over the Hedge.
16.
In support of Outgrow, BoA launched a special Zepp tour, B0A The Live, on September 29,2006, which lasted until October 29.
17.
BoA staged her first Christmas concert on December 7,2006.
18.
On September 2,2008, it was announced that BoA would make her American debut under a new subsidiary label, SM Entertainment USA.
19.
BoA represented South Korea and performed at the 7th Asia Song Festival, organized by Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange, at the Seoul Olympic Stadium.
20.
BoA made her Hollywood movie debut in the dance film Make Your Move 3D, playing the character Aya opposite Derek Hough.
21.
BoA received praise for her ability as a judge with her insightful comments and discerning eyes, and sang the theme song "One Dream".
22.
BoA followed this up with the second "The Shadow", was released August 18,2012.
23.
BoA launched her first Korean tour with BoA Special Live 2013: Here I Am tour at the Olympic Hall, and released the song "Disturbance", which she wrote and composed, to commemorate her first concert tour in South Korea.
24.
In September 2013, BoA starred in KBS' two-episode drama special Expect to Date alongside Choi Daniel and Im Si-wan, her full first role in a drama, following a string of cameo appearances.
25.
Entertainment's special winter project, Winter Garden, BoA released a digital single entitled "Christmas Paradise".
26.
On January 12,2016, BoA released an English-language single "Make Me Complete", which serves as the theme song for the Fuji TV special drama Ooku, starring Sawajiri Erika and Watanabe Mayu.
27.
BoA worked with BeatBurger for another SM Station single titled "Music Is Wonderful", where she participated in the composing and writing of the track.
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From October to November 2016, BoA starred in JTBC's romance melodrama Listen to Love, returning to the small screen after three years.
29.
BoA released the single "Camo," a dance song with a heavy emphasis on bass and synthesizer sounds, which was a change in sound from her previous materials and produced by The Underdogs.
30.
BoA later starred in the film Autumn Sonata alongside Lee Hak-joo, playing a terminally ill patient.
31.
In 2018, BoA returned to Japan and released her ninth Japanese album Watashi Konomama de Iinokana on February 14,2018, followed by EP Unchained in March.
32.
In May 2020, BoA was featured as one of the coaches for the third season of The Voice of Korea, alongside Dynamic Duo, Sung Si-kyung, and Kim Jong-kook.
33.
SpoTV News shared BoA to join as a judge for Mnet Dance program "Street Woman Fighter".
34.
On November 5,2021, BoA released the Japanese single, "My Dear", to commemorate her 20th anniversary.
35.
BoA was revealed as a member of the supergroup Got the Beat on December 27,2021.
36.
On November 8,2022, BoA announced her third EP Forgive Me along with the title track on the same name on November 22,2022.
37.
In 2024, BoA appeared in the drama Marry My Husband, where she played Oh Yu-ra.
38.
BoA has performed with Western artists: the song "Flying Without Wings" from her album Next World was a collaboration with Irish band Westlife covering the original song; the Bratz single "Show Me What You Got" was performed with Howie D of the American band Backstreet Boys.
39.
BoA worked with Akon, singing the song "Beautiful", which was featured on the Japanese release of his third album, Freedom.
40.
BoA is regarded as one of South Korea's most influential singers and is widely referred to as the "Queen of K-pop", in recognition of her contributions in spearheading the Korean wave into Japan.
41.
Music critics have recognized BoA for improving "civil relations between the Korean and Japanese public through her music and appearances in Japanese radio and television", with Oxford Political Review noting "BoA's role in strengthening Japan-South Korea ties as a cultural envoy".
42.
BoA highlighted that the timing of her success coincided with several political and cultural developments; these of which include the implementation of Korea's Open-Door Policy, the Korea Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the popularity of the drama series Winter Sonata.
43.
BoA served as ambassador for Asia Youth Day in 2014.