# Soridata Artist Profile - Kim Hyuk Gun

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> **Kim Hyuk Gun** (김혁건) is a South Korean Male Soloist and Idol who debuted solo in 2007. He  started in group The Cross. 

In March 2012, he was struck head-on by a car that ran a red light while he was returning home on his motorcycle. The serious accident left him immediately paralyzed from the neck down, rendering him tetraplegic. He spent a month in a coma, during which he recalls being partially conscious, and due to communication issues, it took his manager two months to locate him in the hospital.
Throughout his rehabilitation, his Cross partner remained steadfastly by his side, promising they would sing together again despite his loss of two-thirds of his breathing capacity, a consequence of his inability to control his diaphragm.
During a routine examination, his doctor was helping him cough when they discovered that applying pressure to his stomach helped him produce a strong exhale, which could potentially aid in his ability to sing. Recognizing this opportunity, he collaborated with Professor Bang Bangboon from Seoul National University's Robotic Convergence Research Center to develop a device to assist with abdominal breathing. Initially manual and requiring assistance, the device underwent numerous iterations and enhancements, culminating in the integration of sensors that allow him to control it via a joystick operated by movements of his neck. With this innovation, he regained control of his diaphragm.
Now known as the 'Exo-Abs', the device is discreet enough to be worn under clothing, enabling him to fully regain his singing abilities. In December 2013, he announced his comeback and performed live in October 2014.
By 2020, thanks to advancements in AI-enabled versions of the Exo-Abs, he was able to expand his vocal range to three octaves and perform his old songs with renewed vigor, an event that he described as being able to finally sing after 17 years. 
Despite the potential physical toll of prolonged use of the Exo-Abs, he remains undeterred, emphasizing that singing is synonymous with living for him.
Kim Hyuk Gun is widely revered as a symbol of human perseverance.

# Personal Information

- Soridata ID: 5194
- Gender: Male
- Stage Name: Kim Hyuk Gun (김혁건)
- Full Name: Kim Hyuk Gun ()
- Date of Birth: 1981-04-23
- Zodiac: Taurus
- Country of Birth: South Korea
- Parent Artist: The Cross
- Active Since: 2003
- Debut Day: 2007-11-01
- Current Status: Active

# Metrics and Achievements

- Success Rating: 0.0
*_Success is a star rating that goes from 0 (min) to 5 (max), each star represents one of the following: Sales up to 500000, Streaming score up to 700, Awards up to 5, Youtube Views up to 250 million, Yearly awards up to 7. Example: An artist with 250000 sales (0.5 stars), 900 streaming score (1 star), 8 awards (1 stars), 200 million Youtube views (0.8 stars) and 6 yearly awards (0.85 stars) would be rated ~4.16._*
- Time to Success: Not reached or 'nugu'
*_Time to Success measures the duration from debut until an artist reaches their first major milestone: reaching #1 on the Circle Chart Weekly, achieving cumulative sales of 100000 units, or winning a music show award (whichever occurs first)._*
- Last Release: 2011-10-18
- Perfect All-Kills (PAKs): 0
- Music Show Awards: 0
- End of year Awards: 0
- Streaming Weekly data (from Circle Chart Digital, available since 2010): Artist never ranked in top 100
- Billboard Global 200 weekly data (available since 2020, counting only Korean acts): Artist never ranked in top 200
- Physical Sales (Circle Chart Album, published since 2010): 0+ units
- Total Youtube Views (from official videos): 87,025+

# Related Artists

- [The Cross](https://soridata.com/artists/The-Cross.md)

# Links and references

- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/gunz.kim/)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/gunz.kim.5/)
- [Youtube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3E20nSvGBDp1zaVS2ETPlg)
- [Melon](https://www.melon.com/artist/timeline.htm?artistId=39667)
- [Namu.wiki](https://namu.wiki/w/김혁건)