Lee Donghae (born October 15, 1986), known mononymously as Donghae, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor. He became a trainee under SM Entertainment after winning a prize at SM's Youth Best Contest in 2001. After four years of training, Donghae debuted as a member of boy group Super Junior (and later its subgroup Super Junior-M and Super Junior-D&E) in November 2005. In July 2023, Donghae left SM Entertainment, although he remains as a member of Super Junior. Two months later, Donghae along with Eunhyuk, founded a new label under the name of ODE.en to manage his solo activities as well as D&E's activities. He is the co-founder of the label.
1986–2011: Early life and career beginnings
Lee Donghae was born in Mokpo, South Korea. His grandmother helped his mother to deliver him. He has an elder brother named Lee Dong-hwa. When he was young, he wanted to become a football player. However, his father wanted him to be a singer since he gave up on his dream to become one himself. In 2001, Donghae signed with SM Entertainment after winning a prize at SM's Youth Best Contest. Under SM Entertainment, Donghae was put in singing, dancing, and acting lessons, and was then recruited into a five-member boy band Smile, with future bandmate Leeteuk, but the idea was soon dropped. In 2004, Donghae, along with Leeteuk, was put into a twelve-member boy band named Super Junior 05.
Donghae officially debuted as part of 12-member project group Super Junior 05 on November 6, 2005. He made his acting debut in Super Junior's horror documentary Mystery 6, broadcast in early 2006. The documentary surrounds Donghae and his peculiar ability to see and feel ghosts. In August 2006, Donghae played the role of a human turned cyborg in the Korean version of BoA's music video drama, "Key of Heart".
In 2007, he played a role in Attack on the Pin-Up Boys.
In April 2008, a Super Junior's Chinese subgroup Super Junior-M was formed with Donghae and fellow members Hangeng, Siwon, Ryeowook, Kyuhyun, Henry, Zhou Mi. Their debut album, Me, debuted in Korea's MIAK Monthly Charts as #10 and reached #1 in China's Top in Music chart.
In 2010, he played in a drama It's Okay, Daddy's Girl.
In April 2011, Donghae co-starred again with fellow member Siwon, in the Taiwanese drama Skip Beat! with Ivy Chen. He also sang the ending theme song, "This is Love," which also featured fellow Super Junior-M member Henry.
Donghae sang the theme song for the 2011 8th Asia Song Festival, "Dreams Come True", with Seohyun of Girls' Generation
On December 16, 2011, a Super Junior subgroup D&E was formed with Donghae and fellow member Eunhyuk. They began the project with released debut single Oppa, Oppa. The single was also released in Japanese, in April 2012.
2012–2015: Acting roles, Lyrics Writing and Composing, Military enlistment
In May 2012, Donghae was cast in the title role of Mr. Hedgehog in the romantic comedy Miss Panda and Mr. Hedgehog. Donghae also sang his character Go Seung-gi's theme song "Plz Don't", which was released online on 20 August.
In June 2012, Donghae reunited with Super Junior for their sixth studio album, Sexy, Free & Single. In the repackaged edition of the album, re-titled Spy, Donghae co-wrote the lyrics for "Only U" with Leeteuk; and co-composed "Haru" with Urban Zakapa's Kwon Soon-il.
In December 2012, Donghae joined SM new dance project group, S.M. The Performance, contributing his dance skill to covered performance for Zedd's Spectrum on SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 29 and later the song released digitally on December 30.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Donghae turned down the casting offer for horror film 'Tunnel'; however, he was later cast as the star lead in the short film The Youth-The Rumor. Donghae was to join the cast of Quiz of God Season 4 as Han Si Woo, a medical researcher. The show aired its first episode on May 18.
In August 2014, Super Junior's seventh album, Mamacita was released, where Donghae also contributing music and lyrics to their second lead single, "Shirt".
In March 2015, D&E's first Korean album, The Beat Goes On was released. Donghae participated in the album production, teaming up with producers Team One Sound in writing lyrics and composing two songs, the lead single "Growing Pains" and side single "Mother" .
In July 2015, Super Junior special album, Devil was released to celebrate the group's 10th anniversary. Donghae also participated in the album production with writing lyrics and composing two songs, "Don't Wake Me Up" and "Alright".