2008–13: Career beginnings

n 2008, he was chosen as a member of the group Shinee.[6] The group released their first mini-album, Replay on May 22 debuting at #10 and reached the #8 position on the charts.[7] The first television presentation of the group occurred on May 25, 2008 in the program SBS's Inkigayo.[8]

Shorty after debut, Key has appeared on television shows such as Idol Maknae Rebellion as a guest star alongside his Shinee group mates Taemin, Onew, and Jonghyun, for two episodes. Together with other idol group members: Dongho from U-KISS, Shorry J from Mighty Mouth, Jinwoon from 2AM, Yunhwa from T-Max, Seunghyun from F.T. Island and in the later part, Mir from MBLAQ. Key was also part of the cast of the show Raising Idol along with Dongho from U-KISS and Thunder from MBLAQ.[9] Key was also featured in label-mate Xiah's solo performance of "Xiahtic" in TVXQ's concert, 2009: The 3rd Asia Tour Mirotic, in Seoul.[10] In 2010, he was featured in the song "치유 (Healing)" on TRAX's mini album "Trax Mini Album Volume 1".[11] Key was also featured in Girls' Generation's song "Hwaseongin Virus (Boys & Girls)" (Korean: "화성인 바이러스 (Boys & Girls)") on their second studio album Oh!.[12] In 2011, Key collaborated with Leeteuk of Super Junior on a song called "Bravo" for the drama History of a Salaryman. He also took part in EXO's song "Two Moons" on their debut mini album MAMA[13] and BoA's song "One Dream" as the theme song for SBS "K-pop Star" with label-mate Henry of Super Junior-M.[14]

Key was cast as Frank Abagnale Jr., rotating with Um Ki-joon, Kim Jeong-hoon, Park Gwang-hyun and label-mates Super Junior's Kyuhyun with Girls' Generation Sunny and The Grace's Dana, in the Korean production of Broadway musical "Catch Me If You Can", marking his theatrical debut. The musical ran from March 28 to June 10 at the Blue Square, Samsung Card Hall, in Hannam-dong, Seoul. On October 24, 2012 it was announced that Key would be participating in the return of the Korean adaption of the broadway musical Catch Me If You Can. The production started on December 14, 2012 and continued until February 9, 2013 at the Opera House in the Seongnam Arts Center.[15] Key also did a cameo in SBS Sitcom "Salamander Guru and The Shadows" in episode 4.[16]

On July 18, 2013, it was announced that Key would be cast as Clyde in the Korean production of the broadway musical "Bonnie & Clyde", alongside the cast Kim Min-jong, Um Ki-joon, Dana of CSJH The Grace, and Hyungsik of ZE:A. The performance ran at the Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul from September 4 until October 27, 2013.[17] Not long after, on October 22, he was cast in another Korean adaptation of the broadway musical "The Three Musketeers" as D'Artagnan.[18]