Samuel (singer)
An American-born singer who carved a solo K-pop path after a duo debut and a near-miss on a major survival show.
Born 2002 (age 24)·American singer·Birthday: January 17·Generation Z
Biography
Samuel's career is a study in K-pop perseverance. Born Samuel Kim Arredondo in Los Angeles, he moved to South Korea as a trainee, first surfacing in 2015 as part of the quirky hip-hop duo 1Punch. When that project dissolved, he reintroduced himself on the intense competition show 'Produce 101 Season 2' in 2017. Though he captivated audiences with his polished performance skills and ended a respectable 18th, he just missed the cut for the project group Wanna One. Rather than fade, he leveraged his newfound recognition to launch a solo career just a month later with the EP 'Sixteen', named for his age at the time. Navigating the industry as a soloist, often writing and co-composing his music, he has built a dedicated international fanbase, proving that a television show's verdict isn't the final word.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Samuel was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Samuel Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Samuel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as a solo artist with the EP 'Sixteen' in August 2017, shortly after 'Produce 101'.
- Gained significant public recognition as a contestant on 'Produce 101 Season 2', finishing in 18th place.
- Initially debuted as part of the co-ed hip-hop duo 1Punch in 2015.
Did You Know?
He is of Mexican descent on his father's side and Korean on his mother's side.
His stage name was originally intended to be 'Punch', but was changed to Samuel after his duo disbanded.
He was a trainee under the agency Brave Entertainment, home to Brave Girls.
“I want to be a singer who can make people feel comforted and happy.”
