A photograph taken by Lee Jung Shin in Myanmar has been nominated for "Best Photograph" at the 2019 International Network of Street Papers Awards (INSP Awards).
The CNBLUE Member gave the photos exclusively to The Big Issue Korea and was also included in his first-ever photo exhibit with his brother, Lee Yong Shin, who is a photographer by profession.
There are four other nominees for "Best Photograph", they are Karin Power from Germany, Erikson Walla from Brazil, Mario Phrat from Sweden, and Sandra Pozun from Slovenia.
This makes Lee Jung Shin the only nominee from Asia to make it into the Top 5.
Jung Shin's photo was a product of his volunteer work in 2018, a few weeks before he enlisted in the military.
In 2018, Jung Shin, along with his brother, Yong Shin, and AOA Member Seolhyun flew to Myanmar led by the LOVE FNC Foundation - the corporate social responsibility arm of FNC Entertainment.
The photos were from their visits to the fourth LOVE FNC School in Kalaw, and YWAM daycare Center in Yangon.
These photos were also put up for Jung Shin's first photo exhibition, "We Blew Away Dandelion Puffs".
"This is a photo exhibition wishing every single child in the world blooming dream-like dandelions blooming anywhere," Lee Jung Shin said in an interview with South China Morning Post last year.
"I was stressed when I arrived in Myanmar, but my worries and anxieties faded when I looked at the children's smiles," Jung Shin noted.
He added that he knew that there was more he could do to give the children hope when he found out that most of them work in factories or in cottage industries instead of being in school.
Debuting in 2010, Lee Jung Shin is the bassist and rapper of the Korean Boy Band, CNBLUE.
Among their hit songs include: "I'm a Loner", "Love", "Intuition", "Love Girl", "I'm Sorry", " Can't Stop", "Cinderella", "You're so Fine", and their most recent Korean comeback: "Between Us".
The band currently has 10 studio albums.
Apart from their South Korean promotions, Jung Shin and CNBLUE has been active in Japan.
Jung Shin has also ventured into acting in dramas throughout his career. He has starred in multiple dramas like: "Temptation", "A Girl Who Sees Smells", "My Sassy Girl", and "Cinderella and Four Knights".
He landed his first lead role in 2018 with "My First Love".
Lee Jung Shin is currently serving in the military as an active-duty soldier. He enlisted in July 2018 and is expected to be discharged on April 2020.
