Youngjae

GOT7‘s Youngjae has one job description that never changes: main vocalist. But if you’ve followed him for a while, you know there’s a lot more to him than that — songwriting under the name Ars, a growing solo catalog, musicals, and a genuinely sunny personality fans call “Sunshine.” Let’s get into his story.

From Mokpo to Main Vocalist

Born Choi Young-jae on September 17, 1996, in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, Youngjae became a JYP Entertainment trainee in the summer of 2013 — and joined GOT7‘s debut lineup after only seven months, making him the last member added before the group’s January 2014 debut. His clean, powerful tone made him the natural choice for main vocalist, a role he’s held ever since across GOT7’s ballads, R&B tracks, and dance singles alike.

Building a Solo Identity as “Ars”

When GOT7’s JYP contract expired in 2021, Youngjae signed with Sublime Artist Agency and made his solo debut that October with the mini album Colors from Ars. As a songwriter he uses the name Ars, taken from the Latin phrase “Ars longa, vita brevis” (“art is long, life is short”). He followed up with the EP Sugar in 2022 and his first full album, Do It, in 2023, plus a steady stream of singles including “T.P.O,” “Old Song,” and “Fermata” after moving to AndBut Company in 2024.

More Than Music

Youngjae has also carved out an acting and hosting career, starring in Netflix Korea’s So Not Worth It, leading the musical Midnight Sun, and co-hosting the long-running show Idol Radio. Off camera, he’s known for being genuinely cheerful — teammates nicknamed him “Genius” and “Sunshine” — and for sharing a beloved dog, Coco, with fellow member Mark.

Whether he’s holding down GOT7’s vocal line, writing his own songs as Ars, or hosting his radio show, Youngjae keeps showing why he’s one of the group’s most consistently underrated talents.