Eric

Eric of THE BOYZ: The Korean-American Maknae Who Grew Up on Two Continents

Eric is the lead rapper, lead dancer, and maknae (youngest member) of THE BOYZ, and his story stands out even in an industry full of unusual paths to debut. Born Son Young-jae in Seoul on December 22, 2000, Eric moved with his family to Irvine, Orange County, California, at just nine years old and spent about six formative years there before heading back to South Korea to train. That bicultural upbringing didn’t just make him fluent in English — it gave him a genuinely different perspective that shows up in interviews, variety shows, and even his sense of humor.

From Baseball Diamonds to Dance Floors

Before K-pop entered the picture, young Eric wanted to be a baseball player. He was talented enough to place second in a California youth baseball championship and, in an entirely different arena, fourth in a Rubik’s Cube competition. He eventually found his way into the entertainment world, appearing in Melody Day’s “Colour” music video in 2016 before officially joining THE BOYZ’s trainee line-up. He was announced as the group’s final member through a DAZED profile film on July 21, 2017, and debuted with the rest of THE BOYZ on December 6, 2017.

The Maknae with an All-Rounder’s Skill Set

As maknae, Eric carries a certain lightness in the group’s dynamic, but don’t mistake that for a lack of range — he’s a credited lead rapper, lead dancer, and sub-vocalist, and he’s written or co-written several THE BOYZ tracks, including “L.O.U” (2018), “Butterfly” (2019), “Scar” (2020), and “Drink It” (2021). His bilingual background has also made him a natural bridge for the group’s growing international fanbase, THE B, especially during English-language interviews and overseas tour stops.

Weathering Ups and Downs With the Group

Eric has had his share of both praise and public scrutiny over the years, but he’s remained one of THE BOYZ’s most consistently visible members, appearing across the group’s full run of comebacks from The First through 2025’s Unexpected and a;effect. In February 2026, he joined nine fellow members in formally notifying the group’s agency, ONE HUNDRED, that they were ending their exclusive contracts over unpaid settlement earnings — a dispute a Seoul court later sided with the members on. Through the agency turmoil, Eric has kept showing up for THE B, staying grounded in the same bicultural, easygoing energy that’s defined him since his trainee days.