Jihwan

Jihwan was born on May 24, 2003, in South Korea. Long before fans knew him as “Jihwan,” he was registered under a different name — Lim Dong-hwan — and only legally changed it to Lim Ji-hwan shortly before stepping into the spotlight. That small detail already says a lot about him: he’s someone who reshapes his own path rather than sticking with what he started with, which fits perfectly into DAILY:DIRECTION’s whole philosophy of “shaping your own direction through daily choices.”

Before becoming a trainee under his current label, Jihwan studied at OnMusic Academy, where he became close friends with two now-recognizable idols — CRAVITY’s Seongmin and BOYNEXTDOOR’s Seongho — both of whom were his high school classmates. That kind of friendship circle says he was surrounded by future talent even before he had a stage of his own.

His real breakout moment came in 2025, when he joined the cast of SBS’s survival show B:MY BOYZ. He didn’t win — he was eliminated after the fourth round, ranking 17th overall — but the show gave him visibility, and more importantly, it sharpened his stage presence. Around this time, he was also briefly affiliated with 3Y Corporation.

Everything changed in January 2026, when 3Y Corporation’s related assets and contracts were transferred to a newly formed company called ODDWAVE, led by creative director Park So-hee (known for past work with aespa, LE SSERAFIM, Stray Kids, and ZEROBASEONE). Jihwan was one of several former trainees folded into this new venture. He was officially introduced as a member of the upcoming group on January 20, 2026.

On February 23, 2026, Jihwan made his official debut with DAILY:DIRECTION through the single album “FIRST:DELIVERY,” featuring the Afrobeats-inspired title track “ROOMBADOOMBA” and the introspective b-side “SELF.” The group held its debut showcase at Yes24 Wonder Rock Hall in Seoul, and within days, they appeared on all the major Korean music shows — M Countdown, Music Bank, Show!, Music Core, and Inkigayo — with a stage presence many called surprisingly polished for a rookie act.

Within the group, Jihwan represents Tuesday in the “day of the week” concept that defines each member’s individual identity. He describes himself as being like an amusement park — operating within set boundaries, but lively, charming, and full of moments that bring people happiness. His role models in the industry are NCT’s Doyoung and SHINee’s KEY, both known for their vocal versatility and steady stage presence — an influence that seems to echo in how Jihwan approaches his own performances.

As of mid-2026, DAILY:DIRECTION is preparing for their first comeback, with the single “Monkey Mode” scheduled for release on July 13, 2026, signaling that Jihwan and the group are moving quickly to build their discography and fanbase.