S.Coups

S.Coups, whose real name is Choi Seung-cheol, was born on August 8, 1995, in Sangin-dong, Daegu, South Korea. He grew up in a close, middle-class family as the youngest child, with an older brother (born 1993), his parents, and a beloved family dog. He attended the School of Performing Arts Seoul, later studying at Hanyang University, and in 2022 enrolled in a master’s program at Anyang University.

S.Coups joined Pledis Entertainment as a trainee in 2009, training for roughly six years — the longest trainee period among all SEVENTEEN members. During this time, he appeared in Seventeen TV, an online reality show that introduced Pledis trainees to the public, and gained early experience by featuring on Orange Caramel‘s debut album and appearing in music videos for NU’EST, Hello Venus, and After School.

On May 26, 2015, S.Coups officially debuted as the leader of SEVENTEEN with the EP 17 Carat. As leader, he has guided all thirteen members through a self-producing system in which members write, compose, and choreograph much of their own material; S.Coups himself has contributed to the songwriting of over 70 SEVENTEEN tracks.

His career has not been without hardship. In 2019, S.Coups took a break from group activities due to anxiety symptoms, missing portions of the Ode to You World Tour before returning in March 2020. In 2023, he paused activities again to recover from ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery, missing parts of the Follow Tour, though he still appeared at the 2023 MAMA Awards and the 38th Golden Disc Awards. On March 1, 2024, this ACL rupture led to his official exemption from mandatory military service, classifying him as Grade 5 under Korea’s military fitness system.

Beyond music, S.Coups has built a strong fashion and brand presence. He became the global model for Some By Mi in 2022, a brand ambassador for Indonesian snack brand Chitato in 2024, and was later named ambassador for Loewe, Neogen, and NARS Cosmetics. In April 2025, he was appointed global ambassador for BOSS, making his Met Gala debut in May 2025 in a jeogori-inspired BOSS outfit, and later closing BOSS’s Spring/Summer 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week — his first runway walk.

In 2025, S.Coups debuted in CxM, a hip-hop sub-unit with fellow member Mingyu, releasing the EP Hype Vibes on September 29, 2025, which broke the record for highest first-day sales of any K-pop sub-unit album.

S.Coups is also known for his philanthropy, having donated to earthquake relief efforts in Turkey-Syria (2023), animal shelters like Weact and Angels’ Nest, and various other causes — reflecting the warm, caring personality that earns him his nickname among fans.