Wonwoo (원우)

Wonwoo’s story is one of quiet persistence. Born on July 17, 1996, in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, he grew up as an introverted kid who loved reading and didn’t expect a career in music at all. He attended Sahwa Elementary School, Palryong Middle School, and Changwon Moonsung High School before relocating to Seoul to continue his education, eventually finishing at the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA) in 2015. He later enrolled at Hanyang University’s Institute for Future Talents, studying in the practical music (K-pop) department.

His path into idol life started almost by accident. In 2011, he auditioned for Pledis Entertainment mainly to gain experience, not expecting much — but he unexpectedly passed and began four years of training as a singer, dancer, and rapper. He originally trained as a vocalist, but instructors noticed something different about him: his unusually deep voice fit the hip-hop genre so well that he was moved from singing to rapping. That shift defined the rest of his career.

During his trainee years, Wonwoo appeared on Seventeen TV, the pre-debut reality series that documented the group’s preparation. On April 19, 2015, he was officially introduced as one of the 13 members of Pledis’s new boy group, and the group was further introduced through “Seventeen Project – The Debut Mission.” Then, on May 26, 2015, SEVENTEEN debuted with their first EP, 17 Carat, featuring the lead single “Adore U.” Wonwoo found his home in the Hip-Hop Unit alongside S.Coups, Mingyu, and Vernon — a team known for writing and rapping their own verses.

Over the following decade, Wonwoo grew from a quiet trainee into one of SEVENTEEN’s most respected lyricists. He has contributed to the songwriting of more than 35 songs since debut, most of them performed by the Hip-Hop Unit. In 2021, he teamed up with fellow member Mingyu for the digital single “Bittersweet,” featuring Lee Hi — a track that topped the iTunes song chart in ten different regions upon release.

His artistry took an emotional turn in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Wonwoo released a cover of IU’s “Knees” as a tribute to his late mother, a moment that resonated deeply with fans (CARATs) given how openly he has discussed grief. In 2023, he was featured in Dive Studio’s “Mindset” series, releasing three episodes detailing his relationship with his mental health — a rare and candid look into an idol’s inner life.

2024 marked a major milestone: Wonwoo and bandmate Jeonghan debuted as SEVENTEEN’s second official sub-unit, JxW (Jeonghan X Wonwoo), releasing the single album “This Man” in June, which included his first commercially released solo track. The duo had already been previewed in December 2023 through Dispatch Korea’s Dicon photo book series, “Just Two of Us.”

Outside music, Wonwoo built a respectable fashion and modeling career. In November 2022, he was announced as the new sole model for Korean cosmetic brand Huxley. In June 2023, he made his first cover appearance for Japanese fashion magazine Men’s Non-no alongside fellow member DK, and the pair were featured in further issues. In September 2023, he attended Burberry’s pop-up store opening in Seoul, and in February 2025 attended the brand’s Autumn/Winter fashion show at London Fashion Week. In April 2024, he became the global model for The Face Shop, and in June, alongside S.Coups and Vernon, became a global brand ambassador for Indonesian snack brand Chitato.

In 2025, Wonwoo released his first solo digital single, “Gogae,” on July 17 — his birthday. However, in March 2025, Pledis Entertainment announced that Wonwoo would enlist for his mandatory military service on April 3, and he has been serving since, becoming the second SEVENTEEN member to enlist. As of 2026, he is expected to return around January 2, 2027, after which fans hope to see him reunite fully with the group for their planned 2028 13-member comeback.