Joshua (조슈아)

Joshua Hong — known officially by his Korean name Hong Ji-soo — was born on December 30, 1995, in downtown Los Angeles, California, near the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena). He’s an only child; his mother runs an oriental medicine clinic and his father works in business. Raised in a devout Christian household, Joshua attended church regularly, sang in his church’s praise team, and even learned guitar there — a skill that would later define his musical identity in SEVENTEEN.

He attended Downtown Magnets High School in LA. As a teenager, Joshua was scouted almost by accident: a Pledis Entertainment staff member spotted him at a Korean cultural festival (“Jangteo”) in LA’s Koreatown in 2013. He flew to Korea, auditioned, and was accepted as a trainee later that same year. His training period lasted about two years and two months — relatively short compared to many of his groupmates — during which he briefly returned to the US to finish his final high school exams before committing fully to training in Seoul.

On April 19, 2015, Joshua was revealed as one of the 13 members of Pledis’s new boy group through a teaser video, following the trainee survival-style docuseries “Seventeen TV.” On May 26, 2015, he officially debuted with SEVENTEEN through their first mini-album, 17 Carat, joining the group’s Vocal Team.

Since debut, Joshua has become known for his gentle, breathy vocal color that blends naturally into SEVENTEEN’s group harmonies, as well as for his guitar skills, which he frequently showcases in acoustic covers, busking segments, and his own “Joshua’s Room” or “Acoustic” content. His bicultural background has also made him a bridge between SEVENTEEN’s Korean identity and its growing English-speaking, global fanbase — he often hosts English interviews, subtitles, and international content for the group.

Beyond music, Joshua has explored variety and acting. He had a cameo in the web drama A-TEEN 2, competed on the variety show Idol Hits alongside fellow member Vernon, and co-hosted Summer Vacation with JOSHUA and VERNON on Apple Music. In more recent years, he has publicly expressed interest in pursuing acting, reportedly working with a Hollywood talent agent toward an eventual English-language acting debut, alongside his continuing work as SEVENTEEN’s Vocal Team member and a budding solo artist releasing English-language collaborations.

In 2026, alongside all 12 other members, Joshua renewed his contract with Pledis Entertainment, confirming SEVENTEEN will continue as a full 13-member group under HYBE Labels for the foreseeable future.