Vernon

Who Is Vernon of SEVENTEEN?

Vernon, born Hansol Vernon Chwe, is the main rapper, sub vocalist, and visual of the 13-member South Korean idol group SEVENTEEN, one of the most influential K-pop boy groups of the self-producing idol era. Signed to Pledis Entertainment under HYBE Labels, Vernon has built a reputation as SEVENTEEN’s resident hip-hop wordsmith, blending his Korean-American upbringing into a rap style that feels equally at home in Seoul and New York. Fans, known collectively as CARAT, often point to Vernon’s laid-back charisma and dry humor as the perfect counterbalance to his sharp, punchy verses on stage.

Early Life and Trainee Years

Born in Manhattan, New York, Vernon moved to South Korea with his family around age five, growing up bilingual thanks to his Korean father and American mother. He was street-cast by Pledis Entertainment near his middle school in 2012 and trained for roughly three years before debuting. During his trainee days, Vernon even competed on the rap survival show Show Me the Money 4, an early sign of the competitive edge and lyrical confidence that would define his career.

Rise With SEVENTEEN

Vernon debuted with SEVENTEEN on May 26, 2015, as part of the group’s Hip-Hop Team alongside S.Coups, Wonwoo, and Mingyu. As one of SEVENTEEN’s most prolific in-house songwriters, he ranks second only to Woozi in writing credits, having contributed lyrics and verses to dozens of the group’s self-composed title tracks and B-sides. His English fluency has also made him a go-to translator and spokesperson during the group’s international promotions, world tours, and English-language interviews.

Solo Work and Global Recognition

Outside SEVENTEEN, Vernon released his debut solo mixtape “Black Eye” in December 2022, showcasing punk-rock and hyperpop influences drawn from idols like Green Day, Avril Lavigne, and Charli XCX. In 2022, he collaborated directly with Charli XCX on a remix of “Beg For You,” earning praise from music critics for his verse. Vernon was later named the first global brand ambassador for the French fashion house Kenzo, cementing his status as one of K-pop’s most fashion-forward idols.

Personality and Legacy

Known affectionately by nicknames like “Mr. Headphones” and “Nonie,” Vernon is often described by fellow members as SEVENTEEN’s quietly cool maknae-line figure — introspective, artistic, and endlessly curious about music beyond K-pop. As SEVENTEEN continues to break streaming and album-sales records worldwide, Vernon’s growth from a street-cast trainee to an internationally recognized rapper, producer, and style icon remains one of the group’s most compelling individual stories.