Hongjoong

Hongjoong, born on November 7, 1998, paved the way for his career in 2016 when he wrote a letter and sent a mixtape to a talent agency. He shot to fame after participating in a survival series with fellow trainees from the agency. After his stint in the series ended, he was introduced as the leader of the immensely talented K-pop boy group, ATEEZ, and went on to release songs, extended plays (E.P.), and albums as part of the group, along with two world tours. Join us as we celebrate this South Korean superstar’s special day right here!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Kim Hong Joong

Nickname:

Hongjoong

Birth date:

November 7, 1998

Age:

25

Zodiac Sign:

Scorpio

Height:

5' 8"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$5 million

Kim's Social Media:

Background

Kim Hong-Joong is a popular K-pop star from South Korea known for being the leader of the world-famous boy band, ATEEZ. The rapper was born on November 7, 1998, in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. His zodiac sign is Scorpio and he is Korean. His parents’ identities are unknown, but Hongjoong has an older brother who is an actor. The rapper was always interested in music and songwriting as a child, and when he was a teenager, he wrote a letter to KQ Entertainment, a talent agency based in South Korea. Along with the letter, Hongjoong sent in a demo mixtape he had created, and this led to the agency signing him as an official trainee. He received mentorship from well-known singer-songwriters in the agency.

In 2017, along with other KQ Entertainment trainees, Hongjoong passed an audition to participate in a reality T.V. series called “MIXNINE.” He was one of the contestants who got the chance to be trained by various voice coaches and also participated in challenges that showed his talent to the world. Although he didn’t win the show, Hongjoong gained a large fan following after his time on it. KQ Entertainment sent him and the other trainees to Los Angeles, California, to help them improve their dancing and singing skills. His stay in the United States (U.S.) was shot and documented as part of a series, which included a song Hongjoong and his fellow trainees wrote, titled ‘From.’ On his return to South Korea in 2018, the rapper and other boys from the talent agency made their debut as a group named ATEEZ, on the reality show, “Code Name is Ateez.” Hongjoong established himself as the band’s leader when their first E.P., “Treasure E.P.1: All to Zero,” was released in October of that same year. The E.P. had six songs, and the two lead tracks, ‘Pirate King’ and ‘Treasure’ ranked at number seven on the Gaon Album Chart. It also reached number 12 on the Billboard World Album Chart. Hongjoong wrote five songs from the E.P.

ATEEZ released their second E.P., “Treasure E.P.2: Zero to One,” in early 2019, and it was also well-received by fans. From March to April of that year, Honjoong went on his first tour with the band. ATEEZ also released their third E.P., titled “Treasure EP.3: One to All,” which was a major hit, and also released their debut album, “Treasure E.P.Fin All to Action,” which was very well received. Hongjoong released two more extended plays and a Japanese album, and he went on a second world tour with his band in 2020. ATEEZ has released numerous successful E.P.s to date, including the “Fever” series and their new “The World” series. They also embarked on a sold-out world tour in 2022. Hongjoong wrote many songs for ATEEZ’s extended plays and albums. He is currently single and has kept most of his personal life under wraps for various reasons.

Career timeline

2014
Hongjoong’s First Step to His Career

He writes a letter and sends a demo mixtape to KQ Entertainment, a talent agency that accepts him as a trainee.

2017
He Joins a Reality Series

Hongjoong passes the audition and participates in “MIXNINE,” a survival series where he doesn’t win but gets a huge fan following.

2018
Hongjoong Joins a Group

He is introduced as a member of ATEEZ and he establishes himself as the leader of the group as they release their first E.P.

2022
ATEEZ on a World Tour

ATEEZ embarks on hugely successful sold-out world tour.

Why We Love Hongjoong

  1. His humility

    Hongjoong is one of the most humble K-Pop stars in the industry. He is famous but also very down-to-earth, and he always apologizes for mistakes. Additionally, he loves his fans immensely and always makes time for them.

  2. Why he wanted to be a global icon

    In an interview, Hongjoong revealed that he wanted to express energy and influence people to do the right thing. It is why he’s become a global idol for young audiences.

  3. He knows the meaning of struggle

    Hongjoong didn’t live an easy life. He had to work when he was in high school. However, he didn’t let it stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a famous rap artist and songwriter!

5 Surprising Facts

  1. His name has a special meaning

    Hongjoong’s name means “to be the center of the wide world.”

  2. His way of learning English

    A lot of the rapper’s English knowledge comes from watching sitcom shows, such as “Modern Family.”

  3. Hongjoong’s love for minions

    The rapper-songwriter loves the little yellow animated characters; he owns minion slippers and is called “Korean Big Minion” by his fellow members.

  4. He is the ultimate perfectionist

    Hongjoong once recorded a song 1,395 times because he wanted it to be perfect before its release.

  5. He wrote his first song

    Hongjoong wrote his first song dedicated to his late grandmother when he was 16 years old.

Hongjoong FAQs

What is Hongjoong's English name?

The other members proposed the English name “Fangs” because it sounds like the name of a top French designer and reflects his rich aura and avant-garde style.

Does Hongjoong have tattoos?

Yes, he has tattoos.

Who has the best English in ATEEZ?

Hongjoong is able to speak English exceptionally well. He often translates questions for his members in interviews.

Hongjoong’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024November 7Thursday
2025November 7Friday
2026November 7Saturday
2027November 7Sunday
2028November 7Tuesday

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