Thirteen members. Three units. One group that writes, produces, and choreographs nearly everything itself. SEVENTEEN debuted on May 26, 2015, and within the same year became the only rookie act on Billboard’s 10 Best K-Pop Albums list.
A decade later, they hold a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadorship, a Presidential Commendation, and the record for the best-selling global album of 2023.
The name has nothing to do with the number of members. The group has 13. SEVENTEEN comes from the formula the group built its identity on: 13 members, 3 units, and 1 team.
That structure and the people inside it are what this page covers from start to finish.
Who is SEVENTEEN?
SEVENTEEN is a 13-member South Korean boy group formed by Pledis Entertainment. The group debuted on May 26, 2015, with the EP 17 Carat, which became the longest charting K-pop album of the year in the United States and the only rookie album on Billboard’s 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2015.
Despite the name, the group has 13 members, divided across the Hip Hop Unit, Vocal Unit, and Performance Unit. Their global fanbase is known as CARAT.
What sets SEVENTEEN apart is its self-producing model. Members write lyrics, compose music, and design their own choreography.
This level of creative control is rare in K-pop and has defined the group since its debut.
How SEVENTEEN Was Formed
Between 2012 and 2014, Pledis Entertainment ran a pre-debut reality show, SEVENTEEN TV, on UStream, giving the public a live view of the group’s formation.
Trainees came and went during this period, and the final lineup took shape on camera.
The group was originally planned to debut with 17 members. Four did not make the final lineup. Rather than change the name, Pledis kept it as a reference to the group’s structure: 13 members, 3 units, and 1 team.
By the time SEVENTEEN debuted on May 26, 2015, the self-producing model was already in place. Members wrote, composed, and designed their own performances from day one.
In an industry where creative control sits with agency producers, this was a significant structural difference and a defining part of how the group built its identity.
The Three Units: How SEVENTEEN Is Structured
SEVENTEEN operates across three units, each focused on a distinct performance area.
Each member belongs to one unit, and the three unit leaders together form a subgroup called SVT Leaders. Here is how the structure breaks down.
Hip Hop Unit
The Hip Hop Unit consists of S.Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Vernon. S.Coups leads the unit and serves as the overall group leader.
S.Coups and Mingyu debuted as a duo sub-unit in September 2025 with the mini album Hype Vibes.
The four members handle the rap and rhythm-driven elements of SEVENTEEN’s performances and have released unit-specific material as part of the group’s broader discography.
Vocal Unit
The Vocal Unit consists of Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, and Seungkwan. Woozi leads the unit and is also the group’s primary in-house producer and composer.
The unit carries the melodic core of SEVENTEEN’s sound. DK and Seungkwan serve as the main vocalists for the full group.
In March 2025, Woozi and Hoshi released the single “BEAM” as a cross-unit duo.
Performance Unit
The Performance Unit consists of Hoshi, Jun, The8, and Dino. Hoshi leads the unit and is responsible for choreographing most of SEVENTEEN’s performances.
The unit drives the visual and physical side of the group’s stage presence. The8 brings a background in Chinese Wushu martial arts to his performances, and Dino, the group’s youngest member, cites Michael Jackson as his primary influence.
Sub-Units and Collaborations
Beyond the three main units, SEVENTEEN has released music through several smaller sub-unit pairings. Jeonghan and Wonwoo released the single “This Man” in May 2024 under the name Jeonghan X Wonwoo.
BSS, also known as BooSeokSoon, consisting of DK, Seungkwan, and Hoshi, debuted in 2018 and returned in 2023 with the single album Second Wind, breaking the first-week sales record for any K-pop sub-unit release.
| Unit | Members | Leader | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip Hop | S.Coups, Wonwoo, Mingyu, Vernon | S.Coups | Rap, rhythm |
| Vocal | Woozi, Jeonghan, Joshua, DK, Seungkwan | Woozi | Singing, composition |
| Performance | Hoshi, Jun, The8, Dino | Hoshi | Dance, choreography |
| SVT Leaders | S.Coups, Woozi, Hoshi | S.Coups | Cross-unit leadership sub-group |
Every unit operates independently but performs as one. That balance between individual specialization and collective identity is what makes SEVENTEEN’s structure unlike that of any other K-pop group.
All SEVENTEEN Members: Names, Ages, and Profiles (2026)
Every member of SEVENTEEN brings a distinct role, background, and skill set.
The SEVENTEEN members list below covers the full 2026 lineup, including real names, birthdays, units, positions, and nationalities, followed by an individual profile for each member.
| Stage Name | Real Name | Birthday | Unit | Position | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.Coups | Choi Seung Cheol | Aug 8 1995 | Hip Hop | Leader, Main Rapper | South Korean |
| Jeonghan | Yoon Jeong Han | Oct 4 1995 | Vocal | Lead Vocalist | South Korean |
| Joshua | Joshua Hong | Dec 30 1995 | Vocal | Lead Vocalist | American |
| Jun | Wen Junhui | Jun 10 1996 | Performance | Vocalist, Dancer | Chinese |
| Hoshi | Kwon Soonyoung | Jun 15 1996 | Performance | Main Dancer, Choreographer | South Korean |
| Wonwoo | Jeon Wonwoo | Jul 17 1996 | Hip Hop | Lead Rapper | South Korean |
| Woozi | Lee Jihoon | Nov 22 1996 | Vocal | Main Vocalist, Producer | South Korean |
| DK | Lee Seokmin | Feb 18 1997 | Vocal | Main Vocalist | South Korean |
| Mingyu | Kim Mingyu | Apr 6 1997 | Hip Hop | Lead Rapper, Visual | South Korean |
| The8 | Xu Minghao | Nov 7 1997 | Performance | Vocalist, Dancer | Chinese |
| Seungkwan | Boo Seungkwan | Jan 16 1998 | Vocal | Main Vocalist | South Korean |
| Vernon | Hansol Vernon Chwe | Feb 18 1998 | Hip Hop | Rapper | American |
| Dino | Lee Chan | Feb 11 1999 | Performance | Main Dancer, Maknae | South Korean |
1. S.Coups (Choi Seung Cheol)
S.Coups is the overall leader of SEVENTEEN and the leader of the Hip Hop Unit. As the main rapper, he anchors the group’s rhythmic delivery and drives energy on stage.
He debuted as a duo with Mingyu in September 2025 with the mini-album Hype Vibes, marking his first major solo-unit project outside the full group.
2. Jeonghan (Yoon Jeong Han)
Jeonghan, born Yoon Jeong Han on October 4, 1995, in Hwaseong, South Korea, is a lead vocalist in the Vocal Unit known for a tone that sits distinctively within the group’s sound.
He formed the sub-unit Jeonghan X Wonwoo alongside fellow member Wonwoo, releasing the single album This Man in May 2024.
He enlisted for mandatory military service on September 26, 2024, as a public service worker and is expected to return on June 25, 2026, making him the first SEVENTEEN member to complete his service.
3. Joshua (Joshua Hong)
Joshua Hong, born December 30, 1995, is a Korean-American lead vocalist in the Vocal Unit, raised in Los Angeles.
He was scouted at a Koreatown event in the US and joined Pledis Entertainment in 2013, even though he did not know how to read Korean at the time.
He plays guitar and is known for a calm, measured stage presence.
As a US citizen, he is exempt from mandatory Korean military service, making him one of four members who will continue group activities throughout the enlistment period.
4. Jun (Wen Junhui)
Jun is a Chinese member of the Performance Unit, born in Shenzhen, Guangdong. He began as a child actor in China and trained in martial arts from a young age.
His dance skills and physical proportions make him one of the most visually striking performers in the group. He speaks both Mandarin and Korean fluently.
5. Hoshi (Kwon Soonyoung)
Hoshi leads the Performance Unit and is responsible for choreographing most of SEVENTEEN’s performances, making him one of the most creatively influential members behind the scenes.
He holds a black belt in Taekwondo and is one of the group’s main dancers. In March 2025, he released the single “BEAM” as a cross-unit duo with Woozi.
6. Wonwoo (Jeon Wonwoo)
Wonwoo is a lead rapper in the Hip Hop Unit known for a deep, distinctive voice that contrasts with his quieter off-stage personality.
He accidentally found his way into music when a friend took him to a guitar academy that was holding a Pledis audition.
He formed the sub-unit Jeonghan X Wonwoo and enlisted in the military in April 2025.
7. Woozi (Lee Jihoon)
Woozi leads the Vocal Unit and serves as SEVENTEEN’s primary in-house composer and producer, writing and producing a significant portion of the group’s discography, including hit tracks like “Pretty U,” “Don’t Wanna Cry,” and “God of Music.”
Despite being the shortest member at 164 cm, he is widely regarded as the most musically influential member of the group. In March 2025, he released the single “BEAM” as a cross-unit duo with Hoshi.
8. DK (Lee Seokmin)
DK is one of SEVENTEEN’s two main vocalists and is known for a powerful, expressive singing voice that anchors the group’s live performances. He shares a birthday with Vernon on February 18.
He is a member of BSS alongside Seungkwan and Hoshi, and the sub-unit released its second single album, Teleparty, in January 2025.
9. Mingyu (Kim Mingyu)
Mingyu is a lead rapper and the group’s designated visual, standing at 187 cm as one of the tallest members.
He is known for his commanding stage presence and versatility across rap and variety content.
He debuted as part of a duo with S.Coups in September 2025 with Hype Vibes, their first official unit project.
10. The8 (Xu Minghao)
The8 is a Chinese member of the Performance Unit, born in Liaoning.
He has practiced Chinese Wushu martial arts since the age of five and incorporates elements of the discipline into his stage performances.
He speaks Mandarin and Korean and is recognized as one of the most technically skilled dancers in the group.
11. Seungkwan (Boo Seungkwan)
Seungkwan is a main vocalist known for his powerful delivery and a comedic, expressive personality, making him a natural presence on variety shows.
He won a Rookie Entertainer Award in 2018 and is a member of BSS alongside DK and Hoshi.
He is widely regarded as one of the group’s most entertaining and versatile performers.
12. Vernon (Hansol Vernon Chwe)
Vernon is a Korean-American rapper born in New York, making him one of two American members in the group alongside Joshua.
He is known for a smooth, controlled delivery and a relaxed presence both on and off stage.
Vernon and DK share the same birthday, February 18, a detail that has become well known among fans.
13. Dino (Lee Chan)
Dino is the youngest member of SEVENTEEN, born February 11, 1999, and serves as a main dancer in the Performance Unit.
He grew up in a family of dancers and cites Michael Jackson as his primary influence.
His father owned a dance studio where he trained from a young age, giving him one of the strongest dance foundations in the group.
With 13 members across three distinct units, SEVENTEEN covers more creative ground than most groups of its size. Each SEVENTEEN member profile above reflects a distinct strength that contributes to the collective.
SEVENTEEN Discography and Major Achievements
Since their 2015 debut, SEVENTEEN has built one of the most consistent release records in K-pop, drawing a passionate global fanbase known as CARAT.
Every studio album has peaked atop South Korea’s Circle Album Chart, and sales figures have grown with every release cycle.
Discography
Their debut EP, 17 Carat, in 2015 became the longest charting K-pop album of the year in the US. Standout tracks from the era include “Adore U” and “Mansae.”
Teen Age in 2017 marked their first studio album, featuring fan favorites “Don’t Wanna Cry” and “Clap.”
Face the Sun, released in 2022, sold over 2.1 million copies and produced the hit “Rock with You.”
FML in 2023 became the best-selling album of the year globally per the IFPI Global Album Sales Chart, with over 6.4 million copies sold, and won MAMA Album of the Year.
SEVENTEENth Heaven broke its own record and won the same award in 2024. Happy Birthday, released May 26, 2025, to mark the group’s tenth anniversary.
Awards and Recognition
SEVENTEEN received a Prime Minister’s Commendation in 2020, became the first K-pop group named UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, and received a Presidential Commendation in October 2025.
They have won the MAMA Best Dance Performance award five times, in 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2025, with the 2025 win coming for “Thunder.”
Conclusion
SEVENTEEN is not a group that followed a template. Thirteen members, three units, one shared creative process, and a decade of output that consistently broke its own records.
From a pre-debut reality show on a streaming platform to a Presidential Commendation and a UNESCO ambassadorship, the group has built something that goes well beyond chart numbers.
Each member brought a distinct skill set, and the structure of the group was designed to allow all thirteen of them to use it.
That combination of individual strength and collective discipline is what has kept SEVENTEEN relevant across ten years of K-pop’s most competitive era.
To start with the music, put on FML first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which SEVENTEEN members are currently in the military?
As of 2026, Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Hoshi, and Woozi are currently serving. Jeonghan is expected to return on June 25, 2026, making him the first member to complete service.
Wonwoo returns January 2, 2027. S.Coups, Joshua, Jun, and The8 are exempt from mandatory service.
Why is the group called SEVENTEEN if there are 13 members?
The name follows a formula: 13 members, 3 units, and 1 team equals 17. The group was also originally planned to debut with 17 members, but four did not make the final lineup.
Who is the leader of SEVENTEEN?
S.Coups, real name Choi Seung Cheol, is the overall leader of SEVENTEEN and leader of the Hip Hop Unit since the group’s debut in 2015.
He is currently active as he is exempt from military service.
What is SEVENTEEN’s fanbase called?
SEVENTEEN’s official fanbase is called CARAT. The name was announced in 2015 and reflects the group’s self-image: a diamond (SEVENTEEN) shines because of its carats.
