Choi Hyun-suk
A YG Entertainment trainee who battled through televised competition to emerge as the determined leader and main rapper of the chart-topping group Treasure.
Born 1999 (age 27)·South Korean rapper·Birthday: April 21·Generation Z
Biography
Choi Hyun-suk's path to stardom was a public trial by fire. Long before Treasure's debut, he was thrust into the spotlight as a contestant on the survival show 'Mix Nine,' where his sharp rap skills and intense focus caught attention but ended in a narrow, painful defeat. That experience, however, forged his resolve. Returning to the rigorous training system at YG Entertainment, he became a central figure among the trainees who would eventually form Treasure, often taking on a leadership role during their pre-debut documentary series. When the 12-member group finally launched in 2020, Hyun-suk was its clear anchor—the main rapper who penned his own fierce verses and the steadying presence who often spoke for the team. His style blends technical Korean rap with the swagger of hip-hop, bringing a gritty, authentic edge to Treasure's bright pop anthems. He embodies the modern K-pop idol: not just a performer, but a co-creator who helps shape his group's musical identity from the inside.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Choi was born in 1999, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Choi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Choi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1999Born
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2004Started school
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Became a teenager
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Could drive
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2017Could vote
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2020Turned 21
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 27 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as the leader and main rapper of Treasure with their single album 'The First Step: Chapter One,' which topped iTunes charts in over 30 regions.
- Co-wrote and co-composed several of Treasure's title tracks, including 'Boy' and 'I Love You.'
- Ranked first among male trainees on the survival show 'Mix Nine' before the final group lineup was altered.
Did You Know?
He trained at YG Entertainment for approximately five years before debuting with Treasure.
His stage name is simply his real name, Choi Hyun-suk.
He has a younger brother, Choi Hyun-ho, who is also a trainee in the entertainment industry.
He is known for his love of fashion and has been featured in various fashion magazine spreads.
“I don't show weakness; I only show the results of my hard work.”
