Hongjoong
The visionary leader and creative engine of ATEEZ, a K-pop group known for its intricate world-building and self-produced, high-energy anthems.
Born 1998 (age 28)·South Korean rapper and singer·Birthday: November 7·Generation Z
Biography
Kim Hongjoong is the compact captain steering ATEEZ's pirate ship through the turbulent waters of global pop. From the group's 2018 debut, he established himself not just as a leader but as the central creative force, involved in writing, composing, and producing much of their music. His personal studio, dubbed the 'Hongjoong Cave,' is the laboratory where ATEEZ's signature sound—a blend of explosive EDM, hip-hop, and theatrical narrative—is forged. He approaches the group's elaborate fictional lore with the focus of a film director, ensuring every song and performance fits a grand saga. This hands-on artistry has fostered a deep connection with fans and set ATEEZ apart in an industry often reliant on external songwriters. Hongjoong embodies a new model of idol: a true auteur who builds worlds with his crew.
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.
Hongjoong was born in 1998, 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 Hongjoong Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Hongjoong's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has over 170 songwriting and production credits registered with the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA).
- Led ATEEZ to become the first K-pop group to perform at the prestigious Mawazine festival in Morocco.
- Co-created and drives the extensive narrative 'Treasure' and 'Fever' series lore that defines ATEEZ's musical universe.
Did You Know?
He taught himself music production using the software program FL Studio while still a trainee.
Hongjoong is known for customizing and redesigning his own stage outfits, often adding unique patches and paint.
He is fluent in English and frequently acts as the group's spokesperson during international interviews and events.
“I don't want to be a star that shines alone. I want to be a captain who sails with his crew.”
