Kim Woojin
A baritone-voiced solo artist who rebuilt his career with resilient independence after a high-profile departure from a major K-pop group.
Born 1997 (age 29)·South Korean singer·Birthday: April 8·Generation Z
Biography
Kim Woojin's story is one of dramatic reinvention. He first captured attention as a main vocalist for Stray Kids, a group formed under the intense spotlight of a JYP Entertainment reality show. His powerful vocals were a cornerstone of their early sound. His sudden departure from the group in 2019 sent shockwaves through the fandom and left his future uncertain. Rather than fading away, Woojin embarked on a solo path, establishing his own agency. His musical reintroduction was deliberate, showcasing a mature, R&B-influenced style distinct from his idol past. Through EPs like 'The Moment: A Minor' and 'Still Dream', he has cultivated a dedicated fanbase that supports him not as a former member of a group, but as an artist defining his own identity on his own terms.
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.
Kim was born in 1997, 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 Kim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Kim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
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
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Debuted as a member of the boy group Stray Kids under JYP Entertainment in 2018.
- Successfully re-debuted as a solo artist in 2021 with his first EP 'The Moment: A Minor' under his own management.
- Has released multiple EPs as a soloist, including 'Still Dream' and 'Chapter 2: W.D.'.
Did You Know?
He is known for his deep baritone singing voice, which is relatively rare for a male K-pop vocalist.
After leaving Stray Kids, he founded his own one-man agency called 10x Entertainment.
He served as a special MC on the music show 'The Show' in 2022.
“I'm focused on my own path and making music that feels true to me now.”
