Rocky (singer)
A multi-talented South Korean performer who evolved from a sharp-dancing K-pop idol into an independent artist and musical theatre actor.
Born 1999 (age 27)·South Korean rapper and singer·Birthday: February 25·Generation Z
Biography
Rocky, born Park Min-hyuk, entered the public eye as the main dancer and rapper of the boy group ASTRO, known for his precise, powerful choreography and charismatic stage presence. But his artistry always seemed to contain deeper layers. As part of the subunit Jinjin & Rocky, he co-produced tracks, revealing a growing command of music creation behind the scenes. In a bold move that surprised many fans, he chose not to renew his contract with the group's longtime agency in 2023, opting instead to found his own company. This independence has allowed him to fully explore his range, diving into musical theatre with a leading role in 'The Three Musketeers' and taking full creative control of his solo music. Rocky's path reflects a new model for K-pop idols: leveraging group fame as a launchpad for a self-directed, multifaceted career in performance.
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.
Rocky 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 Rocky Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
Rocky'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 a main dancer and rapper in the successful K-pop boy group ASTRO under Fantagio Entertainment.
- Co-founded and actively promoted in the subunit Jinjin & Rocky, contributing to songwriting and production.
- Founded his own entertainment agency, Wonijin Entertainment, in August 2023 to manage his solo career.
Did You Know?
He is a trained martial artist in Taekwondo, holding a third-degree black belt.
He studied at Hanlim Multi Art School, a prestigious performing arts high school in South Korea.
He played the role of d'Artagnan in the Korean musical production of 'The Three Musketeers.'
“I want our music to be a space where people feel understood.”
