San (singer)
A powerhouse performer in K-pop whose intense stage presence and animalistic dance style have redefined the energy of a boy group idol.
Born 1999 (age 27)·South Korean singer and dancer·Birthday: July 10·Generation Z
Biography
Choi San, born in 1999 in Namhae, South Korea, is the explosive center of the group ATEEZ. Initially a trainee known more for his bright personality than technical polish, he underwent a legendary transformation, drilling his dancing relentlessly to become one of K-pop's most watchable performers. His style is physically demanding and narratively rich, often embodying characters from ATEEZ's elaborate storylines with a feral, captivating intensity. Offstage, known as a gentle and caring member, this duality fuels his appeal. San doesn't just sing and dance; he consumes stages, making him a pivotal figure in ATEEZ's rapid ascent from a promising rookie team to global concert hall fillers.
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.
San 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 San Was Born
The biggest hits of 1999
#1 Movie
Star Wars: Episode I
Best Picture
American Beauty
#1 TV Show
ER
San'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
- As a main dancer and vocalist of ATEEZ, he has performed sold-out world tours across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
- He was central to ATEEZ winning the Worldwide Fans' Choice award at the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards.
- He co-wrote and co-composed the song 'Light' for ATEEZ's 2020 EP 'Zero: Fever Part.1'.
- ATEEZ, with San as a key member, achieved a top 10 album on the US Billboard 200 chart with 'The World EP.Fin: Will'.
Did You Know?
His fandom-given nickname is 'Mountain San', a play on his name which means 'mountain' in Korean.
He is known for his exceptional flexibility and often incorporates high kicks and dramatic body waves into his choreography.
He has a younger sister and is very family-oriented, frequently mentioning them in broadcasts.
He is a big fan of the anime 'One Piece' and has referenced it in performances.
“I want to be a person who can give hope and courage to many people through the stage.”
