Woozi
The musical architect of Seventeen, a producer and songwriter who crafts the group's signature sound from the studio up.
Born 1996 (age 30)·South Korean singer-songwriter·Birthday: November 22·Millennials
Biography
Within the powerhouse K-pop group Seventeen, Woozi operates as the quiet engine in the control room. Though a gifted vocalist and the leader of the vocal team, his most profound impact is as the group's primary in-house producer and songwriter. Under the moniker 'Woozi,' Lee Ji-hoon has co-composed and written lyrics for the vast majority of Seventeen's expansive discography, shaping their musical identity across genres from energetic pop to emotional R&B. This hands-on creative control is rare in the industry, making him not just a performer but the foundational composer for one of South Korea's most successful boy bands, proving that the heart of the group often beats loudest behind the scenes.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Woozi was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Woozi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Woozi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
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
2014Could vote
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
2017Turned 21
#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
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has songwriting and composing credits on over 100 songs for Seventeen, including most of their title tracks.
- Led the production and songwriting for Seventeen's first official studio album, 'Love & Letter', which topped Korean charts.
- Won the 'Best Producer Award' at the 2021 Korean Music Awards for his work on Seventeen's 'Heng:garæ' album.
- Composed and produced songs for other artists under Pledis Entertainment, including for the group fromis_9.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Woozi' comes from the Korean word for '우주' (universe) and his given name 'Ji-hoon', meaning 'Ruler of the Universe'.
He is left-handed.
He is a skilled guitarist and often plays during Seventeen's acoustic performances.
He is known for being exceptionally short in stature compared to his group members, a fact he often jokes about.
“Even if I'm lacking, I want to be a person who can fill up those lacks with effort.”
