FIRST READ · MON 7 AM ETTHE WEEKEND LEXICON · SAT 9 AM ETHoshi
- Stage name
- Hoshi
- Birth name
- Kwon Soon Young
- Born
- June 15, 1996
- Hometown
- Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Position
- Main dancer, lead singer, leader of the performance unit
- Agency
- PLEDIS
- Fandom
- CARAT
- Debut
- 2015
- Generation
- 3rd gen
Hoshi (Kwon Soonyoung) is the main dancer and lead singer of SEVENTEEN and the leader of the group's performance unit. He debuted with the group at Pledis Entertainment on May 26, 2015, after about four years of training. His first official solo release was the mixtape "Spider" in April 2021, for which he was credited on lyrics, composition and choreography. In 2025 he formed the duo HxW with Woozi and enlisted in the Army, and his label has kept releasing his solo singles during his service, with discharge set for March 15, 2027.
Where they grew up
Pages describe Hoshi as a native of Namyangju in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, with an older sister. He spent roughly four years as a trainee before debuting with SEVENTEEN in 2015. The pages do not detail how he first came to music, so that part of his story is left out. By 2021 he described his fellow member Woozi as a friend who had been beside him for ten years and watched him grow as an artist. His stage name blends the Korean words for tiger and gaze.
Birth details: nolae.dk
In their own words
“If I couldn’t perform on stage, I wanted to at least release a song through SoundCloud for my fans to hear”
“As the leader of SEVENTEEN’s performance unit, I worked really hard to push the boundaries and create a charismatic performance even for ‘Spider”
“We are ready to reinvent ourselves.”
“We would like to show more of our individualities, each of the members’ personalities and capabilities, so that when the time comes and we get back together again as a group, we‘ll be able to showcase ourselves as a better Seventeen.”
- Woozi Fellow SEVENTEEN member and the group's main producer; he helped Hoshi build "Spider" and sings backing vocals on it. Hoshi called him a friend of ten years who watched him grow as an artist. teenvogue.com
- Bumzu Longtime SEVENTEEN collaborator who worked with him on "Spider". teenvogue.com
- Park Kitae Longtime in-house SEVENTEEN collaborator who co-composed "Spider". teenvogue.com
Timeline
- 2015Debut with SEVENTEEN
The group debuted on May 26, 2015 under Pledis Entertainment.
- 2020Group sales milestones
SEVENTEEN became million sellers within a week of the 7th EP Heng:garae, and the special album ; [Semicolon] followed suit. His planned world tour that year was cancelled due to COVID-19, which pushed him toward producing his own songs.
- 2021Solo debut with "Spider"
Released his first official solo mixtape on April 2, 2021, credited as lyricist, composer and choreographer, with Woozi, Bumzu and Park Kitae collaborating.
- 2024NARS Cosmetics model
Named a model for NARS Cosmetics alongside S.Coups in August 2024.
- 2025HxW unit with Woozi
- 202510th anniversary album
SEVENTEEN released the fifth studio album "Happy Burstday" with lead single "THUNDER" in May 2025.
- 2025Enlistment and "Take a Shot"
Enlisted in the Army on Sept. 16, 2025 as the fourth SEVENTEEN member to serve, releasing the hip-hop single "Take a Shot" that day. He completed basic training on Oct. 29, 2025.
Latest
- Solo digital single "Boyfriend"koreatimes.co.kr
- Military service
Serving as an active-duty soldier since Sept. 16, 2025, with discharge scheduled for March 15, 2027.
koreatimes.co.kr - TAMTAM 2026 F/W fashion film
SEVENTEEN's official YouTube channel released his fashion film for TAMTAM, a new solo fashion activity.
allkpop.com - "Snapback" choreography video
Official choreography video for his solo song "Snapback" released through SEVENTEEN channels.
allkpop.com
Our coverage
Seventeen's Jeonghan Sings 'My Memory' in Japanese for Audible's 'Winter Sonata'
Pledis Entertainment says Jeonghan's Japanese version of "My Memory," the Winter Sonata OST, arrives Nov. 26 as the theme of Audible's audio drama.
SEVENTEEN's Dino Drops 'AUTOMATIC' With a Performance Film and a Writing Credit
The single arrived Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. KST, which was 4 a.m. ET, with the performance film already up on the group's TikTok.
Why Every K-pop Group Gives Its Fans a Name, From ARMY to FOHA
Our Lexicon entry on the fandom name: what it means, who picks it, and the wordplay behind CARAT, MOA, ONCE and hundreds more.
Soundcheck Package: The K-pop VIP Tier That Gets You Into Rehearsal
From BTS' first 200,000-won sound check seats to 2026 U.S. tour stops: what the pre-show tier includes, what it costs and how to buy one.
PLAVE Claims First 'Star Trace' Trophy, Topping NCT WISH and A2O LITE on 'Music Core'
The new title track scored 8,299 points on MBC's show, on a bill that also featured IVE, BABYMONSTER, NMIXX and SEVENTEEN's JxJ.
A2O LITE Beats NCT WISH For Third 'NEON' Trophy As IVE, JxJ Unveil New Stages
The debut track topped episode 950 with 6,866 points, while SEVENTEEN's JxJ, IVE and NMIXX gave new songs their first public performances.
SEVENTEEN's JxJ Moves 656,011 Copies of 'DREAMSCAPE' on Day One for a Hanteo Unit Record
Jeonghan and Joshua's debut mini album topped charts in Japan and China and reached No. 1 on iTunes Top Albums in at least six regions.
K-pop in 2026 and New York Punk Circa 1980: Fan Economies, Opposite Blueprints
Zines and bulk buying both show fans moving the music, but punk built labels to dodge the majors while K-pop's biggest rivals are joining forces.
- nolae.dk: Hoshi (SEVENTEEN) Profile
- nme.com: SEVENTEEN's Hoshi reveals the inspiration behind 'Spider'
- koreatimes.co.kr: SEVENTEEN's Hoshi drops love song 'Boyfriend' during ...
- teenvogue.com: SEVENTEEN's HOSHI Talks First Solo Mixtape “Spider”
- seventeen.com: SEVENTEEN's HOSHI on New Solo Mixtape "Spider" and ...
- allkpop.com: Hoshi
- contactmusic.com: SEVENTEEN tease future solo and group projects as ...
Last researched Nov. 12, 2026