Biography
Who is Woozi?
Early life and education
Born in Busan, South Korea, on November 22, 1996, the singer was originally named Lee Ji-hoon. During his childhood, he studied classical music and learned to play various instruments, including the clarinet. He later attended the Hanlim Multi Art School and graduated from that institution.
His academic pursuits continued as he enrolled at Hanyang University to further his education. In 2022, he began working toward a Master's degree at Anyang University to expand his formal training in the arts.
Rise with Seventeen
The musician joined Pledis Entertainment after a successful audition process where he met frequent collaborator Bumzu. On May 26, 2015, he officially debuted as a member of the boy band Seventeen with the release of the single Adore U. He also helped write and produce all tracks for the group's debut extended play titled 17 Carat.
He holds the position of vocal team leader within the band. As of early 2019, he held credit for writing more than 80 percent of the music released by the collective. He has also performed as part of a subunit called Hoshi X Woozi.
Career as a solo artist and producer
Beyond his group activities, he has established a career as a writer for other K-pop acts including NU'EST W, Ailee, and I.O.I. In 2017, he wrote the single Downpour for the project group I.O.I. He also provided the song Thankful for You to Baekho of NU'EST W.
He released his first solo mixtape, Ruby, on January 3, 2022. The lead single became the first track he wrote entirely in English and reached the top spot on iTunes charts in 18 regions, including Chile, Mexico, and Indonesia. In 2021, he won the Best Producer award at the 6th Asia Artist Awards, becoming the youngest person to receive this honor in the history of the show.
Military service and other work
He began his mandatory military service in South Korea on September 15, 2025, serving as an active duty soldier. During his service, he performed at the Ground Forces Festival, also called Army Fest, held in Gyeryong between October 1 and October 5, 2026.
Outside of music, he has worked in the fashion industry. In 2022, the brand Romantic Crown selected him as a model for their Fall and Winter collection. This partnership expanded in 2023 to include a second clothing line featuring designs that referenced his music studio, known as Universe Factory.
Birthday and age
Woozi was born on November 22, 1996, which makes Woozi 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Woozi shares the date with 54 other famous people.
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