(Seventeen) Wonwoo Biography: Profile, Net worth 2025, Career, Parents And Military

Profile:

Birth Name: Jeon Wonwoo (전원우)

Stage Name: Wonwoo (원우)

Birth Date: July 17, 1996

Birth Place: Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

Nationality: South Korean

The poetic interpretation of Wonwoo's name is that "Won" means "round," and "Woo" means "help," signifying a life devoted to giving generously to others. Fans have given Wonwoo nicknames like "Mr. Beanie," "Sloth," "Gamer," and "Wonugie" because of his warm and introverted disposition, which reflects how approachable and relatable he is. He stands out among SEVENTEEN members thanks to his deep voice and piercing charm, and his passion for literature, gaming, and photography enhances his public character.

Education:

Wonwoo's commitment to striking a balance between his academic pursuits and his developing music career is evident in his scholastic path. He was reared in Changwon and went to Changwon Moonsung High School, Palryong Middle School, and Sahwa Elementary School before relocating to Seoul to further his education. His love in music began when he started taking guitar classes in his third year of middle school. After that, he enrolled at the esteemed School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA) and majored in the Department of Practical Dance, graduating in 2015.
Wonwoo continued his schooling by enrolling at the Hanyang University Institute for Future Talents' Practical Music (K-Pop Division), from which he also graduated in 2015. In addition to his training at Pledis Entertainment, he gained a solid foundation in music and performing throughout his time at SOPA and Hanyang University. His pursuit of artistic endeavors and academic attentiveness demonstrate his dedication to both professional and personal development.

Career:

Early Beginnings and Training:

Wonwoo's journey to fame started in 2011 when he went to Pledis Entertainment for an audition with the sole goal of gaining experience. He unexpectedly made it through the audition process and was trained as a singer, dancer, and rapper for four years. After instructors saw that his deep voice was perfect for the hip-hop genre, he switched from singing to rapping. He made an appearance on Seventeen TV, an online reality program that followed Pledis' trainees as they prepared to make their SEVENTEEN debut. In order to generate excitement for their debut, the show, which was aired on Ustream, featured trainees performing, choreographing, and playing games.

Debut with SEVENTEEN:

On May 26, 2015, Wonwoo made his SEVENTEEN debut with the release of their first extended play (EP), 17 Carat, which included the lead track "Adore U." Pledis Entertainment developed the 13-member group SEVENTEEN, which is further subdivided into three groups: Performance, Vocal, and Hip-Hop. Wonwoo was designated as the lead rapper and sub-vocalist for the Hip-Hop Team, which also included S.Coups, Mingyu, and Vernon. It was the first time a male K-pop group had a one-hour live showcase broadcast on MBC, making their debut historic. The lone debut album on Billboard's "10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2015" list, 17 Carat went on to become the longest-charting K-pop album of 2015 in the United States.
Love & Letter (2016), Teen, Age (2017), An Ode (2019), FML (2023), Seventeenth Heaven (2023), and Happy Burstday (2025), the latter of which commemorates their tenth anniversary, are just a few of the popular albums that SEVENTEEN has put out since their debut. Wonwoo has contributed to more than 35 songs, mostly for the Hip-Hop Team. Songs like "Healing," "Second Life," and "Kidult" demonstrate his skill as a songwriter. He is praised for his literary sense since his reflective lyrics frequently touch on both societal issues and personal experiences.

Solo and Sub-Unit Ventures:

Wonwoo worked with vocalist Lee Hi and bandmate Mingyu on the digital single "Bittersweet" in 2021, which peaked at the top of the iTunes charts in 10 different territories. He demonstrated his depth of sorrow in 2022 when he released a cover of IU's "Knees" in remembrance of his late mother. With the single album This Man, Wonwoo and Jeonghan made their debut as Jeonghan X Wonwoo (JxW), SEVENTEEN's second official sub-unit, in 2024. With 787,046 copies sold in its first week, the album—which included Wonwoo's solo song "Leftover" and the lead single "Last Night"—set a record for K-pop sub-unit albums.

Modeling and Endorsements:

Wonwoo has achieved notable success in the fashion and beauty sectors in addition to her career in music. He signed on as the exclusive model for the South Korean cosmetics company Huxley in November 2022 (2022–2023). He was selected as a global model for The Face Shop in April 2024. In June 2024, he also joined Vernon and S.Coups as worldwide spokespeople for the Indonesian snack brand Chitato. Wonwoo has appeared on the covers of the Japanese fashion magazine Men's Non-no in June 2023 with DK and July 2024 with Jeonghan. She has also been a guest at prestigious events such as the launch of Burberry's pop-up store in Seoul in 2023, the Burberry Autumn/Winter show at London Fashion Week in 2025, and the Rimowa event in Seoul in 2024. His fashion pursuits demonstrate his increasing stature as a style icon.

Other Contributions:

As demonstrated in the music video for "Holiday" by SEVENTEEN, Wonwoo's creative abilities also include directing. He has also been candid about his experience with mental health, speaking about pressure, celebrity, and the therapeutic value of music in Dive Studio's Mindset series (2023). His dedication to give back is demonstrated by his philanthropic donation of personal belongings to the Nabiya Cat Shelter for auction in 2019 and 2022.

2025 Net Worth:

Wonwoo's projected net worth as of 2025 varies from source to source, ranging from $4 million to $7 million USD. His fortune comes from several sources:

Music and Tours: A large portion of SEVENTEEN's income comes from his sold-out world tours like BE THE SUN (2022) and RIGHT HERE (2024), as well as his record-breaking albums like FML (6.2 million copies sold worldwide in 2023) and Attacca (2 million copies).

Endorsements: His income is supplemented by appearances in fashion magazines and high-profile brand deals with Huxley, The Face Shop, and Chitato.
Songwriting & Production: The Korea Music Copyright Association collects royalties for his work on more than 35 SEVENTEEN tracks.
Other Projects: His marketability is increased via modeling, magazine covers, and charitable endeavors.
Since precise earnings are not made public, these numbers are estimates.

Parents and Family Background:

In Changwon, Wonwoo was born into a close-knit South Korean family. Jeon Bohyuk, a former model who now owns a clothing company, is his younger brother. Since Wonwoo keeps his family private, not much is known about his parents' names or occupations. It is known, nevertheless, that his mother was friendly with Joshua's mother, another SEVENTEEN member, and the two families frequently ate meals together. Wonwoo had to take a period of bereavement leave after the tragic announcement by Pledis Entertainment that her mother had died on April 6, 2022. His heartfelt rendition of IU's "Knees" in her remembrance shows how badly this tragedy touched him. Although they avoid the spotlight, his father and brother continue to be important characters in his life.

Military Service:

All physically fit men in South Korea are required to serve in the military by the age of 30, which usually lasts 18 to 21 months. Wonwoo became the second SEVENTEEN member to enlist following Jeonghan (September 2024) when Pledis Entertainment announced on March 5, 2025, that he would start his alternative military service on April 3, 2025. Wonwoo is anticipated to return around January 2, 2027, as alternative service, which is sometimes assigned for illness or other reasons, necessitates a longer commitment than active duty.
Wonwoo will miss SEVENTEEN's Tecate Pa'l Norte 2025 festival in Mexico and a fan gathering in Japan in April 2025 because of his enlistment. He did, however, take part in the March 20–21, 2025, SEVENTEEN in CARAT LAND performance and will be featured in pre-recorded material. Pledis urged supporters to support him on Weverse and asked them not to visit his service site. Wonwoo thanked and encouraged his fans (CARATs) in an emotional message, asking them to remain well and listen to SEVENTEEN's songs while he is away.

Personal Life and Interests:

Wonwoo stands out in the K-pop industry due to his scholarly interests and reclusive personality. He frequently references literature as an inspiration for his lyrics and has a large vocabulary. He enjoys playing video games, taking pictures, feeding stray cats in his area, and supporting the South Korean esports club T1. He is well-known for preferring sweet and spicy chicken, kimchi fried rice, and hamburgers over seafood, ketchup, and fermented dishes. He likes sorrowful music, especially IU's "Through the Night," and scary movies. His favorite color is blue.
Due to severe astigmatism and xerophthalmia (dry eye syndrome), Wonwoo frequently wears glasses or contact lenses. Although he claims that his keen eyes make him appear "cold," he characterizes himself as kind and personable. He lives in Seoul and has a tight relationship with his bandmate Mingyu, with whom he has matching phone cases. Fans have found him approachable due to his reflective nature and candor regarding mental health.

Challenges and Resilience:

Wonwoo has faced difficulties along the way. He was forced to take a break from SEVENTEEN's promotions, including the Dream Concert, in order to concentrate on his recuperation after being diagnosed with acute gastritis in June 2016. Fans were alarmed by his absence, and Pledis stressed that he needed to take it easy to maintain his long-term health. Furthermore, Wonwoo apologized publicly in 2016 for his previous disparaging remarks about Girls' Generation, which caused him to come under fire. These incidents have strengthened his bond with followers and molded his resilience, as has the death of his mother in 2022.

Impact and Legacy:

There is no denying Wonwoo's contributions to SEVENTEEN and the K-pop scene. As the group's primary rapper, his unique voice and deep lyrical content have contributed to defining the group's hallmark style. His influence has grown beyond music thanks to his work with JxW, endorsements, and support of mental health. Wonwoo's skill and commitment are largely responsible for SEVENTEEN's worldwide success, which includes sold-out globe tours and record-breaking album sales.
Fans are still supporting him as he leaves for military duty in 2025, expressing love via Weverse and honoring his accomplishments. From a timid trainee in Changwon to a well-known K-pop artist, Wonwoo's career exemplifies his tenacity, originality, and sincerity, guaranteeing his legacy will go on for many years to come.