(TREASURE) Choi Hyun-suk Biography, Background, Net Worth 2025, And Career

Profile:

Full Name: Choi Hyun-suk (최현석)

Stage Name: Hyunsuk (현석)

Birthdate: April 21, 1999

Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea (Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam District)

Nationality: Korean

Height: 171 cm (5'7")

Family: Eldest child; parents, younger sister

Hobbies: Songwriting, gaming, watching movies, cooking (ramen specialist)

Hyunsuk says he is "funny, talented, and reliable." He likes horror movies, especially The Conjuring, and he likes spicy food like tteokbokki. He stays up late. He wears size 270 mm shoes, and many recognize him for his excellent handwriting and love of purple. As TREASURE's "mom," he takes care of a lot of the group's logistics, like making plans and giving emotional support.

Early Life and Background:

Choi Hyun-suk was born on April 21, 1999, in the wealthy Cheongdam-dong district of Seoul's Gangnam District. He was the oldest child of a close-knit family. Some stories say he has ties to Daegu, maybe through family, but he grew up in the busy capital, where the city's energy inspired his paintings. Hyunsuk's family gave him a stable base, focusing on education and hard work even when he was young and dreaming of being a celebrity. His younger sister sometimes shows up in his social media shoutouts.
Hyunsuk has always been good at performing. He got better at basketball in school and tried dancing, but music became his real love when he found hip-hop. He learned how to rap by listening to YG musicians like BIGBANG's G-Dragon and recording his freestyles on his phone. He tried out for YG Entertainment in 2016 when he was 17 years old. Scouts were impressed by his natural talent and charm. This led to his enrollment as a trainee in early 2017, which began a five-year grind that strained his willpower. Hyunsuk moved into YG's dorms, where he had to deal with homesickness and intensive training. He often said that his sister's support helped him stay grounded.
He also had some early experiences in the industry that weren't very obvious; before YG Treasure Box, he was in several YG-related projects for a short time. Hyunsuk's down-to-earth attitude shines through when he's not on camera. He's a big fan of League of Legends and is a self-taught cook who shares recipes with other members. His rise from a teenager in Seoul who rapped on the street to TREASURE's anchor shows a mix of natural skill and unbreakable willpower.

Education:

Hyunsuk's education journey is similar to the sacrifices many aspiring celebrities make, since he put his career ahead of going to school. He went to Eonju Middle School and then signed up for Chungdam High School in Seoul, which is recognized for its arts-focused curriculum and famous graduates like Bang Chan from Stray Kids and Jihyo from TWICE. But just one day after starting his training at YG in 2017, Hyunsuk made the hard choice to drop out of Chungdam High School so he could focus on his training.
He didn't give up and studied on his own until he passed the High School Graduation Academic Proficiency Exam (the Korean equivalent of the GED), which allowed him to get his high school diploma on his own. This accomplishment shows how disciplined he is because he balanced schoolwork with 12 hours of daily singing, dance, and rap practice. After he graduated, Hyunsuk's "education" changed to YG's immersion trainee program, where he learned how to write songs, go on stage, and speak more than one language, all of which are important for his role as a leader. He has thought about this time as important since it taught him how to manage his time and be strong, values he now passes on to younger members.

Career:

Hyunsuk's career is a masterpiece in leadership and adaptability; he went from being a standout on a survival program to a K-pop behemoth. It covers TREASURE's meteoric development, creative contributions, and a key change in 2025 over the course of more than eight years.

Pre-Debut and TREASURE Formation (2017–2020):

Hyunsuk joined YG in 2017 after a great audition and trained hard for five years, becoming a rap prodigy. He got his big break in 2018 on the survival show YG Treasure Box. His freestyles and charm got him a spot in the sub-unit MAGNUM. His performance of Epik High's "Home Is Far Away" showed how deep and smooth his emotions were. Because of delays caused by YG restructuring, MAGNUM and TREASURE merged. On January 6, 2020, Hyunsuk was announced to be a member of the 12-piece group.
TREASURE's first song, "Boy," came out on August 7, 2020, along with their first album, The First Step: Chapter One. The song got millions of views right away. Hyunsuk was co-leader with Jihoon and was in charge of making announcements, talking to fans, and coming up with new ideas. He rapped on singles including "I Love You" and "MMM." His funny personality was shown on the group's reality show T Map (2020–present), which won him "Most Likely to Make You Laugh" votes. At the 2020 MAMA and Golden Disc Awards, they won Rookie of the Year.

Group Milestones and Global Breakthrough (2021–2024):

TREASURE's popularity grew with albums like The First Step: Chapter Two (2020), Chapter Three (2021), and Reboot (2023), which mixed hip-hop, EDM, and pop. Fans loved Hyunsuk's verses in "Jikjin" and "Darari," and his songwriting credits grew on songs like "Slowmotion." The group went on tour in Japan and Korea, where they sold out venues, and then they went on to do shows in the U.S.
Hyunsuk was on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show in 2022, which helped TREASURE get more attention in the West. Count On Me (2024) was released by sub-unit T5, which included Jihoon, Yoshi, Junkyu, and Mashiho. Hyunsuk's leadership was shown in this song. He was a steadying force during YG's problems, speaking up for the mental health of the band. 2025: The Legacy of Leadership and New Opportunities The year 2025 was a big turning point. On September 1, TREASURE released their third EP, Love Pulse. The title track is energetic, and the rap lines written by Hyunsuk got a lot of acclaim for how mature they were. Thousands of people came to a pop-up store in Seoul to celebrate the debut in August. But on December 1, 2024, YG said that Hyunsuk and Jihoon would be stepping down and Junkyu and Asahi would take over as leaders on January 1, 2025. This was done to bring in new energy.
By October 2025, Hyunsuk had accepted this change and was concentrating on his own projects. He teased a personal mixtape on Instagram (@hyunsuk_my_treasure) by sharing freestyles and behind-the-scenes looks. Hyunsuk gave great ad-libs on TREASURE's Asia tour, which started in March. Recent events include guest spots on variety shows like Running Man and working with other artists on the YG label. There are rumors that juniors will start acting and producing, but Hyunsuk stresses the importance of working together: "Leadership was an honor; now, I'm free to create." He has co-written more than 20 songs, gotten billions of streams, and released a lot of albums, making TREASURE YG's top boy group.

Choi Hyun-suk Net Worth in 2025:

Choi Hyun-suk is the co-leader and a major creative force behind TREASURE. His finances show how successful the group is in business, with album sales, tours, and endorsements. As of October 2025, he is thought to be worth about $2.5 million USD. This estimate is based on 2022 numbers of about $1 million, which were boosted by Love Pulse's success (it topped charts in Korea and Japan) and global sales.
The breakdown includes:
TREASURE makes most of its money from music and group tours, and Hyunsuk makes money from royalties and profit shares.
Endorsements: Deals with brands like Pepsi and fashion lines bring in more than $500,000 a year.
Social Media and Solo Ventures: His Instagram (1.5M+ followers) generates ad revenue, plus impending mixtape sales.
Investments: Subtle real estate signals suggest clever preparation.