Woozi (Seventeen) Biography: Profile, Background, Education, Net Worth 2025, Career, and Parents

Profile:

Stage Name: Woozi (우지)  

Birth Name: Lee Ji-hoon (이지훈)  

Birth Date: November 22, 1996  

Birth Place: Busan, South Korea  

Nationality: South Korean  

The moniker "Uri-Jihoonie" (Our Jihoon), which Pledis Entertainment employees gave him when he was a trainee, is the source of Woozi's stage name. According to official records, the name combines the Chinese characters "Woo" (to meet) and "Ji" (wisdom), indicating his direct but perceptive demeanor. Woozi is well-known for his flexibility and commitment, and he has been dubbed "Tofu" because of his fair skin, "Documentary" because of his serious manner, and "The Genius Composer."

Background:

Woozi was born on November 22, 1996, in Gwangan-dong, Busan, South Korea. His early love of music was fostered by his nurturing upbringing. Being the only kid, he grew close to his parents, who supported his artistic endeavors. Woozi learned to play the clarinet, piano, guitar, drums, and other band instruments while growing up surrounded by classical music. His early musical experiences prepared him for his future work as a songwriter and producer.

Woozi had a disciplined and ambitious upbringing. He showed a sense of competition in sports and played baseball in elementary school as a catcher. But his passion for music came first, and he started receiving formal instruction to hone his abilities. Woozi auditioned for Pledis Entertainment because he wanted to be a performer and was inspired by singers like Chris Brown and Park Jin Young.
Woozi became mentored by Bumzu, a producer and frequent collaborator, at Pledis. He gained a reputation as one of Seventeen's most diligent members during his trainee years thanks to his optimism and tenacity, which has defined his career to this day.

Education:

Woozi's dedication to striking a balance between his studies and his developing music career is evident in his scholastic path. He graduated in 2015 from the esteemed Hanlim Multi Art School, which is renowned for fostering the next generation of artists. He was able to develop his musical abilities while attending Hanlim and earning a degree.

Woozi continued his education at Hanyang University, one of the best colleges in South Korea, after graduating from high school. By enrolling in a Master's program at Anyang University in 2022, he advanced his academic endeavors and showed that he was committed to both his demanding work and personal development.

2025 Net Worth:

Woozi's estimated net worth as of 2025 is between $3 million and $5 million. His main sources of wealth are:
Music Royalties Woozi, who is the primary producer of Seventeen, is credited with writing and producing more than 80% of the group's repertoire, which includes singles like "Adore U," "Yawn," and "Cheers." His prolific production, which earned him substantial royalties, is shown by his 156+ KOMCA (Korea Music Copyright Association) credits as of 2024.
Millions of copies of Seventeen's albums, including Face the Sun and Heng:garae, have been sold internationally, and his earnings have been bolstered by international tours like "BE THE SUN."
Songwriting for Other singers: Woozi has contributed to his income by creating songs for singers such as Ailee, Eric Nam, I.O.I, and NU'EST W.
Solo Projects: He has made money thanks to his 2022 mixtape Ruby and hits like "What Kind of Future" (2024).
Although Seventeen's total estimated net worth ranges from $20 to $43.8 million, Woozi's personal earnings are commensurate with his crucial contribution to the group's success. As Seventeen's worldwide impact grows and he continues to put out solo and sub-unit albums, like the Hoshi X Woozi single album Beam (March 2025), his net worth is anticipated to increase.

Career:

Early Career and Trainee Days:

When Woozi made it through a successful Pledis Entertainment audition in 2011, his path to fame officially began. He was originally scheduled to make his stage debut with Tempest (with S.Coups), but once the project broke up, he went back to training. Over the course of five years of training, he improved his production, dance, and singing abilities. He made appearances during this time on Seventeen TV, an online program that featured Pledis trainees, and Seventeen Project: Big Debut Plan (2015), a reality show that followed the group's pre-debut preparations.

Debut with Seventeen:

Woozi made his Seventeen debut on May 26, 2015, with the lead song "Adore U" and the mini-album 17 Carat. He was instrumental in developing Seventeen's self-producing identity as the lead vocalist, vocal team leader, and major producer. He co-wrote and produced all of the songs on 17 Carat, which made it onto Billboard's "10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2015" list and became the longest-charting K-pop album of 2015 in the United States.
Boys Be (2015), Love & Letter (2016), and Going Seventeen (2016) were among Seventeen's later releases that cemented their status as "Performance Kings." The group's music became known for Woozi's poignant lyrics and adaptable production style, which were frequently developed in his own studio "Universe Factory."

Solo and Sub-Unit Work:

The mixtape Ruby, which featured an English-language lead track that topped iTunes charts in 18 places, including Chile, Mexico, and Indonesia, marked Woozi's solo debut in 2022. "What Kind of Future," a poignant ballad devoted to his late ASTRO friend Moonbin, was released by him in 2024.
Pledis revealed Woozi's debut as a subunit with Hoshi, called Hoshi X Woozi, on February 19, 2025. The single album Beam is scheduled for release on March 10. His ongoing development as an artist is demonstrated by this piece.

Songwriting for Other Artists:

Woozi writes more than only Seventeen songs. Among the notable pieces are "Feelin'" by Ailee and Eric Nam (2016), "Downpour" by I.O.I. (2017), which is commended for its poignant lyrics, and "Thankful for You" by Baekho of NU'EST W (2017).
"Miracle" for the 2019 soundtrack of The Tale of Nokdu
Praise and Appreciation
Woozi has received many honors for his talent:
He was the youngest laureate of the 6th Asia Artist Awards' Best Producer title in 2021.
In 2019, he was granted full membership in the Korea Music Copyright Association, acknowledging his vast discography.
By November 2020, she had more than 102 copyrighted songs, setting a new record for the youngest K-pop producer.

Military Service:

Woozi's activities with Seventeen will temporarily halt as he prepares to begin his mandatory military service as an active-duty soldier in the second half of 2025.

Parents and Family:

Woozi is an only child who leads a private life, thus there aren't many specifics about his parents. Although it hasn't been generally verified, some sources claim that his father was once a bowling coach. Woozi's parents wrote a statement to Caratland, Seventeen's fan base, thanking fans for their support and expressing pleasure and thanks for their son's accomplishments. Since Woozi would rather keep his family life private, not much is known about their identities or occupations.

Personal Life and Fun Facts:

Hobbies: Woozi likes to watch Marvel films (Black Panther is his favorite superhero), play mobile games (Beggar Life, Cookie Run), and watch sports.
Favorite foods include rice, which he says he likes so much that he doesn't need side dishes, spicy ramyeon, and jjajangmyun (black bean noodles).
Personality: Woozi is referred to as "Tofu" because of his light skin and "Documentary" because of his serious side. He is described as reticent but sincere. He spends much of his time in his Universe Factory studio and is renowned for his meticulous approach to music production.
Inspirations: He emphasizes honesty in his lyrics and finds musical inspiration in ordinary life.
Cucumbers, alcohol (from an allergic reaction), and spicy cuisine are disliked.

Legacy and Impact:

Woozi has made significant contributions to Seventeen and the K-pop scene. By taking artistic charge of his group's songs, he has reinvented the position of a musician as a self-producing idol. His flexibility is demonstrated by his ability to write songs in a variety of genres, from lively tunes like "Cheers" to poignant ballads like "Yawn." Woozi has influenced Seventeen's sound and served as an inspiration to a new generation of K-pop producers, as evidenced by the fact that he is credited on more than 80% of the group's record.
He has admirers all across the world because of his commitment, modesty, and unblemished public persona. Woozi's influence is set to increase as Seventeen keeps setting records and he takes on new endeavors like Hoshi X Woozi, solidifying his place among K-pop's most renowned and gifted artists.