(TREASURE) Junkyu Biography: Education, Background, Net Worth 2025, Career, And Siblings

Profile:

Stage Name: Junkyu (준규)

Birth Name: Kim Jun Kyu (김준규)

Birthday: September 9, 2000

Nationality: South Korean

Representative Color: Cinnabar

English Name: David Kim

Junkyu is charming because he is both dominating on stage and bumbling and warm-hearted off stage. His nicknames, such "Koala," "Handsome Koala," "Kim Kyuging," "SleepKyu," "Shoulder Gangster," and "Baby Soft Tofu," show how funny and self-deprecating he is, especially when he jokes about his big legs and koala-like smile (which he calls "2 Meters Long Legs"). Fans love Junkyu because he is real and has a dirty dorm room and makes mistakes like bad cooking or sketching. He is a key part of TREASURE since he is confident in his voice and has great chemistry with the other members, notably Jihoon. His contemplative and compassionate personality as a Virgo fuels his vision for the group's togetherness and legacy.

Education:  

Junkyu's schooling shows the trade-offs that come with trying to become famous. He was born in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, but moved to Seoul when he was in elementary school. His academic journey includes:
Seoul Bangil Elementary School: His first school after moving to Seoul.
Isu Middle School: Where he matched his studies with his increasing love of performing.
Seocho High School: Enrolled but dropped out because YG's trainee program was too hard.

Junkyu showed his commitment by passing the High School Graduation Certification Examination (the South Korean equivalent of the GED) instead of letting this define him. Before joining YG, he trained at Def Dance Skool, a YG-affiliated school, where he met Doyoung, who would later become his bandmate, and worked on his dance skills. This experience helped him pass his YG audition in April 2014, which combined his studies with his artistic goals

Background: From Chungju to Child Star to K-Pop Idol:

Junkyu's poor beginnings in Chungju helped him become famous. He started out as a model when he was a kid, doing commercials, photo shoots, and print ads for big Korean businesses. This early exposure helped him become more confident and comfortable in front of the camera, which helped him reach his K-pop goals.
Junkyu tried out for YG Entertainment when he was 13 through Def Dance Skool. He then went through a tough six- to seven-year trainee phase. He was in YG's "Silver Boys," a group of trainees that featured future stars like Choi Hyunsuk, Bang Yedam, and others. In 2017, he got his first big break on the survival show MIXNINE, where he placed in 35th place and was eliminated in episode 10. This setback made him stronger.
Junkyu's big break came with YG Treasure Box (2018–2019), where he was the fourth member of TREASURE's first lineup. YG combined the TREASURE and MAGNUM subunits into a 12-member group (later 10 following 2022 departures). He made his debut on August 7, 2020, with "The First Step: Chapter One." His rise from a child model in a small town to a K-pop star shows how hard he works and how well he can adapt.

Junkyu's Net Worth 2025:

Junkyu's net worth is thought to be between $2 million and $3 million as of 2025. This is because of his work on TREASURE and his own businesses. This number comes from:
Album Sales: TREASURE has sold over 10 million copies of its albums, including Reboot (2023), which sold 1.7 million copies.
Tours and Concerts: Money made from sold-out tours in Asia and Japan, such the 2025 [SPECIAL MOMENT] fan concerts.
Endorsements: Deals with brands like MA:NYO cosmetics and TREASURE goods.
Royalties for writing songs: credits for songs like "Move" (2023).

As TREASURE's global influence grows, his leadership role and possible solo ventures (such unpublished recordings) could help him become worth $3–5 million more by 2027.

Career: 

From Trainee Struggles to Leadership Triumphs:

Junkyu's career has been a narrative of growth, from a dedicated trainee to a leader with many skills. Important milestones are:

Setback for MIXNINE in 2017
Competed in MIXNINE, came in 35th, and was cut, but learned a lot from the experience.

2018–2020: The Rise to Debut

Got a berth in TREASURE by coming in fourth in YG Treasure Box.
The First Step: Chapter One ("BOY") came out on August 7, 2020, followed by Chapter Two ("I Love You") and Chapter Three ("MMM"). These albums set the tone for TREASURE's hip-hop-pop mix, with Junkyu's emotional singing standing out.
Released The First Step: Treasure Effect (2021), which had the platinum-certified song "My Treasure."

2021–2022: Global Momentum
TREASURE's international fan base grew after their first album, The First Step, was out in November 2020 and they went on tour.
"Darari" from Hello (2022) was number one on the Melon charts, showing how versatile Junkyu's voice is.

2023: A big step forward in creativity
Joined the T5 sub-unit alongside Jihoon, Jaehyuk, Doyoung, and Junghwan and released "Move," a song that came out before Reboot (July 2023). "Move," a dance-pop song that Junkyu penned and composed alongside Dee.P as a tribute to his fans, was his first song as a songwriter.
Reboot sold 1.7 million copies, while "Bona Bona" reached #27 on Circle Digital and #14 on Billboard Japan.

2024–2025: Leadership Era
The Japanese single "King Kong / Reverse" came out in August 2024. "Reverse" was used as an anime OST for Densetsu no Atama Sho.
As of January 1, 2025, YG's Yang Hyun-suk said that he would be co-leading alongside Asahi, taking over for Hyunsuk and Jihoon. This job shows off his sense of humor, strength, and vision.
In 2025, there will be fan concerts like [SPECIAL MOMENT] in Japan and teases for solo recordings like "A Man Like Me," "Going Crazy," and "Thinking About You." These could be hints for a possible solo mixtape.
Junkyu's transformation from a bashful trainee to a confident leader shows how much he has improved his singing and creativity, making him a key player in TREASURE's future.

Siblings:

Junkyu keeps his family life private and only shares small bits of information about how they support him. He has one confirmed sibling: an elder brother who showed up with his mother at YG Treasure Box to cheer them on. This fraternal link helped him stay emotionally stable during his tough trainee years. Junkyu always said that family was his rock. There are no records of any additional siblings, and fans guess that Junkyu comes from a close-knit family, but he doesn't share much about his personal life so he can focus on his art.
His family's support, from Chungju to Seoul, was very important. His mother and brother were on TV at survival shows, which showed how important they were to his quest and kept the "Soft Tofu" hero grounded as he became famous.