If you’ve stumbled upon Tinytown News and want to become more familiar with ATEEZ and its members, this guide is here to help! Maybe you’ve been listening casually to their music and want to dive further into the fandom, or maybe you’ve been introduced to them by the many K-Pop idols who have worked with or spoken positively about the members and their talent and kind hearts. Or maybe you have another reason altogether — whatever the case, we’re happy to have you!

This guide is meant to serve as an introduction to ATEEZ — where they started, who they are, and where they are now. There’s a lot to cover, and of course, not every single detail about them can be explained in just one guide, but we hope that this is helpful for new fans to get to know the members of ATEEZ a little better.

The group consists of eight members: Hongjoong (the leader and affectionately named “captain” of ATEEZ), Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. Their group introduction, “8 makes 1 team”, is not just a phrase they throw around, but one with deep meaning to them — no matter what they do, they always support and care for each other, and even when a member is on hiatus or can’t perform on stage, the rest of the group includes them however they can.

ATEEZ had humble beginnings, debuting on October 24, 2018 under KQ Entertainment — a very small label at the time. KQ Entertainment is in charge of two subsidiaries, including Seven Seasons (home to Block B), but ATEEZ really had no senior artists to rely on to help them get recognized in the K-Pop world. They became as successful as they are now through their own skills, perseverance, and hard work.

Prior to their debut, the members were known as KQ Fellaz, and they released quite a bit of pre-debut content to get them noticed. Even from their trainee days, the members were skilled in dancing, as is evident by their performance videos. They’re also a great way to see just how much each of the members has improved in their own individual performance abilities!

One reason that so many fans enjoy ATEEZ’s music is the deep worldbuilding and lore that goes into their content, both in their music videos as well as in the pages of their album photobooks. It’s too complex to really dive into in an introduction guide like this (we’re working on a page that goes into it in more depth!), but some of the major themes of their lore include time travel, dystopian society, alternate realities, rebelling against a corrupt government, and many more. Above all else, though, the members of ATEEZ are known for the pirate concept that they debuted with, and it remains an important part of their lore even as they dive into new and more complex concepts.

Fans of ATEEZ are called ATINYs, which is a combination of the group’s name and the word “destiny.”

One of the most impressive accomplishments in ATEEZ’s career has been what fans call their “organic growth.” Their first album, TREASURE EP.1: All To Zero, made only 430 sales in its first day. Without the backing of a large label, it was basically only through word of mouth that people learned about who they were, and over time, their album sales increased more and more with each comeback, more people streamed their songs, and the attendance for their concerts grew.

Golden Hour: Part.1 became their fourth to surpass a million sales. At this time, the group has sold a total of over 10 million albums throughout their career, which is an incredible feat for a non-“Big Four” group! You can read more about their organic growth here.

At the heart of ATEEZ and why so many fans have fallen in love with the group are its humble, loving, and talented members. Here’s a little bit about each of the eight idols to get to know them better, and maybe help you figure out your bias if you don’t have one yet!

As stated earlier, Hongjoong is the leader of ATEEZ, as well as their lead rapper, sub-vocalist, and center. But, as he has stated himself, he is also good at “all positions”, which is absolutely true — he excels in his performance abilities, his eye for fashion, his compassion for others, and his ability to inspire and motivate millions of ATINYs around the world.

The second-oldest of the group, born November 7, 1998, he’s pretty much in charge of keeping the other members in line (at least as best he can!). He’s the smallest member of ATEEZ at 172cm (5’8″), but what he lacks in height, he makes up for with his sharp wit and charisma on stage.

Hongjoong takes part in the production process of ATEEZ’s music, along with the rest of the group’s production team, EDENARY. He’s also known for having taken part in several charity campaigns (particularly the Polished Man project), and one of his biggest passions outside of music is fashion. He even sometimes makes alterations to his clothing himself, and has been personally invited to shows by Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing and has even become a brand ambassador for them!

You’ll know when Hongjoong is about to speak his piece in an ATEEZ song when you hear his signature giggle, which is slightly different in each song, but always recognizable. He’s also a part of the group’s affectionately named “Demon Line,” due to how intense and powerful he can get on stage when the concept calls for it!

Speaking of the demon line, another part of it is the group’s oldest member, Seonghwa.

Often called the “mother” of ATEEZ in comparison to the “father” that is Hongjoong, Seonghwa provides a lot of emotional support both to his fellow members as well as to their fans.

He was born on April 3, 1998 and is the third-tallest member of the group at 178cm (5’10”). While he was originally trained to be a rapper, his official position at debut was as the lead vocalist and one of the visuals of ATEEZ — though in recent years, he’s had the opportunity to flex his rapping abilities, which fans have loved to see and has earned him a spot in the group’s rap line!

His visuals are often compared to that of the dragon character Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon, a comparison that he seems to love. And another endearing fact that ATINYs love about him is that he was once told by a palm reader that this is his “first life,” which ATINYs have taken and ran with — he so often looks at the world with awe and delight, it’s not hard to believe!

While he is often the voice of reason in ATEEZ along with Hongjoong, he’s just as capable of being silly and wild as any of the others and is often the culprit behind some of their funniest posts on social media!

Next up in the member line-up by age is Yunho!

Born on March 23, 1999, Yunho is the tallest member of ATEEZ, standing at 184cm (6′0.5″). He’s also one of the group’s main dancers, and a lead vocalist!

He’s the appropriately named energizer of ATEEZ, hyping up the other members when they’re down and known for his bright, cheerful, puppy-like personality and energy. Yunho has also been called the “weirdest” of the group by his fellow members, which is saying a lot, considering all of them are a bit on the strange side!

He met fellow member Mingi when both of them were in high school and attended the same dance academy together, and they have remained friends since. It was by chance that they ended up both becoming trainees at the same label, and their friendship is something that fans adore!

He’s already had a promising start to an acting career, starring as a lead character in the K-Drama Imitation in 2021. He also flexes his acting abilities during the group’s stages, which are basically theatrical performances themselves!

Next up is the beloved Yeosang.

His birthday is June 15, 1999. Though he’s one of the group’s shorter members at 173cm (5’8″), you might think he’s taller just because of his incredible build! He’s a known gym rat, and it definitely shows in his physique.

Yeosang is one of the quieter members of the generally noisy ATEEZ, and seems to prefer listening and observing his surroundings rather than interjecting. Don’t let his quietness fool you, though — he’s also known for his hilarious sass and shade that he throws at the other members without remorse (affectionately, of course)!

He used to be a trainee at BIGHIT MUSIC (the same label that BTS is at) but he ended up moving on to KQ Entertainment after he became worried that he might never debut. There’s a story paired with another member that we’ll get into later on.

Along with being a lead dancer and sub-vocalist, Yeosang is also another visual in the group, and it’s easy to see why! He actually used to be insecure about a unique birthmark on his temple, but thanks to the compliments and encouragement he’s received from fans, he’s learned to embrace it.

The slightly younger middle-aged member of the group is the “stage demon” San!

Born on July 10, 1999, San is the fifth-oldest member, and the fifth-tallest, standing at 175cm (5’9″) tall. Among the group’s members, San is arguably one of the most well-known for his intense stage presence and performance abilities, but he actually debuted with only the position of lead vocalist. Since then, however, his hard work and the development of his dancing abilities have landed him in the group’s dance line!

He’s the third and final member of ATEEZ’s “Demon Line”, known for how intense and sometimes scary he can seem to some when he gets really into performing. Off-stage, though, he’s an absolute cutie, and is a great example of an idol with incredible duality!

His friendship with fellow member Wooyoung is another relationship in the group that fans adore. The two of them are so close that they even got matching tattoos together of the phrase “amicus ad aras,” which is short for “friends until the end”, and is something that they’ve long used as a memento of their unending love for each other.

Next up is the group’s charismatic dance and rap king, Mingi.

The third-youngest in ATEEZ, Mingi was born on August 9, 1999. He’s slightly shorter than Yunho at 183cm (6′), making him the second-tallest of the group! He’s part of both the rap and dance lines of ATEEZ — being the main rapper and lead dancer — and his skill in both areas of performance is phenomenal. Like Hongjoong, he also takes part in the music-making process of the group, especially in terms of songwriting. His lyricism is something to admire, and we’re just waiting for him to drop a mixtape someday!

While his deep voice, intense stage presence, and rapid-fire rapping might make him seem intimidating, Mingi is a completely different person in reality. He’s even been given the name “Princess” by fans because of how cute and adorable his personality is, and it’s a term that he’s fully embraced!

He has a signature phrase in ATEEZ’s songs when you know he’s about to start rapping — “fix on,” which he came up with in order to tell listeners to “fix on” to his voice with their ears.

No one can meet the group’s adorable Wooyoung without falling in love with his charm.

He’s both the second-youngest (born November 26, 1999) and tied for the second-shortest (standing the same height as Yeosang, 173cm) of ATEEZ, as well as the third of their three visual members. He’s also one of their main dancers, and a part of their vocal line.

Along with Yeosang, Wooyoung also trained at BIGHIT MUSIC before moving on to KQ Entertainment. He actually made the move to follow Yeosang to the new label because of their close friendship, as he wanted them to debut together! They still remain good friends to this day, with that history of their friendship giving them a solid bond.

He’s the most physically affectionate member of ATEEZ, and is unafraid to show his love through hugs, kisses, or even biting. Despite the rather unconventional method of showing affection, though, Wooyoung seems to make friends wherever he goes, and is close with many different idols in the industry, especially TXT‘s Yeonjun, who he endearingly refers to as “darling”.

His laugh is impossible to mistake for anyone else’s, and it’s impossible not to giggle yourself when you hear it. It seems like there isn’t anyone that’s able to resist his charms, either — there have been multiple times when he’s been on the phone with the parents of other members of ATEEZ and had them fawning over him more than their own child!

Finally, the maknae of ATEEZ is also their vocal powerhouse, Jongho!

His birthday is on October 12, 2000, he stands at 176cm (5’9″), and he’s the group’s main vocalist — which is easy to understand as soon as you hear his voice.

In fact, among modern-day male K-Pop idols, many people believe that he may be the most technically skilled when it comes to singing. Whether melting hearts with a soft-voiced ballad or belting out powerful high notes while performing ATEEZ’s complex choreographies, there’s nothing about Jongho that isn’t impressive. He also has an unusual but astounding ability that he’s well-known for: being able to break apples in half with just his bare hands.

Jongho is, ironically, known as the most mature of the group, even though he’s the youngest. However, while he tends to be on the quieter and more serious side more often than some of the members, he still has a silly streak that shows from time to time!

He’s one of the more reserved members when it comes to his fashion sense as well, tending to prefer clothing that covers him completely rather than showing a lot of skin. However, that doesn’t keep fans from going crazy over his undoubtedly strong body — he once went viral just for how he was sitting on stage, and a rare shirtless picture drove the fandom wild!

As for ATEEZ’s discography, they’ve covered a wide range of music genres, unafraid to try new and sometimes unconventional sounds in their tracks. They have a very extensive list of songs at this point in their career, so it’s impossible to name their best!

In order, their Korean title tracks are as follows:

“Pirate King” and “Treasure” (from TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero)

“Say My Name” and “HALA HALA” (from TREASURE EP.2: Zero to One)

“Wave” and “Illusion” (from TREASURE EP.3: One to All); they earned their first music show win with “Wave” on June 20, 2019

“Wonderland” (from TREASURE EP.Fin: All to Action)

“Answer” (from TREASURE Epilogue: Action to Answer)

“Inception” and “THANXX” (from ZERO: Fever Part.1)

“Fireworks (I’m The One)” (from ZERO: Fever Part.2)

“Deja Vu” and “Eternal Sunshine” (from ZERO: Fever Part.3)

“Turbulence” and “The Real” (from ZERO: Fever Epilogue)

“Guerrilla” (from The World EP.1: MOVEMENT)

“HALAZIA” (from Spin Off: From the Witness)

“BOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS)” (from The World EP.2: OUTLAW)

“Crazy Form” (from The World EP.Fin: WILL)

“Work” (from Golden Hour: Part.1)

“Ice On My Teeth” (from Golden Hour: Part.2)

“Lemon Drop” (from Golden Hour: Part.3)

And most recently, “In Your Fantasy” (from Golden Hour: Part.3 ‘In Your Fantasy Edition’)

We hope you found this guide to be helpful if you’re a new fan of ATEEZ, and if you’re already an ATINY, hopefully you still managed to learn something new about our beloved K-Pop group!