Hongjoong: ATEEZ Captain, Rapper, Songwriter, and Fashion Icon

Hongjoong is a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, composer, and the captain of the K-pop group ATEEZ. Born Kim Hong Joong on November 7, 1998, in Anyang, Gyeonggi-do, he has developed from a KQ Entertainment trainee into one of the most recognizable members of ATEEZ. The group officially debuted on October 24, 2018, and Hongjoong has played an important role not only in its performances but also in its songwriting and creative identity.

Beyond music, his profile has expanded into fashion. His appearances at Paris Fashion Week, relationship with Balmain, and interest in clothing have established another dimension to his public career. This article explores his biography, ATEEZ journey, creative work, leadership, fashion influence, and the facts fans most commonly search for.

Who Is Hongjoong? A Short Biography

The official ATEEZ Japan profile confirms his November 7, 1998 birth date, while biographical sources identify Anyang as his birthplace and Global Cyber University as part of his educational background.

Hongjoong’s Early Life and Path to ATEEZ

Growing Up in Anyang

Kim Hong Joong was born in Anyang, a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Long before becoming an internationally recognized K-pop performer, he developed an interest in music and began experimenting with songwriting. His early creative interests eventually became an important part of his identity as an artist.

Rather than being known solely for performing songs written by others, he developed a reputation for participating in the creative process. That distinction became increasingly significant after ATEEZ debuted because songwriting and composition would become recurring parts of his career.

Training Under KQ Entertainment

Hongjoong joined KQ Entertainment as a trainee before ATEEZ was formally established. He was part of the company’s pre-debut trainee team known as KQ Fellaz, which eventually developed into the group now known worldwide as ATEEZ.

His pre-debut period also included an appearance on the survival program MIXNINE in 2017. He passed the audition process and ultimately finished the competition in 42nd place. Although the show did not directly lead to his debut, it became an early public chapter in his career.

Education and Musical Development

Hongjoong studied at Global Cyber University, where his academic background has been associated with entertainment and media. His development as a performer involved more than vocal and dance training. Songwriting, composition, stage presentation, and creative direction became important components of his professional growth.

That combination helps explain why his role within ATEEZ extends beyond being a performer. He has consistently been associated with writing and composition credits, giving him a meaningful connection to the group’s music rather than limiting his contribution to the stage.

Hongjoong’s ATEEZ Career and Leadership

Debut With ATEEZ

ATEEZ debuted on October 24, 2018, with the mini album TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero. The group’s debut tracks included “Pirate King” and “Treasure,” establishing the adventurous aesthetic that would become closely associated with ATEEZ.

Hongjoong emerged as the group’s captain and main rapper. The word “captain” is particularly fitting within ATEEZ’s pirate-inspired creative universe, but his leadership role is more than a concept attached to the group’s branding. Over the years, his position has become one of the defining characteristics of ATEEZ’s identity.

Why He Is Called ATEEZ’s Captain

Unlike a simple title, the term “captain” reflects the way Hongjoong is positioned within the group. He serves as a representative figure while also participating in the creative and performance aspects of ATEEZ.

His leadership is particularly visible during interviews, performances, award-show appearances, and group activities. His role also fits naturally into ATEEZ’s broader narrative, which frequently incorporates imagery of exploration, adventure, and a crew moving toward a shared destination.

His Role as a Rapper and Songwriter

One of the strongest aspects of his career is his involvement in songwriting. Hongjoong has received writing credits on numerous ATEEZ recordings and has also participated in composition and arrangement on selected tracks.

Songs associated with his writing and composition credits include “Aurora,” “Sunrise,” “From,” “Horizon,” and other ATEEZ releases. These contributions demonstrate that his artistic role extends beyond delivering lines on stage. He has helped shape the musical material performed by the group.

Hongjoong’s Creative Identity Beyond Performing

A Songwriter With a Distinctive Role

For a K-pop idol, songwriting credits can provide a different perspective on an artist’s career. Hongjoong’s involvement in ATEEZ’s music has allowed him to contribute ideas at the writing and composition level, giving his performances an additional creative dimension.

This is especially relevant to understanding his evolution. His public identity is not based solely on choreography, styling, or stage charisma. His career has also developed around the process of creating music, which has remained a recurring theme throughout his time with ATEEZ.

A Strong Stage Presence

Hongjoong is also recognized for a commanding performance style. As the group’s captain and main rapper, he frequently occupies prominent moments in ATEEZ performances, where delivery, movement, facial expression, and visual storytelling work together.

That performance identity complements ATEEZ’s theatrical approach to K-pop. The group’s music often relies on dramatic concepts and elaborate choreography, giving him opportunities to combine rap with a highly visual stage persona.

Music and Fashion as Connected Forms of Expression

Hongjoong has spoken about fashion as a creative outlet and has developed a distinctive approach to personal styling. His wardrobe has moved between streetwear, tailoring, grunge-inspired looks, and more experimental pieces.

In a 2025 InStyle interview surrounding Paris Fashion Week, he described fashion as something that inspires his creativity and identified David Bowie as one of his style icons. His approach reflects the same emphasis on individuality that appears in his music and stage performances.

Hongjoong and the Fashion World

His Connection With Balmain

Fashion has become an increasingly visible part of his career. He attended Balmain’s Fall/Winter 2023 menswear presentation in Paris in March 2023, marking an important step in his fashion-week presence.

Later in 2023, he was named a Balmain ambassador and became associated with the nickname “Balmain Prince.” His appearances with the French fashion house helped establish him as more than a K-pop performer attending fashion events; he became part of a broader fashion conversation surrounding K-pop’s growing international influence.

Paris Fashion Week Appearances

His fashion-week schedule has included appearances connected with Balmain, Paul Smith, Jacquemus, and other major designers. In January 2025, he attended Paul Smith’s Fall/Winter menswear show in Paris wearing a coordinated green look with tailoring, a shirt, tie, loafers, and glasses.

The appearance highlighted the contrast that has become central to his style. He can move from edgy stagewear to polished tailoring without abandoning the individualistic aesthetic associated with him.

Why His Style Gets Attention

His fashion appeal comes partly from his willingness to experiment. Rather than following a single recognizable uniform, he changes silhouettes, accessories, hair, and styling according to the concept or occasion.

That flexibility is useful for an artist whose career crosses music and fashion. On stage, clothing contributes to character and storytelling. At fashion events, it becomes a way of engaging with designers and visual culture. Hongjoong has repeatedly treated both environments as opportunities for creative expression.

Hongjoong’s Influence and Career Beyond ATEEZ

A Global K-Pop Career

ATEEZ has grown from a 2018 debut group into an internationally recognized K-pop act, performing for audiences around the world and appearing at major international events. Hongjoong’s position as captain has placed him at the center of many of those public-facing moments.

His career demonstrates how the role of a K-pop group leader can extend beyond coordinating group activities. For him, leadership overlaps with songwriting, performance, interviews, fashion, and representing the group internationally.

An Artist With Multiple Creative Interests

Music remains central to his career, but fashion has become a significant secondary creative field. His interest in styling and design has been visible for years, and his work with fashion houses has strengthened that connection.

In 2025, Forbes reported on his fashion project Petit Coussin, describing it as an exploration of his personal relationship with clothing and design. The project further demonstrated that his creative interests are not restricted to music performance.

The Importance of Authenticity

A recurring theme in discussions of his style is authenticity. When speaking with InStyle, Hongjoong explained that he chooses clothing based on what feels authentic and comfortable to him rather than relying on a single fixed aesthetic.

That philosophy helps explain his appeal as a fashion figure. His image can change dramatically from one appearance to another, yet the underlying idea remains consistent: clothing is another form of personal expression.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hongjoong

Q: Who is Hongjoong?
A: Hongjoong is the stage name of Kim Hong Joong, a South Korean rapper, singer, songwriter, and composer. He is the captain and main rapper of ATEEZ, the K-pop group that debuted under KQ Entertainment in October 2018. He is also known for his songwriting contributions and growing presence in the international fashion world.

Q: How old is Hongjoong?
A: Hongjoong was born on November 7, 1998. As of August 2026, he is 27 years old. His official ATEEZ profile confirms his birth date.

Q: What is Hongjoong’s real name?
A: His real name is Kim Hong Joong, while Hongjoong is the stage name he uses professionally. He is commonly identified in Korean as 김홍중.

Q: What is Hongjoong’s role in ATEEZ?
A: Hongjoong is ATEEZ’s captain and main rapper. He is also involved in songwriting and composition, making his contribution to the group both performative and creative.

Q: Is Hongjoong involved in fashion?
A: Yes. He has attended major fashion events in Paris, including shows associated with Balmain and Paul Smith, and has developed a reputation for experimental personal styling. His fashion activities have become an important extension of his creative career.

Conclusion

Hongjoong’s career illustrates how a modern K-pop artist can develop far beyond the traditional boundaries of singing and performing. Since ATEEZ’s 2018 debut, he has established himself as the group’s captain and main rapper while contributing to its music through songwriting and composition. His creative interests have also taken him into international fashion, where his work with Balmain and appearances at Paris Fashion Week have added another dimension to his public identity.

At 27, he remains an active artist whose career combines music, leadership, performance, and fashion. For fans discovering ATEEZ or researching its captain, his story offers a useful example of how creative participation can shape an idol’s long-term identity.

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