SEVENTEEN Profile: A-List Group Dominating the Global Stage with Unstoppable Success (2025 Updated)

About

SEVENTEEN (Korean: 세븐틴) is a 13-member boy group under Pledis Entertainment. They officially debuted on May 26, 2015 with the mini album “17 Carat.” The group consists of thirteen members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. Throughout their career, they have reached a large audience and grown into an internationally recognized K-pop group with signature music and performances.

SEVENTEEN’s name comes from “13 members + 3 teams + 1 group,” representing their division into three teams that form a unified group. Initially, it referred to the 17 members planned for debut, including four former trainees. Their official fan club, “Carat,” named after the diamond measurement unit, was announced on February 14, 2016, symbolizing their debut EP “17 Carat” and its song “Shining Diamond.”

Biography

• Group name: SEVENTEEN (세븐틴)
• Debut date: May 26, 2015 (Korea)/May 30, 2018 (Japan)
• Company: Pledis Entertainment (Label: HYBE LABELS)
• Number of members: 13
• Members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, Dino
• Official color: Rose Quartz, Serenity
• Fandom name: CARAT (캐럿)
• Lightstick: CARAT BONG

Official SNS (Korean)

• YouTube: SEVENTEEN (Korea)/ SEVENTEEN Japan official Youtube (Japan)
• X (formerly Twitter): @세븐틴(SEVENTEEN) (Korea)/ SEVENTEEN Japan (Japan)
• Instagram: @saythename_17
• TikTok: @seventeen17_official
• Website: Korea / Japan

Career

Pre-debut

SEVENTEEN’s official beginnings trace back to 2013 when they began appearing in live broadcasts on the online streaming platform UStream. Through “SEVENTEEN TV”, the group showcased their pre-debut journey, including training sessions, rehearsals, and the preparations for their first performances. The series played a crucial role in introducing the trainees to fans, offering an intimate look into their development as performers. Later, in 2015, SEVENTEEN appeared on “SEVENTEEN Project: Big Debut Plan”, a reality television show aired on MBC. This show was a pivotal moment in their career, culminating in their highly anticipated debut.

2015 – 2016: Debut with “17 Carat”, First Win, and “Love & Letter”

SEVENTEEN officially debuted on May 26, 2015, through a live showcase broadcast by MBC, marking a groundbreaking moment as they became the first male K-pop group to debut with such a major live TV event. Just days later, their first EP “17 Carat” was released. This EP made history by becoming the longest-charting K-pop album of 2015 in the United States, solidifying SEVENTEEN’s place in the global music scene. Their follow-up EP “Boys Be,” released in September 2015, topped the charts and became the highest-selling rookie album of the year.

In 2016, SEVENTEEN released their first studio album “Love & Letter,” which earned them their first-ever win on a domestic music show with the hit song “Pretty U.” The album’s success was followed by a re-release with the title track “Very Nice” and an extensive concert tour titled “Shining Diamonds”, where the group performed across multiple countries. Their journey continued with the release of “Going SEVENTEEN” later that year, continuing to build their presence.

2017 – 2018: “Al1”, First World Tour, and “Teen, Age”

SEVENTEEN reached new milestones in 2017, starting with their “Al1” album, which marked a new musical direction with the hit single “Don’t Wanna Cry.” The track quickly became a fan favorite, and its music video became SEVENTEEN’s first to reach 200 million views on YouTube. The group also embarked on their first world tour, “Diamond Edge”, traveling across Asia and North America, further increasing their global fanbase. In 2017, SEVENTEEN also released “Teen, Age,” which was followed by a special album “Director’s Cut” in early 2018. The group’s success during this time cemented their status as one of the top K-pop groups, with Time magazine even recognizing them as one of the best K-pop groups to know in 2018.

2018 – 2020: Japanese Debut, Further Korean Releases, “An Ode,” and Second World Tour

In 2018, SEVENTEEN made their official debut in Japan, releasing their first Japanese EP “We Make You.” This debut was followed by their fifth Korean EP “You Make My Day,” which became their first album to be certified platinum in South Korea. In 2019, the group released ‘You Made My Dawn’, which included the successful lead single “Home” that won multiple music show trophies. Later that year, they released their first Japanese single album, “Happy Ending,” which peaked at number one on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart.

SEVENTEEN’s second world tour, “Ode To You”, commenced in 2019, visiting multiple cities across Asia, North America, and Europe. Unfortunately, the last leg of the tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this didn’t stop the group from releasing “An Ode” in September 2019. The album’s success was undeniable, as it sold over 700,000 copies in its first week and earned the group their first Daesang at the 2020 MAMA for Album of the Year.

2020 – 2021: U.S. and Japanese Promotions, Contract Renewal, and “Power of Love” Project

In 2020, SEVENTEEN continued to break records. Their album “Heng:garæ” sold over one million copies within a week of its release, marking them as official “million sellers”. They also had immense success with their second Japanese EP “24H,” which went on to be certified platinum by the RIAJ. Their U.S. debut on “The Late Late Show with James Corden” further solidified their international presence. 2021 saw them release their eighth EP “Your Choice,” with lead single “Ready to Love,” followed by a successful “Power of Love” project that included the release of their second Japanese EP ’24H’ and the digital single “Bittersweet”.

2022: “Face the Sun” and the “Be the Sun” World Tour

In 2022, SEVENTEEN released “Face the Sun,” their fourth studio album, along with the lead single “Hot”. The album marked a new chapter in SEVENTEEN’s career, garnering both critical acclaim and commercial success. The group also embarked on their third world tour, “Be the Sun,” with shows in Seoul, North America, and Japan. The tour was a long-awaited return to live performances, and their Japanese fan meeting “Hanabi” in May 2022 was particularly significant, as it was their first offline event in Japan since 2019.

Their Japanese success continued with the release of “Sector 17,” the repackaged version of “Face the Sun,” followed by the single “World” featuring Anne-Marie. The year also saw SEVENTEEN’s first appearance at a major U.S. festival, the LA3C, cementing their international presence even further.

2023 – 2024: “FML,” Seventeenth Heaven, Follow Tour, and “17 Is Right Here”

In March 2023, SEVENTEEN announced the release of their tenth extended play ‘FML’, which broke records with over 4.6 million pre-orders, becoming the most pre-ordered album in K-pop history at the time. The album’s release on April 24 shattered records again, selling over 4.5 million copies in its first week. Later, in July 2023, SEVENTEEN’s ‘Follow’ tour began, which promised to be another global success.

In October 2023, Seventeen launched their 11th EP “Seventeenth Heaven,” which surpassed 5.2 million pre-orders, marking another record. The album’s lead single, “God of Music,” topped South Korea’s Circle Digital Chart, making it their first song to achieve this feat. They won Album of the Year at the 2023 MAMA Awards in November.

2024 – 2025: Right Here World Tour, New Releases, Military Enlistment

SEVENTEEN has continued to thrive. They announced their Right Here World Tour and a new Korean EP and Japanese single for later in the year.

They announced an encore leg of the Follow Tour, with additional performances in South Korea and Japan. On April 29, 2024, they released 17 Is Right Here, a compilation album celebrating their Korean-language releases. Seventeen also made history on June 28, 2024, by becoming the first K-pop act to perform at Glastonbury Festival. Their performance was met with critical acclaim, solidifying their global impact.

In August, Jeonghan began military enlistment, and Jun took a break for acting in China. They headlined Lollapalooza Berlin in September 2024 and released their 13th EP in October, featuring a collaboration with DJ Khaled. In November 2024, they made their US stadium debut and were honored by the LA City Council.

In 2025, they released “Encircled” in February and will perform at Mexico’s Pal Norte festival in April.

As they move forward, SEVENTEEN’s influence continues to grow, with the group pushing boundaries in both music and performance, reinforcing their position as one of the top K-pop groups in the world. Their unwavering dedication to music, their fans, and each other is what sets them apart, and their trajectory only promises more success in the future.

Controversies

Group’s Controversies

SEVENTEEN has faced several controversies throughout their career. In 2016, a media outlet reported that the group had thrown away letters from fans, which upset many fans. However, Pledis Entertainment denied the claims, stating that fan letters are carefully managed and stored safely. The article was later deleted after Pledis communicated with the media outlet, but it was re-uploaded with additional criticisms directed at Pledis. In 2017, a fan revealed post-it notes and voice messages from the members of SEVENTEEN, claiming that some of the responses were insincere and hurtful. Although Pledis initially reacted coldly, the situation became more complicated when the fan continued to release evidence, ultimately leading the fan to leave the fandom.

Also in 2017, the group faced plagiarism allegations when their song “Don’t Wanna Cry” was accused of being similar to “Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay. Pledis later acknowledged shared copyright with these artists to avoid legal disputes.

Furthermore, Chinese members The8 and Jun sparked controversy with political posts related to China’s territorial claims and the Hong Kong protests in 2018 and 2019. In 2024, the group faced backlash for using the Great Wall of China as a background in a promotional video, which some fans considered culturally insensitive, though Pledis quickly apologized.

Members’ Controversies

Throughout SEVENTEEN’s career, some members have been involved in significant controversies that affected the group’s image.

First, there was Jeonghan, who accidentally cursed during a V LIVE broadcast in 2020. After realizing his mistake, he quickly apologized and promised to be more careful in the future.

Joshua involved in dating rumors in 2023. Although there was no solid evidence, the situation sparked outrage among fans, especially after rumors about “deceiving fans” emerged.

Wonwoo faced criticism when he was discovered to have participated in a post that insulted Girls’ Generation when he was in middle school. He publicly apologized and took responsibility for his actions.

Another controversy involved DK, who was criticized for sitting in a reserved seat for pregnant women on a subway train in 2017, as well as being suspected of involvement in purchasing real estate through a “ghost” company in 2021.

Mingyu was part of the group that visited Itaewon restaurants during the social distancing period amid the COVID-19 outbreak, which drew criticism even though they did not visit the club where the COVID-19 outbreak occurred.

Facts About SEVENTEEN

• Hoshi is known as the “Tiger King” because of his obsession with tigers, even incorporating tiger imagery into his performances.
• Jeonghan is the group’s ultimate trickster, famous for playing pranks on the members, especially during variety shows.
• Jun is a huge anime fan and often references anime in his performances and daily life.
• Wonwoo is the group’s bookworm, known for his love of reading and frequently recommending books to fans.
• S.Coups is the emotional leader who often cries during heartfelt moments and writes letters to the members and fans.
• Joshua, nicknamed “Gentleman Joshua”, is fluent in English and often acts as the group’s translator during international interviews.
• DK has an incredibly loud laugh that often becomes the highlight of variety shows and behind-the-scenes content.
• Mingyu is the “golden retriever” of the group, known for his bright personality and love for cooking.
• The8 is a martial arts enthusiast and often incorporates his skills into SEVENTEEN’s performances.
• Seungkwan is the variety show king of SEVENTEEN, known for his quick wit and ability to make everyone laugh.
• Vernon is the group’s multilingual member, fluent in both English and Korean, and often helps with international promotions.
• Dino is the youngest member but is known for his incredible dance skills and often takes the lead in choreography.
• Woozi is the musical genius behind SEVENTEEN, producing and composing most of their songs.