Biography
Kim Sunwoo, better known as Sunwoo, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and member of the K-pop group The Boyz under IST Entertainment. Born on April 12, 2000, in Busan, South Korea, Sunwoo grew up in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. He attended Hanlim Multi Art School, majoring in Practical Music.
Sunwoo debuted with The Boyz on December 6, 2017, as the group’s main rapper and vocalist. Known for his charismatic stage presence and versatile rap skills, he has contributed to the group’s success with hit songs like “No Air,” “Reveal,” and “The Stealer.” Sunwoo has also showcased his songwriting abilities, participating in the creation of several tracks for The Boyz.
Outside of music, Sunwoo is admired for his witty personality and love for sports, particularly soccer. Despite facing challenges and controversies during his career, Sunwoo remains a beloved member of The Boyz, earning praise for his talent and dedication to his craft.
Profile
- Stage name: Sunwoo (선우)
- Birth name: Kim Sunwoo (김선우)
- Birth date: April 12, 2000
- Birth place: Seoul, South Korea
- Position: Main Rapper, Vocalist
- Height: 177 cm (5’10)
- Weight: 64 kg (141 lbs)
- Blood type: B
Pre-Debut
Before his debut with The Boyz, Sunwoo showcased his talents and charisma through various pre-debut activities. In 2017, he participated in the Mnet show High School Rapper, where he initially gained attention for his impressive rap skills. Although he was eliminated in the Gangdong preliminary round, his performance still stood out due to his looks, lively personality, and unexpected charm.
Sunwoo’s rap abilities were further highlighted when he made it to the regional representative selection, impressing even the judges like Swings with his performance. Despite only learning rap for a few months, having switched positions from vocalist to rapper, Sunwoo’s potential as a rapper was clear. He also engaged fans with various Trainee Paparazzi videos, which included impromptu live duets and fun moments with fellow trainees like New. His involvement in these pre-debut activities helped establish his strong presence within the group, even before his official debut.
Career
- December 6, 2017: Debuted as a The Boyz member with the lead single “Boy” from their debut EP The First.
- January 5, 2018: Participated in filming “말이 없다” for MOMO X channel and served as a special MC for SBS MTV’s “THE SHOW” episode 147.
- July 12, 2018: Served as a special MC for “M Countdown.”
- June 26 – July 17, 2018: Fixed member on the show “My Mathematics Puberty” (나의 수학 사춘기).
- November 24 & December 7, 2018: Participated in “Game Dolympic 2018 – Battleground.”
- December 10, 2018: Attended the 2018 MAMA PREMIERE in KOREA awards ceremony.
- July 29, 2020: Covered the song “100 Degrees” by Rich Brian.
Dating News/Rumors
In September, 2024, an online post claiming a romantic relationship between ITZY’s Yeji and THE BOYZ’s Sunwoo has sparked discussion, though it offers little evidence. The post mainly points to their shared interest in a popular Korean character, with Yeji’s playful Bubble message about buying related merchandise and Sunwoo’s visits to the character’s store, events that occurred months apart. The author also speculates that Stray Kids’ Hyunjin may have connected the two idols. However, netizens quickly dismissed the post, criticizing the lack of credibility and threatening to report it.
Controversies
- Fans asked to kick out Sunwoo
In 2018, members Sunwoo and New were accused of making misogynistic comments, disrespecting fans, and behaving rudely toward other members. At the time, Cre.ker Entertainment issued a brief apology but failed to provide any explanation.- Accused of School Bullying
On February 22, 2021 a post by someone claiming to be a former classmate (referred to as A) accused Sunwoo (THE BOYZ) of inappropriate behavior during middle school. Allegations included offensive remarks, dating violence, and complicity in harassment. A also claimed Sunwoo smoked, drank alcohol, and frequently skipped classes. However, on the morning of February 23, Cre.ker Entertainment denied these accusations, stating that the claims in the now-deleted post were false. The company announced plans to take legal action against the spread of misinformation.- Controversy over smoking in non-smoking areas
On July 9, 2020, photos from The Boyz’s vacation were shared on their official Twitter account. Controversy erupted when one of the images showed Sunwoo smoking on the beach. While Sunwoo, at 20 years old in 2020, was of legal age to smoke, concerns were raised as the beach was a designated non-smoking area, making it a violation of public regulations. The following day, on July 10, Sunwoo issued an apology on The Boyz’s official fan cafe. On July 11, the agency also released a statement addressing the incident.- Harassed by sasaeng fans
On November 9, 2024, Sunwoo was harassed by a sasaeng fan at the group’s dormitory. The individual had hidden in the emergency stairwell and suddenly approached Sunwoo, causing him to feel threatened. Sunwoo, along with a staff member, detained the sasaeng fan until the police arrived. The incident was confirmed by IST Entertainment on November 14.
Facts
- He was born at Gangnam Severance Hospital and moved to Bundang-gu when he was two years old . In fact, Bundang is his hometown and place of origin.
- Hobbies and interests include football, guitar, lyricist, composition, etc. He has strong legs because he has played soccer in the past, and he himself is quite proud of his leg strength.
- Along with Hyunjae, he is a member with a sweaty constitution. Once they finish a stage, their whole body is covered with sweat and even their clothes are drenched.
- He is a member whose position in the dorm has changed a lot since before his debut. Before his debut, he shared the same room as Younghoon and Juyeon, but he used to sleep in the living room. When the dorm was divided into two, his roommate was Kevin. In the 1theK idol competition content released in 2022, it was revealed that all members currently use solitary confinement.
- When he was young, he was told that he would grow to 188 cm in a developmental test, but he did not do something acquired so he became his current height.
- He has a hobby of throwing mask packs on the wall and sticking them there. The members are all different, but he likes it so much that he does it more…
- He likes to wear hoodies.
- At first, he didn’t use Instagram because he felt embarrassed that people other than my fans would see it. To commemorate the 6th anniversary of their debut, the members’ personal Instagram accounts were opened, but Sunwoo is the only member who did not open a personal Instagram account and instead uses an official account. On March 14, 2024, Sunwoo’s personal Instagram was finally opened.
- According to the members, it was revealed that his mouth is very short.
