The sky, they say, is big enough for everyone to fly without crashing and this has proven to be true in different industries, including the Korean pop industry where among the multitude of bands and idol groups, the boy band iKON stands out. The group debuted under the entertainment group YG in 2015 after passing two different determining stages in the previous years. They were first introduced in 2013 as contestants in the survival program, WIN: Who is Next, where trainees contest against other trainees for the chance to debut that year. Their group lost and only three of them were confirmed members, the others tried again the following year in the follow-up program Mix & Match and won. This article brings you information such as the iKON Members Profile, the reason their leader BI left, and some facts about the group, keep reading.
iKON Members Profile
At the time the group debuted, there were seven members including BI, but since his departure, they are now only 6 members, including Jay, Ju-ne, Chan, Song, DK, and Bobby. Find out more about them below.
Jay
Formerly known on stage as Jinhwan, Jay was born as Kim Jin Hwan in Jeju-do, South Korea on February 7, 1994. He is the group’s lead vocalist and dancer, he speaks fluent Japanese and plays the guitar. He enjoys swimming and has been compared to the South Korean singer, Taeyang.
Ju-ne
Previously known by the stage name, Junhoe, Ju-ne, who is the main vocalist and dancer in the group, was born on March 31, 1997, as Koo Jun Hoe. He appeared in the first season of K-pop Star before he joined YG entertainment in 2012. He is a flexible dancer and an ardent fan of Michael Jackson. He also speaks fluent Japanese, is skilled with Nunchuks and is currently taking Jiu-Jitsu lessons.
Chan
Jung Chan Woo was born in Yongin, South Korea on January 26, 1998, and previously went by the stage name Chanwoo. He is a vocalist and the youngest member of the iKON group. He was signed under the entertainment companies Kids Planet (2005-2010) and Fantagio (2010-2014). He also appeared in the Korean Drama shows, Boys over Flowers and The Heirs, as the younger version of actor Lee Min Ho’s character. He also speaks fluent English.
Song
Seoul-born Song Yoon Hyung (born 8 February 1995) used to go by the stage name Yunhyeong. He serves as the center, visual, and lead vocalist in the group. He enjoys cooking, cycling, and making scented candles. He was initially interested in acting before he opted for vocal training instead. He is a fan of Justin Timberlake.
DK
Known before now as Donghyuk, DK’s full name is Kim Dong Hyuk. He was born on January 3, 1997, and is the main dancer and vocalist in the group. He was the winner of the March 2012 JYP Trainee Search and he joined YG Entertainment in November of the same year. DK likes Fashion and he also speaks English.
Bobby
Born Kim Ji Won in Seoul on December 21, 1995, Bobby was raised in Virginia, the United States so he speaks English. He is the face of the iKon, their main rapper as well as a vocalist. Bobby also plays the piano, drums, and guitar.
He won season 3 of Show Me the Money, appeared alongside other iKon members – B.I and Jay in the music video of Taeyang’s song Ringa Linga, and also appeared in the music video of I’m Different by South Korean Duo, Hi Suhyun.
The Reason BI Left The Group
Born Kim Han Bin on 22 October 1996 in Seoul, B.I was the Lead Rapper, vocalist, dancer, songwriter, and overall leader of iKON until he announced his departure from the group via Instagram on June 12, 2019.
He had to leave because text messages of him trying to buy illegal drugs (Marijuana and LSD) sometime in 2016 were reported by Dispatch. He also allegedly evaded police arrest and as a result of this scandal, his contract with YG had to end.
Facts About iKON
1. iKON’s single, Love Scenario is the first song to remain at No. 1 on the Gaon weekly chart for six consecutive weeks, making them the first artist to ever achieve this.
2. Genie Music named iKON the No. 1 artist for the first half of 2018 because their songs remained at the top of the daily music charts for over a month.
3. The group has gone on seven different tours including their most recent world tour they called ‘Continue Tour’ after their second studio album, Return. The tour which started in Seoul on August 18, 2018, ended in the same place in January 2019. They visited 9 countries including Australia.
4. iKON has been nominated for over 60 awards, more than half of which they have won.
5. In 2015, they were recognized by Billboard as the Top 5 artists (K-pop) to watch before they even debuted.
