Hyunjin of Stray Kids: the lead rapper, main dancer and best-looking member who wants to grow as a songwriter

Hyunjin wasn’t prepared to just serve as the “visual” – or best-looking member – of K-pop boy band Stray Kids. The group’s lead rapper and main dancer, he also dreams of becoming a musician who excels in singing and songwriting. Here’s a look at his life so far. His early life Hwang Hyun-jin was born in Seoul in March 2000. He enjoyed a wide range of sports as a youngster, including skiing, tennis and badminton, he said during an interview with XportsNews. His life as a trainee at the JYP Entertainment agency began with an unexpected grab on the wrist while on a shopping trip with his mother during middle school. “Who are you? Can I help you?” Hyunjin asked the man, who gave Hyunjin his business card and said he was from JYP. “I thought he was a swindler. I got suspicious,” Hyunjin said of the encounter during the variety show TMI News. “I found out he was telling the truth when I looked up his name on the internet.” Shownu of Monsta X: the muscular lead vocalist and main dancer Hyunjin said he arrived at JYP with no skills and had to train for two years. As a rookie, he was motivated by watching the senior trainees on stage and by the reactions of others as his dancing improved. His goal back then was to debut as a dancer and not the visual, Hyunjin said during an interview with fashion magazine Arena Homme. He then became one of nine JYP trainees to compete in their agency’s Stray Kids idol reality show, facing challenges set by J.Y. Park, JYP’s founder. After 10 episodes of challenges, the nine-piece Stray Kids outfit debuted in 2018 with the EP I Am Not. His role in Stray Kids Hyunjin is Stray Kids’ lead rapper and main dancer. As a budding musician, he has high expectations of himself. “I want to grow as a musician. We have 3RACHA, our production team, and I often share what I think about music with them,” he told Arena Homme. “I also work hard on writing lyrics and composing songs. I want to do well in whatever I do. There is so much I want to achieve.” Hyunjin’s influence has already grown significantly since the release of Stray Kids’ pre-debut mixtape and debut EP. Back then, Hyunjin was only credited as a co-writer for the song 4419 and focused mainly on his vocals. His skilful flow and strong delivery was already evident in early tracks such as Mirror and District 9 from I Am Not. But his versatility as a vocalist was highlighted in Insomnia, a track from the group’s second EP I Am Who – when he opened the number with a soft, soothing voice, he proved he wasn’t limited to rapping. His image The visual of Stray Kids, Hyunjin takes good care of his skin, which is known to be impeccable. He told XportsNews that he has sensitive skin and uses three types of cream, but checks the ingredients obsessively. He is also known for his thick brows and lips, and a mole under his left eye. In his free time, Hyunjin likes to watch television dramas such as Stranger Things. He is also a bookworm – when he is feeling down, he asks friends to recommend books to him. Reading always consoled him, Hyunjin said, and expressed surprise that books could be so powerful. In his own words Hyunjin has said he wants to become a stronger person as an idol. “I won’t be swayed by my environment and will try to walk my own path. I want to try hard to become a strong person,” he said during an episode of Stray Kids web series One Kid’s Room. And being stronger means being able to accept criticism and become more mature. “I try to accept feedback, even if it is hurtful. That’s because not everything I believe in is right. It’s my job to monitor myself and prevent clashes with others. I think I have become more mature than other people my age,” he said in the interview with Arena Homme. “If I wasn’t a celebrity, I think I would’ve just been a bright kid. My thoughts and concerns have become deeper while doing this job, and I think more before I speak.”