Yeonjun of Tomorrow X Together: the instant K-pop idol who expresses his creativity through dance

In the K-pop industry, very few artists can say they became an instant star. But for Yeonjun from new boy band Tomorrow X Together, it’s true.

When K-pop Big Hit Entertainment last year announced TXT as its first new boy band since introducing superstars BTS several years before, all eyes were on Yeonjun as the first member of the group to be revealed.

The video that introduced him scored one million views in less than 24 hours on YouTube, while his name became the top trending topic on Twitter worldwide in just 10 minutes.

Since then, the rapper-singer-dancer has made good on his promise, leaving little doubt that he’s on his way to becoming a true superstar. Learn more about Yeonjun’s life and career so far.

His early life

He was born Choi Yeon-jun on September 13, 1999, in the Bundang district of Seongnam, a major city in Gyeonggi province. While he has spent most of his life in South Korea, Yeonjun and his family lived in America for two years during the future star’s junior school years, giving him a chance to learn English. While young, Yeonjun was drawn to dance and found his passion in his high-school dance team.

While he also spent time training and auditioning with other agencies, Yeonjun found his home at Big Hit Entertainment after he made an impression with a performance of BTS’ Boys in Luv.,

Yeonjun spent four to five years in training, longer than his band members. While he has said the extended period was difficult, Yeonjun earned a reputation as a top trainee – consistently scoring the highest marks during monthly evaluations which earned him an unofficial nickname as the “legendary trainee” of Big Hit Entertainment among fans.

His role in Tomorrow X Together

Yeonjun is known for being a leader when it comes to the group’s raps and dances, and also contributes as a vocalist. While he does not have any official writing credits for any of TXT’s music yet, he writes lyrics to express his emotions, and is expected to play a role in writing TXT lyrics in the future.

Yeonjun is also the oldest member of the group. While he is not the leader – that role officially belongs to Soobin, who is a year younger – Yeonjun acts as an older brother figure by frequently praising the different ways the other members contribute to the group and noting how they’ve grown.

Thanks to his time spent in America, Yeonjun tends to take a lead when it comes to speaking English or reaching out to foreign fans on broadcasts, interviews or social media. During TXT’s appearance on the variety show We K-Pop, one of the hosts asked if he studied abroad because his diction was so natural.

His image

A year after his debut, Yeonjun is becoming known for having the stage presence of a seasoned K-pop performer. More specifically, Yeonjun’s facial expressions are becoming noticed by viewers – his smiles range from mischievous to serious to adorable.

Yeonjun’s captivating presence has earned him comparisons to BTS’ equally alluring V – who is also known for his ability to tell a larger story with his performances. Many fans are convinced that Yeonjun will become an “It Boy” in South Korea in the future.

In his own words

Yeonjun is always quick to point out that he and his fellow TXT members are on a journey together.

“When I met the other members who have the same dream as me, I felt that I wasn’t alone,” he said during TXT’s debut showcase when meeting the media for the first time in Seoul.

And while he’s shown he can excel in lyric writing, singing and other ventures within the group, Yeonjun shines most while dancing.

“I’m most creative when I dance, because I can do whatever I want,” he told MTV in 2019. “I can express my feelings and emotions through dance … I will dance any time there is good music.”

Yeonjun says his favourite song from Tomorrow X Together’s sophomore album The Dream Chapter: Magic is New Rules because he likes to feel “free” and can relate to the lyrics. He told BuzzFeed that “sometimes, I want to be able to make my own rules”, indicating we may see this future It Boy extend his influence beyond the stage.