Jongho
Birth nameChoi Jong-ho
Birth dateOctober 12, 2000 (age 25)
Birth placeSeoul, South Korea
OccupationSinger · actor
Jongho
GenreK-pop · R&B
InstrumentVocals
Years active2018–present
LabelKQ Entertainment
Current member ofAteez
Jongho
Headercolortransparent
Hangul%최종호

Choi Jong-ho (; born October 12, 2000), known professionally as Jongho, is a South Korean singer and actor.[1] He debuted as the main vocalist of the boy group Ateez in 2018. Jongho has also released multiple Korean drama soundtracks, including "Gravity" for the drama Reborn Rich and "A Day" for the drama Lovely Runner.[2][3]

Outside of his music endeavors, Jongho made his acting debut in the 2021 KBS drama Imitation and contributed to multiple original soundtracks as a member of Shax, a fictional idol group in the series.[4]

Early life

Choi Jongho was born on October 12, 2000, in Nowon District, Seoul, South Korea. Jongho graduated from Noil Middle School and Surak High School. He is currently enrolled in Global Cyber University in the Department of Broadcasting and Entertainment.[1]

Career

2017: Pre-debut

In 2017, Jongho was introduced as one of the trainees from KQ Entertainment on the JTBC survival reality show Mix Nine. He was eliminated in the tenth episode with a final ranking of 43.[5]

He was then introduced as a member of the pre-debut group "KQ Fellaz" alongside seven others, all of whom are now part of the boy group Ateez.[6]

2018–present: Debut with Ateez

Main article: Ateez

On October 24, 2018, Jongho officially debuted as the main vocalist of KQ Entertainment's first boy group Ateez with the debut EP Treasure EP.1: All to Zero.[7] Under the group's name, Jongho has performed two solo songs, "Everything", which he co-wrote as a part of Ateez fourth studio album The World EP.Fin: Will,[8] and "To be your light" from the album Golden Hour: Part.3 'In Your Fantasy Edition'.[9]

2020–present: Solo activities and actor debut

From May 2020 to May 2022, Jongho released covers of Korean drama original soundtracks under the project name "JJongST" (Korean: 쫑ST). The music videos accompanying the covers feature Jongho visiting and singing at the location where the respective dramas are shot.[10] Other than JJongST, Jongho also released other covers including "Wild Flower" by Park Hyo-shin,[11] "Ditto" by NewJeans with Maddox,[12] "Dear Name" by IU with Ateez's San,[13] and "Tell Me That You Love Me" by James Smith.[14]

In 2021, Jongho debuted as an actor in the KBS2 drama Imitation with the role Hyuk, the youngest member of a fictional group Shax.[4] In August 2022, Jongho participated in the contest to crown 184th Generation Mask King in the show King of Mask Singer with the stage name "Steamed Cypresses".[15] In September 2022, Jongho released the soundtrack "A Fairy Tale of Youth" for the reality show Young Actors' Retreat.[16] In the same year, he released the soundtrack titled "Gravity" for the drama Reborn Rich.[2]

In February 2023, Jongho released the soundtrack for the historical drama Our Blooming Youth titled "Wind".[17] In May 2023, Jongho took part in Immortal Songs: Singing the Legend and performed the song "So You" by Yarn.[18] In June, he returned to the show with the song "Things to do Tomorrow" by Sung Si-kyung.[19] In May 2024, Jongho released the soundtrack "A Day" for the drama Lovely Runner.[3]

From November 2024 to January 2025, Jongho appeared on KBS2 Moving Voices in Munich, Germany alongside Hongjoong, Bae Suzy, Henry Lau, Sunwoo Jung-a, and Sohyang.[20] On December 14, 2024, Jongho collaborated with STAYC's Sieun for a duet performance of "When It Snows" by Lee Mu-jin for the 2024 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan.[21] On April 7, 2025, Kwon Soon-kwan of the South Korean indie band No Reply released the digital single "Our Memories" (Korean: 우리의 기억) featuring Jongho.[22]

In August 2025, Jongho released the soundtrack "Just like the First Time" (Korean: 처음 그대로) for the drama The Nice Guy.[23] In October 2025, Jongho appeared in KBS2 The Seasons to perform "Good Day" by IU and "Because you're my woman" by Lee Seung-gi.[24]

In December 2025, Jongho released the music video for his solo song "To Be Your Light".[25]

Personal life

On August 26, 2023, KQ entertainment announced that Jongho would suspend his activities to undergo surgery and rehabilitation for his meniscus rupture.[26] On October 12, 2023, it was announced that Jongho would be returning from his hiatus and joining the rest of Ateez for "M Countdown in France" on October 15, avoiding intense choreography and performing while sitting or standing.[27]

Outside of his music career, Jongho is an avid baseball enthusiast, often expressing his support for the Doosan Bears.[28] On August 27, 2025, Jongho was invited to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Doosan Bears game.[29][30]

Discography

For Jongho's work with ATEEZ, see Ateez discography.
TitleYearAlbum
"우리의 기억 (Our Memories)"
(Kwon Soon-kwan featuring Jongho)		2025

Soundtrack appearances

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
KOR
[31]
"Malo"
(as Hyuk of Shax)		2021—Imitation OST
"Amen"
(as Hyuk of Shax)		—
"Trouble Maker"
(as Hyuk of Shax)		—
"A Fairy Tale of Youth"2022—Young Actors' Retreat OST
"Gravity"—[A]Reborn Rich OST
"Wind"2023—Our Blooming Youth OST
"A Day"2024133Lovely Runner OST
"Just like the First Time"2025—The Nice Guy OST

Filmography

For Jongho's filmography with ATEEZ, see Ateez#Filmography.

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2021ImitationHyuk[32]

Television shows

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2017–2018Mix NineContestantRanked 43rd overall (Male category)[5]
2022King of Mask SingerEpisode 369; Participated as "Steamed Cypresses"[15]
2023Immortal Songs: Singing the LegendEpisode 606[18]
2024Episode 662[19]
2024–2025Moving VoicesCastEpisode 6-10; In Germany[33]

Composition credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[34]

YearArtistSongAlbumLyricsMusic
2018Ateez"From"
2023Jongho"Everything"The World EP.Fin: Will
2025Jongho"To be your light" Golden Hour: Part.3 'In Your Fantasy Edition'

Accolades

For Jongho's accolades with Ateez, see Ateez#Awards and nominations.

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremonyYearCategoryNominee(s)/work(s)ResultRef.
APAN Star Awardsstyle="text-align:center|2023Best Original Soundtrack"Wind"[35]
style="text-align:center|2025"Just like the First Time"[36]
Korea Grand Music Awardsstyle="text-align:center|2024Best O.S.T"A Day"[citation needed]
Newsis K-Expostyle="text-align:center|2025OST Division[37]
Seoul Music Awardsstyle="text-align:center|2025OST Award[38]

Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement
PublisherYearListiclePlacementRef.
Forbes Korea2024The Best OST Singer1[39]
Billboard2025The 2025 Billboard K-Pop Artist 10054[40]

Notes

  1. ^ "Gravity" did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but debuted at number 98 on the component Download Chart.[41]

References

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