How WOODZ Became A K-Pop Superstar On His Own Timeline

One of the most remarkable individual performers in the K-pop scene is truly a unique outlier, and it is his unwavering devotion that has empowered him to surpass all expectations. Multifaceted, constantly evolving, and possessing extraordinary resolve, the 29-year-old vocalist WOODZ (né Cho Seungyoun) enters this new phase following a breakthrough period sparked by the sudden resurgence of his 2023 track “DROWNING,” which concluded 2025 topping the South Korean music rankings.

His trajectory as a soloist is entirely unprecedented for someone who spent time in not just one, but two idol ensembles before deciding to strike out on his own—and he has successfully navigated every stage of his career according to his own vision.

“DROWNING” found a second wind thanks to WOODZ’s viral performance on the domestic singing competition Immortal Songs. Two years after its debut, the track propelled WOODZ into the limelight, even though he was fulfilling his military obligation at the time, and he only truly reaped the rewards upon his transition back to civilian life last July.