Members

Mark

Mark in 2015.

Mark (Korean: 마크) was born Mark Yi-en Tuan (Chinese: 段宜恩)[54] on September 4, 1993 (age 23)[55] in Los Angeles, United States. He is the oldest member of the group and is of Taiwanese descent.[56] In 2010, after getting cast by JYP Entertainment in the U.S., Mark moved to Korea for training.[57][58] His first pre-debut appearance was on an episode of Mnet's reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next, which aired on September 6, 2013. Mark, alongside Jackson, BamBam and Yugyeom, competed against trainees from YG Entertainment.[3]

JB

JB in 2015.

JB (Korean: 제이비)[54][55] was born Im Jae-bum (Korean: 임재범) on January 6, 1994 (age 23)[55] and is the leader of the group.[59] He passed JYP Entertainment's local auditions in 2009[60] and debuted together with Jinyoung as the duo JJ Project in 2012.[57][58] They both made their small-screen debut through the drama series Dream High 2.[61] He also appeared in MBC's drama When a Man Falls in Love.[62]

Jackson

Jackson in 2015.

Jackson (Korean: 잭슨)[54] was born Jackson Wang Ka-yee (Chinese: 王嘉爾,王嘉尔) on March 28, 1994 (age 23)[55] in Hong Kong.[56] He is a former representative of Hong Kong's national fencing team, earning two gold medals at the Asian Junior Olympics in Thailand in 2011. He claimed that earning a gold medal was one of his parents' requirements for allowing him to train in Korea. His father became a gold medalist in fencing in 1986, while his mother was a Chinese national gymnastics member.[57][58] His first pre-debut appearance was in an episode of Mnet's reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next with Mark, BamBam, and Yugyeom.[3] Shortly after debut, Jackson became a variety star in South Korea due to his appearance on the SBS reality series Roommate, for which he was awarded the Newcomer Award at the 2014 SBS Entertainment Awards.[63] From May to August 2015, Jackson was a regular MC for SBS's music show Inkigayo.[64] In December 2015, Jackson made his Chinese television debut as one of the presenters of the talk show Go Fridge, and was well received.[65][66] In December 2016 he appeared in his first solo commercial for Midea fridge in China.

Jinyoung

Jinyoung on 19 May 2016.

Jinyoung (Korean: 진영) was born Park Jin-young (Korean: 박진영)[54] on September 22, 1994 (age 22).[55] He passed JYP Entertainment's local auditions in 2009 and made his acting debut in 2011, playing the role of Jung Ui-bong in the television drama Dream High 2 in 2011.[61] In 2012, Jinyoung debuted as a member of JJ Project with JB.[60][57][58] The duo also made appearances on the MBC television drama When a Man Falls in Love in 2013.[62] Jinyoung is the most prominent actor in the group, having played roles in Beloved Eun-dong[67] and The Legend of the Blue Sea.[68] In 2016, he made his big screen debut in the movie A Stray Goat.[69][70]Jinyoung and BamBam were made permanent hosts for Mnet's M! Countdown alongside Key of SHINee from March 2015 to March 2016.[71][72] Jinyoung originally debuted with the stage name Jr., since he shares the same name as JYP Entertainment's founder and CEO.[55] On May 5, 2015, he changed his stage name to Junior due to the confusion of fans and media about the correct pronunciation of Jr.[73] On August 16, 2016, he changed it again to his given name, Jinyoung.[74] On February 1, 2017, SBS announced that he had been chosen, with NCT's Doyoung and Black Pink's Jisoo, as the new fixed MCs of SBS Inkigayo.[75]

Youngjae

Youngjae, on October 7, 2016.

Youngjae (Korean: 영재) was born Choi Young-jae (Korean: 최영재)[76] on September 17, 1996 (age 20).[55] In 2013, he became a trainee under JYP Entertainment after passing an audition at his music school in Mokpo.[57] Youngjae cited Elliot Yamin, Sanjoy, and Javier Colon as three of his musical influences, auditioning with Elliott's songs.[77] He was a trainee for just seven months and was the last member added to the group.[5]

BamBam

Bambam in 2015.

BamBam (Korean: 뱀뱀; Thai: แบมแบม) was born Kunpimook Bhuwakul (Thai: กันต์พิมุกต์ ภูวกุล) on May 2, 1997 (age 20)[55] in Bangkok, Thailand.[58] BamBam started training in Korea at a very young age[57] and, as a child, he was part of the dance crew "We Zaa Cool" alongside Blackpink's Lisa.[78] He made his first TV appearance in an episode of Mnet's reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next alongside Jackson, Mark and Yugyeom.[3] In 2016, BamBam and Jackson appeared on the South Korean variety show Real Men for a special season with the theme of "Enlisting Together".[79] BamBam and Jinyoung were made permanent hosts for Mnet's M! Countdown alongside Key of SHINee from March 2015 to March 2016.[71][72]

Yugyeom

Yugyeom on 27 October 2016.

Yugyeom (Korean: 유겸) was born Kim Yu-gyeom (Korean: 김유겸)[76] on November 17, 1997 (age 19).[55] He is the youngest member of the group, and is known for his street dancing.[80] Yugyeom enrolled in dance school in seventh grade, which led him to the opportunity to audition for JYP.[57] He made his first pre-debut appearance in an episode of Mnet's reality-survival program WIN: Who Is Next alongside Jackson, Mark and BamBam, which aired on September 6, 2013.[3] In 2016, Yugyeom joined Mnet's dance survival contest Hit the Stage and was placed first in the final episode.[81]