Members of Ateez discuss menswear, personal style and what it means to be a gentleman
One of the perks of having a younger, cooler sister is that she keeps you hip to the latest and greatest in all things pop culture: music, TV, movies—and men. When she first showed me Korean band ATEEZ, it was an easy sell. Of course, I noticed their otherworldly good looks and their music that is that perfect blend of being catchy without feeling facile. Even our parents have come to enjoy the group, including our dad, a rock radio veteran. The same can be said of the octet’s dress sense.
At face value, ATEEZ is a K-Pop band composed of eight members: Kim Hongjoong, the group’s captain, Park Seongwha, Jeong Yunho, Kang Yeosang, Choi San, Song Mingi, Jung Wooyoung, and Choi Jongho. But scratch the surface even a little and you’ll find a group of young artists making music that straddles pop, hip hop, alternative, R&B, and rock with a seemingly religious commitment to precision, creative ingenuity, and ever-evolving style. Their 11th mini album, Golden Hour Part. 2, was released last week on the heels of a banner year for the group which earned the esteem of being the first male K-Pop group to perform at Coachella.
Over the last few years, I’ve taken in a decent amount of ATEEZ’s content. Their music, of course, but also their YouTube and social media channels which are kept brimming with a near constant stream of material which keeps their millions of fans worldwide sated. And as an astute observer of all things menswear, I also clocked almost instantly there was something singular going on here: an approach to dressing that feels both timeless and fresh, strapping and masculine with a whimsical, creative edge. Their stage looks are nothing short of theatrical but they each retain a meticulously curated style off-stage, whether they’re out and about on a day off or at the airport. It’s a care and thoughtfulness that seems also reflected in how they carry themselves. It’s an irresistible duality.
So it’s no surprise that whether you’re at the world’s biggest music festivals or European fashion shows, the name on everyone’s lips is: ATEEZ.
Fashion’s new it-boys
As ATEEZ’s profile grew in the music world, so too did their status in the world of high fashion and over the last few years members have increasingly become fixtures at top fashion week shows. This year alone, HongJoong attended both Balmain (he’s been a regular on the Balmain circuit for some time) and Vivienne Westwood. Yunho stunned at Seoul fashion week in a draped, monochromatic menswear look. San attended not one but two Dolce & Gabbana shows, making his fashion show debut in a Florentine amour-style chest plate to a chorus of gasps heard around the world. Seonghwa stepped out at Isabel Marant in a drapey camel wrap dress from the brand’s women’s line, proving that clothing never really has a gender if you’re creative enough (and strikingly beautiful.) And Wooyoung stunned at Courreges in a denim co-ord that made him look like the sexy male lead in the newest futuristic epic.
“It was a truly special and grateful experience,” Seonghwa tells me. “Seeing the passion in the eyes of fashion enthusiasts made my heart race.” It’s a sentiment shared by both San and Wooyoung as well who couldn’t help but to gush about how thankful they were for the experience.
It’s also something the members see as directly correlated to their art as musicians. “It’s not just about being there as stars,” says Hongjoong who has racked up the most fashion show miles since the band’s inception some six years ago. “Meeting designers and various artists and exchanging opinions on fashion and style has been an inspiring experience.” Fashion is an essential part of being creative, “and expressing who I am,” he tells me. “My family was always interested in clothes and fashion from when I was young,” he says. “Even before debuting, I was convinced that fashion was as important and fun as the music I create.”
But you don’t have to catch the members at fashion week to bear witness to a premium display of menswear. Just peruse the members’ Instagram and you’ll find countless exemplary displays of taste be it a simple oversized button down and jeans styled just right on Yunho, or an edgy pair of distressed jeans on Mingi, or chunky silver jewelry on Wooyoung. It’s apparent that each member has an incredibly thoughtful and intentional sense of personal style.
“I like clean and dandy fashion,” Yunho tells me. “I would define my personal style as rockstar!” says Wooyoung, by contrast who says cologne is always the finishing touch on his day to day looks. “It’s all about bold choices, unique pieces, and a confident attitude.”
Jongho, the groups’ youngest member says while he has a solid style he likes, he’s also influenced by other members. “I think my favorite item has to be my watch,” he tells me. “It’s something I cherish and enjoy wearing the most.”
And in a world where casual is king and lax attitudes about fashion are the norm it’s glass-of-water-in-the-desert refreshing to see a group of young men who take such care in how they look, even when they’re not in the spotlight. “I like wearing shirts over my outfit when the weather is warm or cool,” says Yunho. “However, now that it’s getting colder, I’ll probably layer with jackets or outerwear that suits the fall season.” He says dressing well in his everyday life helps him feel his best when the cameras are on him. “If I put effort into my daily style it makes my appearance on the red carpet shine even more.”
Yeosang, who often sports head to toe Prada when the group arrives or departs at airports (a common gathering point for Korean media like Dispatch) says he even prioritises his style over comfort to “perfect the look.”
“I’m the type of person that tends to put a lot of thought into what I wear for specific events,” he tells me. “I like picking out outfits and deciding on my look for the day depending on how I feel.”
It’s clear too that the way the members dress is in constant communication with the music they make and their identity as artists. “We naturally think of the styling and choreography details while making the music,” says Mingi. “I think my music and style change depending on the images I want to express. Rather than being confined to one thing, it varies based on the situation and atmosphere.”
Masters of the female gaze
Their newest album reflects the way they’ve grown up since debuting, with songs that clearly reference the challenges of being young men in the pressure cooker of the K-Pop industry, as well as yearning, love. “This comeback explores various types of love,” says Hongjoong. “We’ve aimed to showcase something fresh. We’re presenting a more mature style concept through a genre we hadn’t previously ventured into.”
Mingi echoes that sentiment telling me, “For this album we focused on trying new styles and conveying messages we hadn’t before,” he says. “We wanted to capture the unique atmosphere that represents us being in our mid-20’s.”
Thematically, it’s reflected in the group’s visuals which are notorious for practically burning the retinas off the screaming girls in the crowds. “I really like the black and purple outfits we wore during the second part of our concert for Towards the Light,” Seonghwa tells me of the scant leather and velvet harness style outfit he wore on their most recent U.S. tour. It’s an outfit that I’m stillseeing viral edits of on TikTok months later.
The bottom line with ATEEZ is each member is objectively, physically stunning. You could put them on stage in black sweatpants and t-shirts and the internet would fawn (and it does.) What sets them apart, though, from any other exceptionally handsome young men is their astute understanding of the female gaze and their adept ability to cater naturally to it.
The group seems to genuinely revel in making their fans happy – to know that they’ve succeeded in delivering excitement to the millions of listeners they have around the world. “When I find a style that I think the fans will really like, I get so excited and I can’t wait to show them – the anticipation is really thrilling!” Seonghwa adds. “Personally I also feel a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when my ideas come together and result in something great. There’s a unique joy in seeing my vision align with the final look and knowing the fans will appreciate it makes the whole process even more rewarding.”
And simply put: there’s someone for everyone in ATEEZ. Seonghwa is the embodiment of the allure of men embracing androgynous style; San retains the striking good looks and classic taste of an old Hollywood icon; Yunho’s relaxed, easy style is often referred to by fans as the epitome of a ‘boyfriend’ aesthetic; Mingi’s sexy and ever changing aesthetic makes fans go feral; Wooyoung impish, edgy charm is irresistible; Yeosang’s ability to make runway fashion look right at home anywhere is one few could pull off; Hongjoong’s fearless embrace of fashion as art emanates from every outfit he wears; Jongho’s masculine charm complements complements the timeless refinement of his outfits.
Too often conversations about what women want are reductive; they’re about physical acumen, sexiness, or some other arbitrary marker of desire. But ATEEZ proves that there’s not one singular definition of the female gaze; not one objective ideal that needs to be upheld. Instead, they make an ironclad case for the real secret to stoking the female gaze: the value of good manners and good morals.
Manners matter
“Our actions and words can reflect respect and kindness, but the ways this can be conveyed is up to interpretation,” San tells me. “That being said, fashion and comfort is something that’s subjective and can differ for each person. I personally enjoy dressing well so I appreciate when the effort I’ve put in for the look is noticed as a positive and thoughtful gesture to others.”
While the group’s synchronized choreography, impeccable vocals, and delectable visuals are certainly a draw for fans, it’s also how the members act that sets them apart.
They’re known for expressing support for LGBTQ fans, and often engage in philanthropic efforts for causes like clean water and children’s charities; donating to families in need in their hometowns. Members have gone viral for small but meaningful gestures like helping staff carry heavy items when they’re not aware of being filmed, averting their eyes to respect female dancers positioned on stages above them, and reminding fans to eat well and be kind to themselves. Their videos go viral for making fans swoon as often as they do for showcasing their sense of humor. They’re as comfortable performing in leather pants with blindfolds and sculpted abs as they are crafting, cooking, and babysitting. And these values clearly extend to how they approach style. “Moving forward, if there are brands or designers whose values and styles align with mine,I would love to attend shows and engage in conversations without being bound by stereotypes,” Hongjoong tells me.
Over the course of our conversation, every single member expresses gratitude in some way—to each other, to their fans, for the success they’ve earned. They take nothing for granted. For a group of young men with a lethal stage presence, their private personas are marked by gentleness, always leading with manners, and respect. They exemplify the duality of man, each in their own unique way: the eternal magnetism of a man with a perfectly balanced measure of etiquette and masculine sensuality – and the understanding the two necessitate one another.
Dressing well is central to ATEEZ’s identity but it’s only one part of the equation that makes the members exemplary young men, in style, in art, and in life. Simply by being who they are, they provide a masterclass that men of all ages would be wise to mind. It’s an ethos perhaps best explained by San, who tells me: “I believe a gentleman is someone who possesses humility, understanding, and a well-grounded character.”
This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Getty
