Xiwoo (시우) is a South Korean singer and model under YR Entertainment. He is the leader of the boy group LUVX.
He made his solo debut on March 2, 2018, with the studio album Madness.
Early life[]
Xiwoo was born on February 14, 1992, in Seoul, South Korea, as the eldest of four brothers. Growing up in a bustling household, he often took on a leadership role, helping his parents with his younger siblings. His early interests leaned heavily toward the sciences. He had dreams of becoming an engineer, even excelling in subjects like mathematics and physics during his school years. His teachers often praised his logical thinking, and his father, a civil engineer, expected him to follow a similar career path.
However, Xiwoo’s mother, a former music teacher, saw a different potential in her son. From a young age, she encouraged him to pursue music, enrolling him in vocal classes when he was just 7 years old. Despite his love for problem-solving and designing, Xiwoo found himself captivated by music. His mother’s influence was crucial, often telling him, “Music will open doors that you don’t even know exist yet.” Though skeptical at first, Xiwoo grew to enjoy singing and performing, leading him to participate in local talent shows and school festivals.
At the age of 11, Xiwoo was scouted by an unknown entertainment agency during a school talent show where he performed a cover of a popular K-pop song. The experience was life-changing. Although Xiwoo still planned to pursue engineering, his fascination with the entertainment world began to grow. Over the next several years, he trained under four different agencies, each time facing the highs and lows that came with the uncertainty of the entertainment industry. His family’s support never wavered, though, even when Xiwoo questioned if he would ever debut.
The transition between agencies was often challenging, as some companies would close their trainee programs or shift focus away from debuting new groups. Despite the setbacks, Xiwoo's perseverance kept him going. His years of training were grueling—balancing schoolwork, family life, and his growing responsibilities as an older brother—but he continued to refine his skills, especially his vocals, which had become his passion.
Finally, at 23, after 12 long years of being a trainee, Xiwoo found a home at YR Entertainment. The agency, impressed by his hard work, discipline, and dedication, selected him to debut as a member of their boy group, LUVX.
Career[]
2015: Debut with LUVX[]
On October 2, 2015, Xiwoo was revealed to be a member of YR Entertainment's upcoming boy group, LUVX. On October 27, 2015, LUVX officially debuted with their first mini-album LUV INFINITE.
2018: Solo debut[]
On March 2, 2018, Xiwoo officially made his solo debut with the mini album Madness.
2022-present: HYANGXU, Titans At War[]
On February 14, 2022, Xiwoo announced his own fragrance line called HYANGXU.
On November 9, 2024, LUVX were announced to be participating on the boy group survival show, Titans At War.
Personal life[]
Military service[]
On July 29, 2020, he enlisted into the Marine Corps. He was discharged on January 29, 2022.
Relationship[]
On December 31, 2022, rumors of a possible relationship between Xiwoo and soloist You Jayhyun began to take off when local media outlet Dispatch posted pictures of the two together on a date, with the information that they also had spent time together in Athens in October. On January 1, 2023, YR Entertainment confirmed the pair were dating and gave the statement, "Xiwoo and Jayhyun have become fond of each other". Later that day, YW Entertainment also confirmed the news.
Shortly after their relationship was confirmed, Jayhyun revealed that her and Xiwoo had been together since March 14, 2019. 1 year later, on September 24, 2024, Xiwoo announced that he and Jayhyun would be splitting up on his Instagram story. Fans were shocked as the two had been together for so long. The only reason given for their split was “differences in future goals.”
Filmography[]
Reality Shows[]
- Finding LUV with LUVX (HKRT, 2016)
- Titans At War (VEX, 2024)
Discography[]
Mini albums[]
- Madness (2018)
Endorsements[]
- HYANGXU (2022-present)
Trivia[]
- MBTI: ESTP.
- Hobby: Cooking.
- Specialty: Tan skin.
- Role model: His father.
- Favorite food: Spicy tteokbokki
- Favorite color: Midnight blue.
- Favorite movie: The Dark Knight.
- He was a trainee for 12 years.
- He has a fear of heights, though he’s learned to manage it for concerts and performances.
- The first instrument he learned was the piano, but he gave it up to focus on singing.
- He loves dogs, especially large breeds like golden retrievers.
- He collects vintage watches and owns over 15 from various countries.
- He prefers early mornings and often goes for runs at dawn to clear his mind.
- He is a fan of martial arts and took taekwondo classes as a child but never earned a black belt.
- He has a sweet tooth and loves chocolate-covered almonds, which he can’t resist on tour.
- He gets cold easily, so he’s often seen wearing multiple layers, even in mild weather.
- He is often mistaken for a model due to his sharp features and tall build, which earned him some side gigs in his early trainee days.
- He is left-handed, but learned to use his right hand for certain tasks due to societal norms in Korea.
- He says he writes lyrics during flights or long drives to calm his nerves.
- He is a big fan of soccer and supports the South Korean national team religiously.
Official links[]
- Website
- YouTube
- TikTok