50 Fun Facts About Ateez

How many members are in Ateez?

A ninth trainee, Lee Jun-young, was promoted with KQ Fellaz before debut but was not added to the final line-up.

Which company formed Ateez?

Plans for the group started after a staff member found a letter and sample mixtape from a hopeful trainee, who became the company's first official trainee and later the leader.

On what date did Ateez debut with Treasure EP.1: All to Zero?

The EP came with music videos for two lead singles, 'Pirate King' and 'Treasure', and peaked at number seven on the Gaon chart.

What does the name Ateez stand for?

It symbolises representing everything about teenagers, from A to Z. Their pre-debut name was KQ Fellaz.

What were the members known as before debuting?

Their first video together, in May 2018, had all eight dancing to Famous Dex's 'Pick It Up'. A pre-debut group from the same label, KQ Fellaz 2, later opened their shows.

In which US city did the pre-debut web series show the members training at the Millennium Dance Complex?

The finale of KQ Fellaz American Training was the music video for 'From', composed and produced by the future leader.

Who is the leader of Ateez?

He was KQ's first official trainee and remained the only one for six months. He also raps and composes for the group.

Four future Ateez members competed on which 2017 survival show before debut?

They placed 42nd, 43rd, 63rd and 72nd among the male contestants. Two members had earlier trained at Big Hit, one at Maroo and one at TOP Media.

What was the title of the group's pre-debut reality show that premiered on Mnet in July 2018?

It aired three months before the debut EP. Their name, KQ Fellaz, was retired at the same time.

Which two songs were the double lead singles of Ateez's debut EP?

Both got music videos on debut day. Their pirate concept later gave their Idol Radio hosting stint a 'space pirate' theme.

Which song won Ateez their first music-show trophy, on M Countdown in June 2019?

Fans had voted it the lead single over 'Illusion'. They won again on The Show five days later.

Which of these Ateez title tracks was chosen by fan vote over 'Thanxx'?

Fan votes decided several lead singles: 'Wave' beat 'Illusion' and 'Deja Vu' beat 'Eternal Sunshine'.

Which 2020 EP was Ateez's first to be certified platinum in South Korea?

It sold 379,052 copies in 2020 and made them the second fourth-generation boy group to pass a million total sales as rookies.

Which member paused promotions in November 2020 to be treated for symptoms of psychological anxiety?

He returned to group activities in July 2021, and had recorded but not performed 'The Real' for the Kingdom finale in the meantime.

Which Mnet competition did Ateez join in 2021 alongside The Boyz and Stray Kids?

Their participation was announced during their 2020 MAMA performance. Their final-round song was 'The Real'.

On which KBS programme did Ateez become the idol group with the most wins, covering Rain, Psy and Seo Taiji and Boys?

Their fourth win, in June 2023 with 'Highway in the Gale', gave them the record. They were the only idol group at the 2020 'King of Kings' finale.

Which member co-hosted SBS MTV's The Show for three years from 2021?

He stepped down in March 2024. Two other members were DJs on MBC's Idol Radio for a spell that ended in December 2023.

Ateez's first Japanese single 'Dreamers' was an ending theme for which anime?

It was the fifth ending theme of the 2020 reboot. They later recorded 'Like That' for Lookism and 'Limitless' for Duel Masters WIN.

Which EP gave Ateez their first Billboard 200 entry, debuting at number 42 in 2021?

Its lead single 'Deja Vu' also reached number four on the World Digital Songs chart, and pre-orders passed 800,000, double the previous release.

Which 2022 EP, led by 'Guerrilla', was Ateez's first million-seller?

Pre-orders passed 1.1 million and it sold over 930,000 in its first week. It reached number three on the Billboard 200, their first top 10 there.

'Halazia' was the lead single of which December 2022 release, Ateez's first Korean single album?

It entered the Billboard 200 at number seven and brought their 13th music-show trophy on Music Bank in January 2023.

Which album gave Ateez their first No. 1 on the Billboard 200?

Released in December 2023, it sold over 1.7 million in its first week and earned the group their first triple crown on Music Bank.

In April 2024 Ateez became the first K-pop boy group to perform at which festival?

They played both weekends and threw the first pitch at a Dodgers game the following day. Two months later they headlined Mawazine in Morocco.

Ateez became the first K-pop group to headline which Moroccan festival in June 2024?

It is billed as the second-largest music festival in the world. They took the OLM Souissi stage as one of two acts that day.

'Work' was the lead single of which EP, released in May 2024?

The EP debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and sold over 1.5 million in its first week, their fourth million-seller.

On which US TV programme did Ateez make their American television debut in June 2024?

Earlier that year they were named Record Store Day's first K-pop Artist of the Year and featured in the Grammy Museum's first K-pop exhibition.

Which Japanese boy group did Ateez collaborate with on 'Hush-Hush' and 'Royal' in 2024?

They also played Summer Sonic in Osaka and Chiba that August and released the Japanese single 'Birthday' in October.

Which Ateez EP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in November 2024, led by 'Ice on My Teeth'?

It was their eleventh EP. Part.3, with 'Lemon Drop', followed in June 2025 and gave them their first Hot 100 entry.

Which member made his runway debut at Paris Fashion Week in March 2025 for Isabel Marant?

He had already modelled in the label's Spring 2025 campaign alongside Kate Moss.

Which venue, Europe's largest indoor concert space, did Ateez become the first K-pop group to sell out in 2025?

It came during the European leg of the Towards the Light: Will to Power tour, which ended with encores in Seoul in March 2025.

Which song gave Ateez their first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, at number 69 in June 2025?

That made them only the third K-pop boy group to chart on the Hot 100. 'In Your Fantasy' followed a month later at number 68.

In July 2025, all eight members renewed their contracts with their agency for how many more years?

The announcement came as they opened the North American leg of the In Your Fantasy world tour in Atlanta.

What is the title of Ateez's second Japanese full-length album, released in September 2025?

Into the A to Z was their first original Japanese studio album in 2021, and Shift the Map their first Japanese album of any kind in 2019.

'Adrenaline' was the title track of which February 2026 EP, Ateez's sixth million-seller?

It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and won them their first-ever trophies on Show! Music Core and Inkigayo.

Which June 2026 Ateez EP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200?

Led by 'Bad', it opened with 228,000 units. Two days later they became the third K-pop group to headline BST Hyde Park in London.

Which London festival did Ateez become the third K-pop group to headline in June 2026?

It came two days after Golden Hour: Part.5 debuted at No. 1 in the US.

By mid-2026, roughly how many physical albums had Ateez sold worldwide?

Korean media call them 'Global Performance Idols', and the culture ministry named them 'Next Generation Leaders' in 2020.

Ateez were the first South Korean act with three releases in one year in the top 10 of which country's album chart?

Golden Hour: Part.1 reaching number four in 2024 completed the run, and topped the UK physical albums chart.

Which member threw the first pitch for the Lotte Giants in Busan in May 2024?

The whole group had thrown the first pitch for the LA Dodgers a month earlier, the day after their second set at a major California festival.

Which member's positive COVID-19 test in July 2021 sent the rest of the group into isolation?

He was asymptomatic and released from a treatment centre on July 19, the same day the group's absent member announced his return.

How many viewers tuned in to Ateez's free virtual 'Crescent Party' concert on V Live in May 2020?

It replaced the Fellowship: Map the Treasure tour dates cancelled by COVID-19 restrictions.

Which honour did Ateez receive at the 2025 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards?

They have also won grand-prize daesangs at the Korea Grand Music Awards, Asia Artist Awards, Hanteo Music Awards and Seoul Music Awards.

Which MLB team invited Ateez to throw the first pitch in April 2024?

Weeks later Wooyoung threw a first pitch of his own for the Lotte Giants in Busan.

What was the name of Ateez's first concert run, which visited five US cities in March 2019?

It was extended into April with European dates from London to Moscow after strong demand.

What was the title of Ateez's first studio album, released in October 2019 with 'Wonderland'?

It sold 165,479 copies in South Korea that year and became their first album to top the Gaon Albums Chart.

In which 2021 KBS2 drama were Yunho, Jongho, Seonghwa and San cast?

It aired from May to July, the same spring Yeosang began co-hosting SBS MTV's The Show.

Which MBC show did Hongjoong and Yunho host as DJs from September 2022 to December 2023?

The show adopted a 'space' concept incorporating Ateez's colours for its third season.

In February 2024 Ateez were named the first K-pop Artist of the Year by which organisation?

That same spring they featured in the Grammy Museum's first K-pop exhibition.

With which veteran singer did Ateez make the 2021 album Season Songs and single 'Be My Lover'?

The Korean title of the single translates roughly as 'Shall we go see the sea?'

Ateez's Japanese single 'Limitless' served as the opening theme for which anime?

They had also recorded 'Like That' for the anime adaptation of the webtoon Lookism.