Ong Seong-wu

Ong Seong-wu

옹성우

Ong in 2022

Born August 25, 1995 (age 28)

Incheon, South Korea

Alma mater Dong Seoul University

 Singer
Occupations
 actor

Years active 2017–present

Musical career

Genres  K-pop

 synth

 soft rock

 R&B
 Instrument(s) Vocals

Labels  Fantagio

 YMC[a]

 Swing[a]

Formerly of Wanna One

Korean name

Hangul 옹성우

Hanja 邕聖祐

Revised Romanization Ong Seong-u

McCune–Reischauer Ong Sŏngu

Website fantagio.kr

Signature

Ong Seong-wu (Korean: 옹성우, born August 25, 1995) is a South Korean singer and
actor. He is known for his participation in the survival reality show Produce 101 Season
2, where he finished in fifth place, and is a former member of the show's derivative boy
group Wanna One.[1] Following Wanna One's disbandment, Ong made his acting debut
with cast At Eighteen (2019). He also established his career as a solo artist with the
release of his first extended play, Layers, on March 25, 2020.
Early life[edit]
Ong Seong-wu was born in Incheon, South Korea. He is the youngest of two children,
with one older sister. He attended Guwol Middle School, followed by Hanlim Multi Art
School, graduating in 2014. He graduated from Dong Seoul University as dance and
acting major.[2][3] Ong also danced professionally as part of several street and B-boy
dance teams during this period.[4]
Ong was encouraged by his mother to pick up a musical instrument and started playing
the drums after his sister began learning the piano.[5] While playing the drums at a band
contest in 2008, Ong was scouted as a trainee by the now-defunct entertainment
company Lion Media. However, internal troubles with the company and its eventual
closure lead to the delay of his debut, and contractual issues prevented him from
signing with other companies for a period of time.[6] In August 2016, he signed as an
acting trainee with his current company Fantagio at the recommendation of one of his
university professors.[7]
Career[edit]
Pre-debut: Produce 101[edit]
Despite being an acting trainee, Ong was sent as a representative by his company to
participate in Produce 101 (season 2) due to his well-rounded skills in singing and
dancing.[7] He achieved an 'A' rank in the evaluations and finished in fifth place in the
finale with 984,756 votes. As part of the top eleven contestants, he would go on to
debut as a member of Wanna One.[1]
Prior to his participation in Produce 101, Ong took part in a short film project Short Film
Project: Beginning. The short film, titled Seong-wu Is Alright, was released on June 19,
2017.[8][9] Additionally, he made a special appearance on the mobile drama Idol Fever,
which aired between July 7 to July 17, 2017.[10]
2017–2018: Debut with Wanna One[edit]
Main article: Wanna One
Ong debuted as a member of the project group Wanna One on August 7, 2017.[11] He
went on to represent the group in several appearances on variety shows such as Happy
Together, The Return of Superman, and Saturday Night Live Korea.[12][13][14] He also
served as a special emcee on music show broadcasts for M Countdown and Inkigayo.[15]
[16]
Ong, together with fellow group mate Kang Daniel, was cast for the pilot episode of
the variety show Master Key, and was later confirmed as a fixed cast member.[17] His
appearance on the show garnered positive reactions from media outlets, receiving
praise for his skillful deception of his cast mates in the psychological game-style show
to net the show's biggest win thus far.[18][19]
In November, Ong featured in singer Huh Gak's music video for his digital single "Only
You".[20]

Ong at 2018 Soribada Best K-Music Awards

In February 2018, Ong was named one of the main emcees of Show! Music Core. He
subsequently left his position in September 2018.[21] He also continued appearing on
several variety shows. He appeared on Living Together in Empty Room with Kang
Daniel and Kim Jae-hwan,[22] and also became a cast member of the reality show Law of
the Jungle Sabah, with his fellow group mate Ha Sung-woon, which aired from July 27,
2018, to September 21, 2018.[23]
His contract with Wanna One ended on December 31, 2018. However, he continued to
appear with the group until its official farewell concerts on January 24–27, 2019.[24]
2019–present: Acting endeavours and solo activities[edit]
Upon conclusion of his activities with Wanna One, Ong embarked on his first solo fan-
meeting tour, titled "Eternity", in March and April 2019.[25] On March 7, 2019, he was also
named PR Ambassador of the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education.[26]
As part of Pepsi and Starship Entertainment's 2019 Pepsi K-Pop Collab Project, Ong
released the single "Heart Sign".[27] The track was written by producers Flowblow, who
penned Wanna One's hit debut single, "Energetic".[28] The music video was released on
June 11, 2019.[29]
Ong made his acting debut in the later half of the year, starring as the male lead
in JTBC's youth drama At Eighteen, alongside Kim Hyang-gi and Shin Seung-ho.[30] The
drama tackles some of the issues faced by youths in South Korea, such as first love, the
pressures of school and parental expectation, to topics such as school violence and
bullying. Ong played the role of transfer student Choi Jun-woo, who is falsely accused
of school violence.[31] He garnered many positive reviews for his emotive acting,[32] and
went on to nab several awards for the role, including Best Rookie Award and Hallyu
Star Award at the Korea Drama Awards.[33] and made Ong nominated at the 56th
Baeksang Arts Awards. In the Best New Actor – Television category.[34] Ong also
recorded the song "Our Story" as part of the official soundtrack for the drama, which
was released on August 8, 2019.[35]

Ong for Marie Claire Korea in September 2019

In January 2020, Ong kicked off his second solo fan-meeting tour, titled "We Belong".
[36]
The digital single "We Belong" was released on January 9.[37] Intended as a fan-song,
Ong participated in both the lyric writing and composition of the single,[38] and performed
it on the first time during the Seoul leg of his tour on January 11.[39]
Ong appeared on the second season of travel variety show, Traveler, with fellow
actors Ahn Jae-hong and Kang Ha-neul. The variety show focused on the backpacking
travels of the trio in Argentina, and began airing starting February 15.[40] He went
received much attention for his photography skills on the first episode.[41]
Ong made his comeback as a singer with his first solo album, Layers.[42] The EP was
released on March 25,[43] together with lead single, "Gravity".[44] Ong took part in the
composition and lyric writing of all the songs on the album, drawing his inspiration from
his emotions and stories from the past year.[45]
He also made several appearances on variety shows, including Omniscient Interfering
View,[46] as well as Master in the House,[47] Radio Star,[48] and Running Man.[49] He also
featured on You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook, performing his new single and displaying his
drumming skills on the show's live music format.[50]
Ong collaborated with singer Baek Ji-young on the duet "Didn't Say Anything". The
ballad was released on May 12.[51]
Ong began starring as the male lead in the JTBC drama More Than Friends,
alongside Shin Ye-eun and Kim Dong-jun, playing photographer Lee Soo. The drama
premiered 25 September.[52] The song "Late Regret" was recorded and released by Ong
as part of the drama's soundtrack.[53]
Furthermore, Ong will also be making his film debut in the upcoming musical-
movie, Life is Beautiful, starring Ryu Seung-ryong and Yum Jung-ah. The film will go to
theatres in second half of 2022. Ong will also star in the movie, Jung's Ranch with Ryu
Seung-ryong and Park Hae-joon.[54] This will mark his second collaboration with Ryu.
In 2021, Ong has been confirmed to appear in the drama Shall We Have A Cup of
Coffee? It airs on KakaoTV[55] and is confirmed to join the Netflix film Seoul Vibe, which
is expected to air in 2022.[56] Ong appeared alongside dancer, Noze, in Lee Seung-hwan
and Sunwoo Jung-a's music video for the song "How could you", released on November
18, 2021.[57][unreliable source?]
In 2022, Ong announced that the fan meeting 'RE:MEET' will be held for the second
time in March 2022, which will be held offline and online.[58]
Personal life[edit]
Military service[edit]
Fantagio announced that Ong would enlist for his mandatory military service as an
active duty soldier on April 17, 2023.[59]
Discography[edit]
For Ong's works with Wanna One, see Wanna One discography.
Extended plays[edit]

Title Details Peak Sales

chart
position
 s

KOR
[60]

 Released: March 25, 2020

 Label: Fantagio Music
Layer  Formats: CD, digital 3  KOR: 70,106[61]
s download, streaming
show
Track listing

Singles[edit]
As lead artist[edit]

Peak
chart
positions
Title Year Album

KOR
[62]

"We Belong" —[A]

2020 Layers
"Gravity" 107

"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that regio