Profile of Keonho CORTIS: Complete Bio, Unique Facts About the Youngest Member

Keonho has a background far from the entertainment stage. As a child, he was a competitive swimmer, even achieving high rankings in elementary school competitions. This shows that from an early age he already possessed discipline and a competitive mentality, qualities that are very helpful in the tough idol world.

However, he later decided to focus on musical arts after growing up. His interest in music led him to audition for BigHit Music at around 12 years old, and after passing, Keonho officially became a trainee in 2021. During his audition for BigHit, Keonho sang the song 'Dynamite' by BTS. This song choice reflects his admiration for the senior group under HYBE.

During his trainee period, in addition to learning vocals, dance, and performance, Keonho also expanded his creative skills, especially in videography and editing, which later became one of his signature contributions to the group. During his trainee days, a video of Keonho eating French fries went viral among fans. Since then, he has been nicknamed 'French Fry Guy/Boy.' Keonho himself admits that he still loves French fries very much.

On August 18, 2025, Keonho officially debuted with the boy group CORTIS with the main single What You Want and the debut EP Color Outside the Lines. The group consists of five members: Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. Keonho is the maknae, a term for the youngest member, and one of the main vocalists who often holds important vocal line parts in CORTIS's songs. His voice is praised for being stable and emotional, even during intense performances.

Unlike many other idols who only perform on stage, Keonho also contributes to the music production process of CORTIS. He and other members are involved in songwriting, production, and creating choreography for their videos. In addition, Keonho is known as the group's internal videographer, often editing dance practice videos and other content for CORTIS. This skill has earned him the title of a new generation visual artist among idols.

Some light yet fun facts about Keonho known by fans include: his favorite foods are salted caramel ice cream and french fries, he loves winter and the holiday atmosphere, and his favorite colors include vintage tones, pink, and green.

Keonho is a true dog person. He often talks about his pet dog, Cookie, which is cared for by his family. His love for dogs is also reflected in his favorite emoji (dog) and the fact that he actually prefers dogs over cats. Keonho has a unique talent, which is the ability to mimic the sound of an owl. He once mentioned that his specialty is imitating 'owl hoot' (the sound of an owl).

Keonho is described by fans and fellow members as someone who is: a good listener and supportive in the group, introspective and creative thinker (reflected in MBTI INTP), enjoys music from various genres, and admires diverse artists and music styles.

Although he is still very young, Keonho has become one of the most talked-about faces in the global K-pop community, even dubbed the 5th Gen It Boy by international media due to his strong visuals and charm. Since his debut, Keonho's popularity has continued to rise. He even managed to rank at the top of the Brand Reputation Index for rookie idols in October 2025, just two months after his debut. The big data brand analysis shows that the keywords often associated with Keonho are handsome, cute, and attractive, while the sentiment towards him is 87% positive.

As part of CORTIS, Keonho has experienced significant achievements despite being a newcomer: recording high album sales and global streaming surpassing hundreds of millions shortly after their debut, winning Best New Artist / Rookie Award at major events such as the MAMA Awards 2025, with the song GO! and their album continuously appearing on the Billboard charts and global platforms.

Keonho is an example of a modern K-pop idol who not only performs on stage but also showcases creativity, production, and personal content. From a successful swimmer, a diligent vocal trainee, to an active content creator contributing to music and video production. Keonho's journey demonstrates that the new generation of K-pop idols are multi-talented and well-rounded individuals.

As the maknae of CORTIS, he has found his place on the global stage since debuting, and with his talent and dedication, Keonho has great potential to become one of the most influential stars in the next generation of K-pop.