2011–2014: Pre-debut Wonwoo joined
Pledis Entertainment in 2011, where he would undergo singing and dancing training for four years. As a trainee, he participated from the first season onwards of
Seventeen TV, an online reality show that introduced Pledis' trainees and showed potential members of the boy group
Seventeen before their official debut. The show was broadcast periodically on
Ustream, where the trainees showed themselves training, singing, creating choreographies and playing games. The online show also included participation in concerts, titled
Like Seventeen.
2015–present: Seventeen and solo activities In 2015, Wonwoo debuted as a member of the South Korean boy group
Seventeen with the
extended play 17 Carat on May 29. Within the 13-member group, he was selected to be a member of its hip-hop unit. Since debuting in Seventeen, he has participated in the songwriting of over 35 songs, the majority of which being songs performed by the hip-hop unit. In 2021, Wonwoo and Seventeen bandmate
Mingyu released a digital single titled "Bittersweet", featuring
Lee Hi. "Bittersweet" ranked first on the iTunes song chart in ten regions upon release. In 2022, Wonwoo released a cover of
IU's "Knees" as a tribute to his late mother. In 2023, Wonwoo was featured in Dive Studio's
Mindset series, releasing three episodes detailing his relationship with his mental health. In 2024, Wonwoo and bandmate
Jeonghan debuted as Seventeen's second official subunit named Jeonghan X Wonwoo, alternatively known as JxW, with the single album
This Man. The album featured three tracks, including Wonwoo's first commercially released solo song "Leftover", where he is credited for songwriting. Achieving commercial success,
This Man broke the first-week sales record for an album released by a K-pop sub-unit within four days of its release. ==Other ventures==