EJ (&TEAM) Profile 2026: Age, MBTI, Birthday, Career and Interesting Facts
Who Is EJ?
EJ is a South Korean singer and the leader of &TEAM, the nine-member group under YX Labels (HYBE Labels Japan). Born Byun Eui-joo on September 7, 2002, he debuted with &TEAM on December 7, 2022, and has been a regular host of SBS’s Inkigayo since October 2025. In 2026, he is 24 years old.
He is the only Korean member of a group built primarily around the Japanese market, which makes his position unusual: he leads a team whose working language and promotional centre are not his own. That detail has shaped much of his public role – from the way he is described by members to the kind of leader he has become since debut.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | EJ (의주 / ウィジュ) |
| Real Name | Byun Eui-joo (변의주 / 邉義州) |
| Birthday | September 7, 2002 |
| Age | 24 (in 2026) |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Birthplace | Goyang, Gyeonggi Province (reported) |
| Group | &TEAM |
| Agency | YX Labels (HYBE Labels Japan) |
| Position | Leader; vocalist and rapper in group profiles |
| Group Debut | December 7, 2022 |
| Korean Debut | October 28, 2025 |
| Height | 184 cm (reported) |
| MBTI | INTJ (self-reported; previous results have varied) |
| Blood Type | A |
| Fandom | LUNÉ |
Height and birthplace are widely reported in profile features but are not listed on the official HYBE Labels Japan group profile. They are labelled accordingly.
Early Life and Pre-Debut Career
Byun Eui-joo was born in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul. Before entertainment, his most documented early pursuit was sport: he was a sabre fencer during his middle-school years, and profile features describe him as having competed at middle-school level. Fencing is not a casual hobby in his background – it was a serious athletic path before training took over.
He was scouted by Big Hit Entertainment during high school and trained for approximately one year and six months before appearing on television. That training period places him in the pre-debut generation of HYBE trainees who were later reorganised across the company’s Japanese and Korean labels.
His academic background is sometimes described in fan profiles as including a science-gifted class and an early interest in architecture, but those details are not consistently documented in primary sources. They are therefore not treated here as confirmed facts.
From I-LAND to &TEAM
EJ first appeared to a global audience on Mnet and Big Hit’s I-LAND in 2020. He was eliminated in episode 7, a result that could easily have ended his idol trajectory. Instead, it became a detour: HYBE later moved him into the Japanese label system, and in 2022 he was announced as one of four confirmed members – alongside K, NICHOLAS and TAKI – for the company’s new Japan-based group.
The remaining five members – FUMA, YUMA, JO, HARUA and MAKI – were selected through the audition programme &AUDITION – The Howling. The nine-piece group was formed on September 3, 2022, and debuted on December 7, 2022, with the EP First Howling: ME and the title track “Under the Skin.”
EJ has led the group since that debut. He was not the oldest member – K and FUMA are both older – but the leader role was assigned to him, and members have consistently described him as the team’s emotional centre rather than its loudest voice.
The Leader of &TEAM
&TEAM’s own narrative leans heavily on the idea of a pack. EJ’s leadership fits that image in a quiet way. In interviews and profile features, members have described him as unusually gentle – MAKI has said that EJ has a calm mood and a warm, slow way of speaking that makes people feel comfortable around him. Other members have called him the “world’s kindest” leader, a phrase that appears repeatedly in Japanese media coverage.
That softness has not always translated into immediate authority. Profile features note that, as an introvert, he was initially less comfortable voicing opinions in a leadership setting and has relied on FUMA, the sub-leader, in moments where the team needed a more vocal presence. Over time, he has spoken about growing more confident in the role.
He has also been described as the member who helped the Japanese members with Korean. That detail matters in a group that promotes in both Japan and Korea: the leader is not just a figurehead but a bridge between two languages and two fanbases.
K-Pop Career: Korean Debut, Inkigayo and Acting
For the first three years of &TEAM’s career, EJ’s work was primarily Japan-facing. The group released a steady run of Japanese albums and singles – First Howling: WE in 2023, First Howling: NOW later that year, “Samidare” in 2024, Yukiakari in December 2024 and “Go in Blind” in April 2025 – building a million-selling catalogue before officially debuting in Korea.
That Korean debut came on October 28, 2025, with the EP Back to Life. The album sold 1,222,022 copies in its first week and won three music-show trophies, according to Hanteo News. It was a substantial entry for a group that had spent years building its base in Japan.
In September 2025, SBS announced that EJ and TWS’s SHINYU would join IVE’s LEESEO as the new three-host lineup of Inkigayo. EJ began hosting in October 2025. The role gave him a different kind of visibility: not as a performer inside a nine-member formation, but as a host carrying a live weekly broadcast.
He also made his acting debut in 2025, in the Japanese drama Ebi da tte Tai ga Tsuritai (海老だって鯛が釣りたい), which premiered on July 2, 2025. EJ played Park Jung-soo, a Korean young man who dreams of becoming an actor – a role that required him to act in Japanese.
In April 2026, &TEAM released the Japanese EP We on Fire, which sold 1,238,907 copies in its first week and became the group’s third consecutive million-seller. It also gave them their first Billboard 200 entry, at No. 52.
The second Korean EP, Mark on Me, followed on September 8, 2026. It sold 1,391,324 copies in September alone, according to Circle Chart, topping the monthly album chart; it entered the Billboard 200 at No. 20 and won on Music Bank. The group then began its “Mark on You” tour on October 15, 2026, with 41 shows across 18 Japanese cities scheduled through January 2027.
At the MTV VMAJ 2026 on October 29, &TEAM won Performance of the Year and Best Asia Song for “Back to Life.” Earlier in the year, at the 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards, the group won Best 5 Albums for Back to Life and Best 5 Singles for Go in Blind.
Personality and MBTI
EJ has said in interviews that his MBTI result is INTJ, and that the introverted preference fits him particularly well. He has also acknowledged that his results have changed across different tests over the years – profile databases list previous results including ISTJ, INFP and even INTP – so INTJ should be treated as his most recently self-reported type, not a fixed label.
What comes through more clearly than the four letters is his approach to performance. In a 2025 interview with Ray, he explained that his confidence on stage depends on preparation: when he feels underprepared, doubt shows on his face; when he feels fully prepared, he can enjoy the stage. That is a practical, almost workmanlike attitude, and it fits the way members describe him – calm, observant and more comfortable supporting from behind than charging ahead.
He is not a loud leader. He is a leader who watches the room.
&TEAM at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Group Name | &TEAM (앤팀 / エンティーム) |
| Formation | September 3, 2022 |
| Debut | December 7, 2022 |
| Agency | YX Labels (HYBE Labels Japan) |
| Members | K, FUMA, EJ, NICHOLAS, YUMA, JO, HARUA, TAKI, MAKI |
| Leader | EJ |
| Sub-Leader | FUMA |
| Fandom | LUNÉ |
| Origin | Japan-based, multinational |
| Genres | J-pop, K-pop |
| Current Status | Active; Mark on Me era; “Mark on You” tour (2026–2027) |
LUNÉ was announced as the official fandom name on September 26, 2022. It means “moon” and is also an abbreviation of “Light Up New Energy” – the idea being that fans illuminate &TEAM’s path and provide the energy for the group to move forward.
&TEAM Members
| Member | Real Name | Birthday | Nationality | Known Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | Koga Yudai | October 21, 1997 | Japan | Performance leader, main dancer |
| FUMA | Murata Fuma | June 29, 1998 | Japan | Sub-leader, vocalist, dancer |
| EJ | Byun Eui-joo | September 7, 2002 | South Korea | Leader, vocalist, rapper |
| NICHOLAS | Wang I-Hsiang | July 9, 2002 | Taiwan | Main rapper |
| YUMA | Nakakita Yuma | February 7, 2004 | Japan | Vocalist |
| JO | Asakura Jo | July 8, 2004 | Japan | Vocalist, visual |
| HARUA | Shigeta Harua | May 1, 2005 | Japan | Vocalist |
| TAKI | Takayama Riki | May 4, 2005 | Japan | Vocalist, dancer |
| MAKI | Hirota Riki | February 17, 2006 | Japan | Main vocalist, maknae |
Roles are drawn from group profiles and may not reflect official position titles for every member.
Discography and Career Milestones
| Year | Release | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | First Howling: ME | Debut EP |
| 2023 | First Howling: WE | EP |
| 2023 | First Howling: NOW | Studio album |
| 2024 | “Samidare” | Single |
| 2024 | Yukiakari | Studio album |
| 2025 | “Go in Blind” | Single album |
| 2025 | Back to Life | Korean debut EP |
| 2026 | We on Fire | Japanese EP |
| 2026 | Mark on Me | Korean EP |
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Born in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on September 7 |
| 2020 | Appears on I-LAND; eliminated in episode 7 |
| 2022 | Announced as a confirmed &TEAM member; group debuts on December 7 |
| 2025 | Korean debut with Back to Life on October 28; becomes Inkigayo MC in October; first drama role in July |
| 2026 | Japan Gold Disc double win in March; We on Fire in April; Mark on Me in September; MTV VMAJ double win in October; “Mark on You” tour begins October 15 |
Awards and Achievements
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards | Best 5 Albums | Back to Life | Won |
| 2026 | 40th Japan Gold Disc Awards | Best 5 Singles | “Go in Blind” | Won |
| 2026 | MTV VMAJ | Performance of the Year | &TEAM | Won |
| 2026 | MTV VMAJ | Best Asia Song | “Back to Life” | Won |
Group awards only; individual award nominations for EJ are not listed unless officially confirmed.
Lifestyle Fact Check
EJ’s public lifestyle information is limited. He has not published a workout routine, a diet plan or a skincare regimen, and this profile does not invent one.
Workout and Fitness
His only clearly documented athletic background is middle-school sabre fencing. No current gym routine, personal trainer or fitness programme has been publicly confirmed. A single photo or stage performance is not enough to construct a workout schedule.
Diet and Food
EJ’s representative symbol within &TEAM is an orange, because he has said he has loved oranges since childhood. The group’s official character line also gives his character EJEE an interest in eating toast. Beyond those playful details, no specific diet or meal plan has been publicly documented.
Skincare and Beauty
No complete skincare routine or product list has been publicly confirmed. He has appeared in fashion and beauty editorials, including a GQ Korea feature and a Singles Japan cover with NICHOLAS and JO, but editorial appearances are not evidence of a personal routine.
Hobbies and Interests
In the Ray interview, EJ said he likes making things with his hands and that he was obsessed with building-block toys as a child, constructing ninja buildings and Star Wars ships. That is a specific, self-described interest rather than a fan assumption.
Fashion and Brands
EJ has attended brand events – including a BARRIE 2026 SS collection launch in Seoul in January 2026 and a MARNI 2026 F/W event in Tokyo in October 2026 – and has done magazine shoots. These are event appearances and editorial work, not evidence of an official ambassadorship. No personal favourite brand has been consistently documented.
Tattoos
No tattoo has been publicly confirmed by EJ or his agency. Visible markings in low-resolution images are not sufficient evidence.
Dating
No relationship has been publicly confirmed. This profile does not treat fan speculation, shipping content or social-media interactions as evidence.
Plastic Surgery Fact Check
No cosmetic surgery has been publicly confirmed by EJ or his agency. Appearance-based comparisons are not reliable evidence, and no such claim is presented here as fact.
Net Worth
EJ’s exact net worth is not publicly available. His documented income categories include group album sales, tours, music-show and MC work, acting and brand-event appearances, but calculating a personal net worth from those categories would be speculation.
Interesting Facts
- He was born in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and is the only Korean member of &TEAM.
- He was a sabre fencer in middle school before turning to idol training.
- He trained at Big Hit Entertainment for about one year and six months before I-LAND.
- He was eliminated in episode 7 of I-LAND in 2020, then debuted with &TEAM two years later.
- He was one of four I-LAND alumni confirmed for the group before &AUDITION – The Howling even began.
- Members have repeatedly described him as the “world’s kindest” leader.
- MAKI has said EJ’s calm mood and slow, warm way of speaking make people feel at ease.
- His representative symbol is an orange, based on his long-standing love of oranges.
- The official &TEAM character EJEE is a goldfish whose listed interests are swimming and eating toast.
- He has said he likes making things with his hands and was a serious building-block kid.
- His self-reported MBTI is INTJ, though he has acknowledged that his results have changed over time.
- He became a regular Inkigayo MC in October 2025, alongside LEESEO and SHINYU.
- His first acting role was Park Jung-soo in the 2025 Japanese drama Ebi da tte Tai ga Tsuritai.
- &TEAM’s “Mark on Me” became his first Korean EP era to enter the Billboard 200 top 20, at No. 20.
FAQs
How old is EJ from &TEAM?
EJ was born on September 7, 2002. He is 24 years old in 2026.
When is EJ’s birthday?
September 7.
What is EJ’s real name?
Byun Eui-joo (변의주 / 邉義州).
How tall is EJ?
184 cm, a figure widely reported in Japanese and Korean profile features. The official HYBE Labels Japan group profile does not list a height.
What is EJ’s MBTI?
He has self-reported INTJ and said the introverted preference fits him. Previous test results have varied.
What group is EJ in?
&TEAM, the nine-member group under YX Labels / HYBE Labels Japan.
What agency manages EJ?
YX Labels, under HYBE Labels Japan.
Is EJ the leader of &TEAM?
Yes. He has been the group’s leader since its December 7, 2022 debut.
Where is EJ from?
Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea (widely reported).
What drama did EJ appear in?
The 2025 Japanese drama Ebi da tte Tai ga Tsuritai, in which he played Park Jung-soo.
Is EJ an Inkigayo MC?
Yes. He became a regular host of SBS’s Inkigayo in October 2025, alongside LEESEO and SHINYU.
Does EJ have tattoos?
No tattoo has been publicly confirmed.
Is EJ dating anyone?
No relationship has been publicly confirmed.
What is EJ’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not publicly available.
Is EJ currently active?
Yes. &TEAM released Mark on Me on September 8, 2026, and began the “Mark on You” tour on October 15, 2026.
More Info About Kpopbio
