Yichen (MODYSSEY) Profile 2026: Age, Bio & Interesting Facts
Yichen (이첸) is a Chinese singer and a member of the rookie boy group MODYSSEY, which debuted in April 2026 under ONECEAD Entertainment. But his path to the stage was anything but ordinary. Before finally securing his debut spot, Yichen competed in six different survival shows over the span of nearly seven years-a journey that tested his resilience, talent, and determination.
Born Jin Yong Xian in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, Yichen first stepped into the spotlight in 2019 on Youth With You, where he was eliminated in the first round. He went on to appear in PROJECT 7 (ranking 12th), Boys II Planet, and finally PLANET C: HOME RACE, where he placed 6th and earned his long-awaited debut. Today, he’s known not only for his all-rounder idol skills but also for his unique family background and his inspiring perseverance.
Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Yichen (亦辰 / 이첸) |
| Birth Name | Jin Yong Xian (金永先 / 진용헌) |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Birthday | September 24, 1998 |
| Age (2026) | 27 |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Height | 172-176 cm (5’8″–5’9″) |
| Weight | 60 kg (132 lbs) |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| MBTI | ENFJ |
| Group | MODYSSEY |
| Agency | ONECEAD Entertainment / WAKEONE Entertainment |
| Debut Date | April 13, 2026 |
| Rank in PLANET C | 6th |
Table of Contents
Early Life & Family
Yichen was born and raised in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, a city located along the North Korean border. He currently resides in South Korea to pursue his idol career.
Family Background
Yichen comes from a remarkable family lineage. He is a descendant of Korean independence fighter An Jung Geun (안중근), a historical figure revered in Korea for his assassination of Ito Hirobumi in 1909. His great-grandfather is An Myeong Geun (안명근), who was a cousin of An Jung Geun and also participated in the independence movement together. Yichen’s grandmother is the granddaughter of An Myeong Geun.
During his appearance on JTBC’s PROJECT 7 in 2024, Yichen publicly shared this family history and expressed feeling a sense of responsibility as a descendant of the independence activist. This revelation garnered significant attention from Korean netizens, who affectionately began calling him the “patriotic pick”.
Yichen also has a younger brother who lives in Tokyo.
Education
While specific details about Yichen’s formal education are not publicly available, he has demonstrated exceptional language abilities. He has studied Korean extensively and scored in the Level 6 range on the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)-the highest level achievable on the exam. His fluency has been widely praised by Boys II Planet viewers. He also speaks Mandarin Chinese natively and can communicate in English, which he estimates he studied for about one year. He has expressed interest in learning Japanese in the future.
Career
2019: Youth With You
Yichen’s entertainment career began in 2019 when he participated in the Chinese survival show Youth With You (season 2). Unfortunately, he was eliminated in the first round while training under China Music Entertainment. This early setback would become the first of many-but it didn’t break his spirit.
2021: What’s Your Name (Cancelled)
Yichen was slated to appear on another Chinese survival show called What’s Your Name (发光的名字) under Yuehua Entertainment, but the program was canceled before it could air.
Yuehua Entertainment Training
During this period, Yichen trained under Yuehua Entertainment, one of China’s major entertainment companies. He trained alongside several now-famous idols, including ZEROBASEONE’s Ricky, Zhang Hao, Gyuvin, and Yujin, as well as EVNNE’s Seungeon and Yunseo, and AMPERS&ONE’s Brian. He accumulated approximately 6.5 years of training before his debut.
2024: PROJECT 7
In 2024, Yichen appeared on JTBC’s survival show PROJECT 7. He ranked 12th in the competition. It was during this show that he first publicly revealed his family connection to independence activist An Jung Geun.
Boys II Planet
Yichen also competed on Boys II Planet, the Mnet survival show that served as a precursor to PLANET C: HOME RACE. His strong Korean language skills and performance abilities earned him recognition from viewers.
2025: PLANET C: HOME RACE – The Breakthrough
The turning point came with PLANET C: HOME RACE, a spin-off of Boys II Planet that aired on December 6, 2025, featuring 18 contestants vying for debut. The show was produced by Mnet and mentored by an impressive panel including Kim Jaejoong as Chief Master.
In the finale on December 27, 2025, Yichen secured 6th place with 4,349,467 points. He was officially announced as a member of the debut lineup for MODYSSEY. Reflecting on the moment, he expressed surprise at ranking within the top 6 and thanked all his supporters.
2026: MODYSSEY Debut
MODYSSEY officially debuted on April 13, 2026, with their first single album 1.Got Hooked: An Addictive Symphony. The group consists of seven Chinese members: Hengyu, Fan Zheyi, Li Zihao, Lynnlynn, Suren, Yichen, and Rowan.
The debut was a commercial success. MODYSSEY recorded over 302,000 initial album sales, ranking among the top two debut groups of 2026. They have since performed at major events including KCON JAPAN 2026 at Makuhari Messe and KCON LA 2026. In July 2026, the group won their second award of the debut year at the KMA 2026.
Achievements
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Ranked 6th in PLANET C: HOME RACE; secured MODYSSEY debut |
| 2026 | Debuted with MODYSSEY (April 13) |
| 2026 | 302,000+ initial album sales |
| 2026 | Performed at KCON JAPAN and KCON LA |
| 2026 | Won second award at KMA 2026 |
Hobbies & Interests
Yichen leads an active lifestyle with a variety of interests:
- Running: He runs every day and has mentioned that sometimes the members run together
- Working out: Fitness is a regular part of his routine
- Cycling & Hiking: He enjoys outdoor activities
- Video games: He occasionally plays games in his free time
- Dancing: He loves breakdance, urban dance, and hip-hop
- Pikachu: He’s a big fan of the Pokemon character
He also has a wolf plush doll bought from Daiso that he named Chenchin.
Pets
Yichen is a devoted pet owner. He has eight cats and a dog named Happy.
Interesting Facts
- Six survival shows: Yichen participated in approximately six different survival programs before finally debuting.
- Independence activist descendant: He is a descendant of Korean independence hero An Jung Geun and his cousin An Myeong Geun.
- TOPIK Level 6: He achieved the highest possible score on the Korean language proficiency test.
- Trained with ZEROBASEONE members: He trained alongside Ricky, Zhang Hao, Gyuvin, and Yujin at Yuehua Entertainment.
- All-rounder image: He describes his main appeal as being a well-rounded idol who can sing, dance, and speak multiple languages.
- Specialties: His standout skills are b-boying and back tumbling.
- Small hands: He’s known within MODYSSEY for having notably small hands.
- Favorite color: He loves blue and black.
- Role model: He looks up to BTS’s V.
- NCT fan: He’s a fan of NCT, with Mark as his favorite member.
- Power max song: ZEROBASEONE’s “Feel the POP” motivates him.
- Nicknames: He’s called “Chenny” and sometimes “Uncle YICHEN”.
- Dream: His goal is to release his own album someday.
- Weakness: He considers drawing one of his weak points.
- Concepts: He’s interested in exploring both refreshing and sexy concepts.
- Secret weapon: He lists refreshing sexiness, a good figure, and firm abs as his secret weapons.
- Close friend: He’s close friends with OCJ NEWBIES member Dongbin.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Yichen in MODYSSEY?
Yichen is a Chinese member of the boy group MODYSSEY, which debuted in April 2026. He secured his spot by ranking 6th in the survival show PLANET C: HOME RACE.
2. What is Yichen’s real name?
His birth name is Jin Yong Xian (金永先).
3. How old is Yichen from MODYSSEY?
Yichen was born on September 24, 1998, making him 27 years old in 2026.
4. When is Yichen’s birthday?
5. How tall is Yichen?
Yichen’s height is reported between 172 cm and 176 cm (approximately 5’8″ to 5’9″).
6. What is Yichen’s MBTI?
7. When did MODYSSEY debut?
MODYSSEY officially debuted on April 13, 2026.
8. What survival shows did Yichen appear on?
He appeared on Youth With You (2019), PROJECT 7 (2024), Boys II Planet, and PLANET C: HOME RACE (2025), among others.
9. Is Yichen Korean or Chinese?
Yichen is Chinese. He was born in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China.
10. Does Yichen speak Korean?
Yes, he speaks Korean fluently and achieved Level 6 on the TOPIK exam, the highest proficiency level.
11. What is Yichen’s net worth?
Yichen’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. As a newly debuted idol, his earnings are not yet publicly available.
12. Is Yichen related to An Jung Geun?
Yes, Yichen is a descendant of Korean independence activist An Jung Geun.
13. What agency is Yichen under?
Yichen is under ONECEAD Entertainment as a MODYSSEY member and is also individually signed with WAKEONE Entertainment.
14. What are Yichen’s hobbies?
His hobbies include running, working out, cycling, hiking, and playing video games.
15. Does Yichen have pets?
Yes, he has eight cats and a dog named Happy.
16. What is Yichen’s zodiac sign?
17. What is Yichen’s position in MODYSSEY?
He is the oldest member of the group (the “hyung”) and serves as a vocalist and rapper.
18. Did Yichen train with ZEROBASEONE members?
Yes, he trained at Yuehua Entertainment alongside ZEROBASEONE’s Ricky, Zhang Hao, Gyuvin, and Yujin.
19. What is Yichen’s favorite color?
His favorite colors are blue and black.
20. What is Yichen’s dream?
His dream is to release his own album.
Summary
Yichen’s journey to K-pop stardom is a testament to perseverance. After nearly seven years, six survival show attempts, and countless setbacks, he finally debuted as a member of MODYSSEY in April 2026 at age 27. Born in Dandong, China, he is a descendant of Korean independence activist An Jung Geun-a fact that has drawn significant attention in Korea. Fluent in Korean, Chinese, and English, with a TOPIK Level 6 certification, Yichen brings both talent and dedication to his group. As MODYSSEY continues to rise with impressive album sales and international performances, Yichen’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring idols everywhere.
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