Born: 1970

Leadership: 2006 - 2019

Children: Hongjoong

Died: 2019 (aged 49)

 

Ji-hun came into power in 2006 after Bong-hwa’s death, although he had been unofficially running ATEEZ for approximately 2 years prior to that, when his father's illness had left him bed-ridden.

Ever since his young years, Ji-hun always harboured different ideals from his father. He witnessed the brutality Bong-hwa inflicted on those that disagreed with him or crossed his path. Sometimes he experienced the after effects of that, when his father came home in a foul mood and dragged him and his sister, Areum, through hell and back.

 

It wasn't just the violence though. There were many practices ATEEZ was involved in that Ji-hun protested vehemently. The narcotics business was one such practice. He had seen the ravaging effects of the drugs on school children, mere kids who got caught in the deathly trap, only to die at their own hands, alone.

 

He wanted to institute real reform in the gang, resolve the feud with KARD, but his proposals shook the foundations that ATEEZ had been standing on for almost half a century, and he faced heavy opposition from the Commission, and even his friends.

 

In early 2019, Ji-hun was caught in a car crash that left him with fatal wounds. After his death, his son, Hongjoong took over leadership of the ATEEZ.