WOODZ Completes Military Service and Rises to Fame with 'Drowning'

WOODZ, also known as Cho Seung-youn, has officially completed his military service.

On the 21st, WOODZ was discharged from active duty in the South Korean Army, where he served in the military band at the Korea Military Academy since enlisting in January of last year.

Earlier this year, WOODZ's track 'Drowning,' released in April 2023, gained unexpected popularity, creating a reverse chart phenomenon.

In October of last year, WOODZ performed 'Drowning' in military uniform on KBS 2TV's 'Immortal Songs' during a special episode for Armed Forces Day. The performance went viral, boosting the song's popularity.

As a result, 'Drowning' topped the 'Top 100' chart on South Korea's Melon streaming platform and achieved first place on music shows, setting new records.

Riding the wave of 'Drowning's' success, WOODZ has already been booked for major festivals, including Japan's 'Summer Sonic 2025' in August and the '2025 Busan International Rock Festival' in September, even before his discharge.

WOODZ debuted in 2014 with the group UNIQ. He later participated in Mnet's boy group audition program 'Produce X 101,' finishing in fifth place and joining the debut group X1. However, due to controversies surrounding the program, X1 disbanded, and WOODZ continued his career as a solo artist.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia one@tenasia.co.kr