S.Coups

Choi Seung-cheol (Korean: 최승철; born 8 August 1995), professionally known by his stage name S.Coups (에스쿱스), is a South Korean rapper, singer, and songwriter. Managed by Pledis Entertainment, he is the leader of the South Korean boy band Seventeen, and also the leader of its hip hop team.

Early life

Choi Seung-cheol was born in Daegu, South Korea, on 8 August 1995. He attended School of Performing Arts Seoul and then enrolled in Hanyang University. In 2022, he enrolled in a Master's degree at Anyang University.

Career

2009–2014: Pre-debut

Choi joined Pledis Entertainment in 2009, where he received training for the next 6 years. In 2013, he joined for the second season 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.

As a trainee, he participated in works of other Pledis artists, including featuring on Orange Caramel's debut album and appearing in NU'EST, Hello Venus, and After School music videos.

2015–present: Seventeen and solo activities

In 2015, S.Coups debuted as a member and the leader of the South Korean boy group Seventeen with the extended play 17 Carat on 26 May. Since debuting, S.Coups has participated in the songwriting of over 70 Seventeen songs.

In 2019, it was announced that S.Coups would be taking a break due to symptoms of anxiety, missing parts of Seventeen's Ode to You World Tour. Following recovery, S.Coups returned to activities in March 2020.

In 2023, it was announced that S.Coups would be halting activities in order to recover from anterior cruciate ligament surgery. During his hiatus, he missed parts of Seventeen's Follow Tour, however he still made appearances at the 2023 MAMA Awards and the 38th Golden Disc Awards as Seventeen won Daesangs (Grand Prizes) at each award show for their 2023 album FML. His injury resulted in him being classified as Grade 5 under the South Korean military fitness classification, resulting in him being exempt from military service during peacetime. On 31 December, S.Coups released a digital song named "Me", written and produced by himself and regular Seventeen collaborator Bumzu.

In February 2024, Pledis announced that he, alongside bandmate Jeonghan, who was also on a health-related hiatus, would be returning to activities in March 2024. In September, he attended the Loewe spring 2025 show at Paris Fashion Week, having previously attended a store opening for the brand in Seoul in July.

In January 2025, S.Coups was granted full membership to the Korea Music Copyright Association, which is granted to a number of musicians annually who have garnered a high amount of royalties through their music. Later that year, he featured on the cover of a magazine for the first time, for the April edition of Numéro Tokyo.

Other ventures

Endorsements

In July 2022, S.Coups was announced as Korean skincare brand Some By Mi's new global advertising model, starting in August of that year. Over the next two years, S.Coups participated in a number of pictorials for the brand's new product releases. In June 2024, S.Coups, alongside Seventeen members Wonwoo and Vernon, became the new global brand ambassador for Chitato, an Indonesian snack brand under Indofood. In August 2024, he was announced as the new brand model for Korean skincare brand Neogen, and as the new South Korean ambassador for French cosmetics company NARS Cosmetics alongside bandmate Hoshi.

Philanthropy

In February 2023, S.Coups donated ₩20 million (US$15,106) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association for relief efforts for the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes. In October, he donated ₩30 million (US$22,647) to Weact, a shelter for rescued dogs, and named one of their rescue dogs "Carat", after the name of Seventeen's official fanclub. In December, he donated ₩50 million (US$42,694) to the non-profit organization 'Angels' Nest', a shelter for abandoned animals.

In August 2024, to commemorate his 29th birthday, S.Coups donated another ₩30 million (US$21,809) to Weact, again in the name of Seventeen's fanclub.

Personal life

S.Coups lives in Seoul, with his older brother and a Coton De Tulear named Goguma (Korean: 고구마; lit. Sweet Potato), or Kkuma for short (꾸마).

On 1 March 2024, S.Coups was ruled exempt from mandatory military service in a recent physical examination due to a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee joint.