Bang Chan

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Lore & Background

Bang Chan was born on 3 October 1997 in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Sydney, Australia. He is the first of three children and the elder brother of independent musician and YouTuber Hannah Bahng. Proficient in English and Korean, he attended Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, where he trained in ballet and modern dance and was a member of the school choir. He was also a competitive swimmer, often winning medals, and a classically trained pianist who took lessons from age five. At 13, he passed the 2010 JYP Entertainment Global Audition held in Australia and moved to South Korea to become a trainee. He graduated from Chungdam High School majoring in music and acting. During his seven-year traineeship, he made cameo appearances in music videos for Miss A's "Only You" (as a café customer) and Twice's "Like Ooh-Ahh" (as a zombie). He met future bandmates Han and Changbin while taking MIDI classes, and in 2016 they formed the hip-hop group 3Racha, with Bang Chan using the pseudonym CB97. They uploaded their first mixtape, *J:/2017/mixtape*, to SoundCloud in January 2017.

In Their Own Story

In late 2017, JYP Entertainment announced a new survival show called *Stray Kids* in collaboration with Mnet, and Bang Chan was announced as a participant. He was granted the opportunity to choose his own team of trainees to prepare for debut. Alongside weekly missions, he worked closely with the group on their branding and even designed the Stray Kids logo. He was praised for his leadership and dedication during the survival show. In early 2018, he and the other Stray Kids members released their first pre-debut album, EP *Mixtape*, featuring the group's self-composed songs from the show. Bang Chan officially debuted as the leader of Stray Kids on 25 March 2018, with the stage name Bang Chan. His roles in the group include singing, rapping, and dancing. In 2019, as part of the group's first variety show *Finding SKZ*, the group travelled to Australia, where Bang Chan helped organise activities to introduce his bandmates to the culture of his homeland.

Reader's Guide

Bang Chan has showcased solo work through Stray Kids' SKZ-Record and SKZ-Replay platforms. On 16 May 2020, he featured on Changbin's track "Streetlight", and later released the self-composed solo track "I Hate to Admit" on 29 May through the SKZ-Record series. On 15 January 2021, he was featured on I.N's solo song "Maknae on Top" alongside Changbin. On 27 June, he collaborated with Twice's Tzuyu on a cover of Taylor Swift's "Me!" as part of Twice's Melody Project series. In July, he and bandmate Lee Know released "Drive", a self-composed and self-produced song on the album *SKZ-Replay*. In August, he performed the unreleased track "Yeah" at KCON LA with Han and Changbin. He collaborated with Changbin and Han on "Zone" for *SKZ-Replay*, and released his self-composed solo track "Connected" on the same album. He co-wrote and co-composed the song "3Racha", Stray Kids' first exploration of the drill genre, which debuted at number 36 on the Circle Download Chart for the week of 2–8 October 2022, and was later ranked 14th on NME's year-end list. As part of 3Racha, he co-wrote, composed, and performed "Heyday" for the *Street Man Fighter* soundtrack. During the 5-Star Dome Tour in 2023, he performed his unreleased song "Baby" at Tokyo Dome. In March 2024, he released the music video for his English single "Eternity", which featured his pet dog, Berry. In September, during the Dominate tour, he revealed and performed his unreleased solo song "Railway", later included in the *Hop* album and officially released on December 13. In April 2025, he appeared on Astro's special release "Moon: Memory of the Moon", a tribute to Moonbin, which peaked at number 4 on the World Digital Song Sales chart. In behind-the-scenes footage, Bang Chan said of his late friend, "I guess I never told you properly... thank you, and I miss you."

Did You Know?

• Bang Chan contributed ideas for the Stray Kids logo, which was professionally designed by JYP Entertainment's design team.
• He was a competitive swimmer who often won medals, and a classically trained pianist from age five.
• He made a cameo as a zombie in Twice's debut music video "Like Ooh-Ahh".
• As of 2024, he has over 200 songs registered to his name at KOMCA.
• Stray Kids' song "Slash" was featured in the Marvel film *Deadpool & Wolverine*, though Bang Chan did not compose for the film.

Architect of a Group: Leadership and Formation

Bang Chan stands as the foundational architect behind Stray Kids, distinguishing himself from typical survival show participants by actively shaping the group's identity. Selected to lead during the Mnet reality series, he was entrusted with the unique responsibility of choosing his own team members rather than having an agency dictate the lineup. His influence extended beyond personnel selection; he personally designed the group's logo and oversaw their branding strategy, ensuring a cohesive vision from the outset. This hands-on approach began years prior during his seven-year trainee period at JYP Entertainment, where he bonded with future collaborators Han and Changbin while studying music production. Together, they formed 3Racha, an in-house production unit that laid the groundwork for the group's self-producing ethos. By guiding the team through weekly missions and fostering a collaborative environment during their pre-debut phase, Chan established a leadership style rooted in creativity and shared responsibility. His ability to merge administrative vision with artistic direction was instrumental in transforming a collection of trainees into a unified boy band ready for debut.

Musical Versatility: From Drill to Global Soundtracks

As a prolific songwriter and producer, Bang Chan has cultivated a diverse musical portfolio that transcends the boundaries of K-pop. Since becoming a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association in February 2023, his compositions have reached audiences through various media, including television series like Tower of God and films such as Doraemon: Nobita's Sky Utopia and Deadpool & Wolverine. His production credits extend to international collaborations with artists ranging from Alesso and Tiger JK to Japanese singer Lisa and American rapper Lil Durk. Within Stray Kids, Chan frequently experiments with genre-bending sounds; notably, he co-wrote the drill track '3Racha,' which garnered critical acclaim and charted on NME's year-end list. His solo endeavors further demonstrate his range, from the introspective lyrics of 'I Hate to Admit' to the English single 'Eternity.' Additionally, he has contributed to soundtracks for shows like Street Man Fighter with the track 'Heyday,' proving his capability to adapt his production style to fit different narrative contexts while maintaining a distinct artistic signature.

The Dual Identity: Solo Artistry and Unit Collaborations

Beyond his duties as Stray Kids' leader, Bang Chan has carved out a significant space for individual expression through solo releases and sub-unit projects. Utilizing the SKZ-Record and SKZ-Replay platforms, he has shared personal narratives that highlight his introspective songwriting style, such as in the track 'Connected.' His collaborative spirit is evident in various unit tracks, including 'Red Lights' with Hyunjin, which became a top-streamed hit, and 'Waiting For Us,' a soft rock piece featuring Lee Know, Seungmin, and I.N. Chan also frequently partners with fellow 3Racha members Han and Changbin, performing unreleased songs like 'Yeah' at major events such as KCON LA. His solo journey includes performances of tracks like 'Baby' at the Tokyo Dome during the 5-Star Dome Tour and the release of 'Railway' during the Dominate tour. These activities allow him to explore different sonic landscapes, from self-composed ballads to high-energy hip-hop, showcasing a depth of artistry that complements his role within the larger group dynamic.

Roots and Resilience: From Sydney Trainee to Global Star

Bang Chan's journey is defined by a unique cross-cultural background and early dedication to the performing arts. Born in Seoul but raised in Sydney, Australia, he developed fluency in both English and Korean while excelling as a competitive swimmer and classically trained pianist from age five. His formal training included ballet and modern dance at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, where he also participated in the school choir. At just 13 years old, he passed the JYP Entertainment Global Audition in Australia, moving to South Korea to begin a rigorous seven-year trainee life alongside future stars from Twice, Got7, and Day6. This international upbringing later influenced his career when Stray Kids visited Australia for their variety show Finding SKZ; Chan leveraged his local knowledge to organize cultural activities for his bandmates. His early experiences as the eldest of three children, including being the brother of musician Hannah Bahng, likely fostered the nurturing leadership qualities that would eventually define his role in one of K-pop's most prominent groups.

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