If you’ve been following the meteoric rise of Katseye since they officially took over the charts with "Touch," you already know that the group is a powerhouse of diverse talent. But there is one question that keeps popping up in comment sections and Discord servers: how old is yoonchae from katseye exactly?
It sounds like a simple question. It isn’t.
Depending on which Reddit thread you’re reading or which old Dream Academy clip you’re watching, you might see people claiming she's anywhere from 15 to 19. It’s enough to make your head spin. But if you’re looking for the hard facts, you’ve come to the right place.
As of January 2026, Yoonchae is 18 years old.
She was born on December 6, 2007.
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Why Everyone Is So Confused About How Old Yoonchae From Katseye Is
Honestly, the confusion is kind of understandable. Most of it stems from when the world first met her during The Debut: Dream Academy back in 2023. At the time, she was just 15 years old. However, the show sometimes referred to her as 16. Why the discrepancy?
It mostly comes down to the traditional Korean age system. Even though South Korea officially moved toward the international age standard recently, the cultural habit of being "one" at birth and aging up on New Year’s Day still lingers in how people talk.
During the show’s production, she was frequently marketed as 16 because she was turning 16 that year. If you saw the Netflix documentary Popstar Academy, you might remember the other girls calling her the "baby" of the group. That’s because she is the maknae—a Korean term for the youngest person in a group.
- Birth Date: December 6, 2007
- Current Age (Early 2026): 18
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
The Maknae Magic: Growing Up in the Spotlight
Being 18 might sound like a normal age to most of us, but for Yoonchae, those 18 years have been packed. She started training to be a K-pop idol when she was only 12. Think about that for a second. While most of us were worrying about middle school math, she was in a dance studio for hours every day.
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She spent two years as a trainee at WakeOne before moving to HYBE in 2023. When she made the final lineup for Katseye, she had to move from Seoul to Los Angeles. That is a massive jump for a teenager.
It’s actually wild to see how much she’s grown since the "Debut" era. In the early music videos, there was a definite "youngest sibling" energy. Now, in the Beautiful Chaos era (their 2025 EP), she has evolved into a sophisticated performer. She’s also the tallest member of the group, standing at about 170 cm (5'7"), which always catches new fans off guard since they expect the youngest to be the shortest.
How Her Age Influences Katseye’s Dynamic
The age gap in Katseye is actually pretty interesting. While Yoonchae is 18, the oldest members like Manon and Sophia are entering their mid-20s.
This creates a "big sister" dynamic that the girls talk about all the time in interviews. Yoonchae has gone on record saying she has "five big sisters" she can count on. It wasn't always easy, though. During the early days in LA, she was still perfecting her English while balancing intensive rehearsals and finishing her schooling.
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She effectively grew up on camera. Fans who have followed her since the first Dream Academy missions have watched her go from a shy 15-year-old trainee to a 18-year-old global pop star.
What’s Next for Yoonchae?
Now that she’s 18, Yoonchae is entering a new phase of her career. The group is no longer just a "project"—they are a global fixture. With their second EP Beautiful Chaos and the success of the 2025 single "Gnarly," the pressure is higher than ever.
If you're a fan (or an "EYEKON," as the fandom is called), the best thing you can do to stay updated is follow the official Katseye Weverse or their TikTok. They post behind-the-scenes content almost daily, and you can see how the group's style and maturity continue to shift.
Keep an eye on their upcoming tour dates for 2026. Seeing her perform live really puts into perspective how much skill she's packed into those 18 years. If you're looking to dive deeper into her journey, re-watching Popstar Academy on Netflix is a great way to see exactly how she beat out 120,000 other applicants to earn her spot.
Make sure to mark your calendar for December 6—that’s when she’ll be hitting the big 1-9.