&TEAM’s EJ has been announced as the new MC of SBS’s Inkigayo, joining a trio alongside IVE’s Leeseo and TWS’s Shinyu.
On September 19, HYBE confirmed that EJ will join the popular Korean music show as the MC.
The announcement comes just ahead of &TEAM’s official Korean debut with their mini-album Back to Life on October 28.
The &TEAM leader replaces Han Yujin (ZEROBASEONE) and Moon Sung Hyun, who left the show after the September 14 broadcast. His selection highlights the group’s growing influence in Korea despite primarily promoting in Japan since their 2022 debut under HYBE Labels Japan (now YX Labels).
EJ’s appointment is especially significant because “Inkigayo” has historically been a launchpad for idols. Past MCs include BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu, NCT’s Jaehyun, and TXT’s Yeonjun.
For the 23-year-old idol, the role offers a chance to show his hosting abilities, entertainment sense, and visuals to a wider Korean audience before &TEAM’s first official album promotions.
Leeseo, born on February 21, 2007, in Seoul, is the maknae (youngest member) of the six-member girl group IVE under Starship Entertainment. She debuted with IVE on December 1, 2021, with the single album “ELEVEN” and has been serving as an MC for Inkigayo since April 28, 2024. She joined the SBS’ flagship music program, Inkigayo, when Yeonjun, Park Ji Hu, and Woonhak stepped down as MCs.
Shinyu, born Shin Junghwan on November 7, 2003, is the leader and main rapper of the boy group TWS. He debuted with TWS under PlEDIS Entertainment, a sub-label of HYBE. The group debuted with mini-album, ‘Sparkling Blue’ in January 2024, and won the Rookie of the Year trophy at the MAMA Awards.
The new MC trio brings together Gen Z idols from prominent K-pop groups. EJ, Leeseo, and Shinyu are likely to show strong teamwork on stage through their visuals, performance, and fan connection.
Inkigayo airs live every Sunday, featuring performances, special stages, and collaborations.
