Biography
Son Young-jae (손영재), known by his stage name Eric, is the lead dancer, main rapper and Maknae of the group The Boyz. Although Eric was born in South Korea, he grew up in Los Angeles, California, which helped him to speak English fluently.
Profile
- Birth name: Young son Jae
- English name: Eric Sohn
- Art name: Eric
- Position: Dancer, singer, rapper, Maknae
- Birthday: December 22, 2000
- Zodiac sign: Capricorn
- Height: 174cm (5’9″)
- Weight: 56 kg (123 lbs)
- Blood type: A
Pre-debut
ON June 30, 2016Eric appeared in Melody Day’s music video for “Color”marking his first significant involvement in the entertainment scene. Although he was not part of the group, his appearance in the music video sparked interest from fans and industry professionals alike.
In 2017Eric’s journey continued with his appearance in “Paparazzi trainees” series.. ON July 8, 2017appeared together with Kevin, recognized for his vocal talent, in the video titled “[TRAINEE PAPARAZZI] The Crackers’ vocal treasure, Kevin (KEVIN) live” on YouTube. This video helped introduce Eric as a promising intern with a lot of potential.
Just a few days later, on July 11, 2017Eric was seen in another Episode “Paparazzi Trainees”.this time together with another intern Hoon Nam Park AND Nam Hyunjaeshowcasing his skills and chemistry with the other members of the group before their official debut.
Eric’s profile gained more recognition when The Boyz profile film was released on July 21, 2017as part of the STUNNED series of profiles. This film, which features Eric as one of the group’s lead dancers and singers, was crucial in solidifying its identity and presence in the K-pop industry. This initial visibility helped create anticipation for his official debut, which arrived shortly after with The Boyz.
These early accomplishments provided a solid foundation for Eric’s career, demonstrating his dedication and growth as an artist before his full debut with The Boyz.
Scandal/Controversies
No controversy over masks
In December 2020, a photo surfaced showing Eric bowling without a mask at a bowling alley, sparking controversy. Eric later apologized, explaining: “The incident occurred in mid-November while I was with friends who were about to join the army. I regret not adhering to social norms and am truly sorry for my actions.”
The Pepero accident and the controversial photo
On November 11, 2024, Eric (The Boyz) became the center of attention after publicly posting a photo of himself sending condoms to fans. November 11 is Pepero Day in South Korea, a day when people give Pepero cookies to their loved ones. However, due to the condom packaging looking a lot like the Pepero box, Eric mistakenly purchased the wrong item, creating a hilarious and embarrassing situation.
Netizens found the incident funny and expressed sympathy for the male idol. However, on November 15, Eric once again sparked controversy when he posted a selfie in the rehearsal room. In the photo, Eric wore gray sweatpants that showed off his sensitive area. The male idol faced a lot of criticism, with many wondering if Eric had lied about the Pepero incident.
This shocking behavior from the male idol left many stunned, especially after the previous controversy over Pepero’s gift.
Facts
- He was born in South Korea and raised in Los Angeles, California.
- He has an older sister.
- He likes playing sports, watching movies, dancing and ice skating.
- His specialties are playing baseball and solving the Rubik’s Cube.
- He speaks English fluently.
- His favorite colors are black and white.
- His favorite food is Ramen (noodles).
- He likes to clean and is responsible for cleaning the dormitory.
- He likes skateboarding.
- Eric, Hwall, Hyunjae and Younghoon appeared in the music video for Melody Day’s “Colour”.
- He shares a room with New.
- He is friends with Hohyeon and Jihun from TRCNG.
- He placed 4th in a Rubik’s Cube competition (grade 4) and 2nd in a baseball league in California (in high school).
- It can also imitate Geodude (a Pokémon).
- His best friend in the idol world is Felix from Stray Kids.
- When he has free time, he hangs out with Juyeon or goes to the movies, sleeps or plays video games.
- He is friends with Daehwi from Wanna One.
- He prefers to be called “Oppa” rather than “Baby”.
- He wants to try being a leader once instead of the maknae.
- He says that New, Haknyeon and Hyunjae are sometimes more childish than him.
- Her ideal type: a very charming girl.
