Vernon Chwe

Hansol Vernon Chwe, known mononymously as Vernon, is a South Korean and American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Managed by Pledis Entertainment, he is best known as a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen, its hip hop team, and the sub-unit V8. Vernon holds dual South Korean and American citizenship and made his official solo debut with the single Black Eye in December 2022.

Vernon was born at Tisch Hospital in Kips Bay, Manhattan, New York City, on February 18, 1998, to an American mother and a Korean father, both of whom are artists. At five years old, he moved with his family to Hongdae, South Korea. His stage name comes from his middle name, which is also his mother's maiden name. Vernon attended Changcheon Middle School before opting for homeschooling to focus on training after being street-scouted by Pledis Entertainment.

Vernon joined Pledis Entertainment in 2012 and underwent three years of training. Beginning in 2013, he featured in the online reality show Seventeen TV on Ustream, which showcased trainees preparing for debut through training, singing, choreography, games, and performances like the Like Seventeen concerts. Before his official music debut, he appeared on South Korean television shows including Hello Stranger! and Song Eun-i's Eye to Eye.

Vernon officially debuted with Seventeen on May 26, 2015, with the extended play 17 Carat, contributing lyrics to four of its five tracks. He has since participated in writing over 90 songs, making him the Seventeen member with the second-most writing credits. Beyond group activities, he joined the musical collective M.O.L.A in 2017. He released his self-written solo track Bands Boy in 2021 and featured on a remix of Charli XCX's Beg for You in February 2022.

In December 2022, Vernon released Black Eye as part of Seventeen's The Thirteen Tapes series. He hosted an Apple Music 1 radio show, Summer Vacation With Joshua and Vernon of Seventeen, in July 2023 and appeared on Mark Hoppus' After School Radio. In 2024, he became a regular member of the Korean Music Copyright Association and landed a cameo in Anderson .Paak's film K-Pops!. In June 2026, he debuted in Seventeen's sixth sub-unit, V8, releasing their self-titled EP featuring the lead single singasong and his solo track mia.

Vernon draws musical influence from punk rock acts like Green Day and Avril Lavigne, as well as hyperpop artists such as Charli XCX. In 2023, he became the first global ambassador for French fashion house Kenzo, attending Paris Fashion Week and fronting their FW23 campaign. On August 20, 2026, Vernon began his mandatory military service as a social service worker, which is scheduled to conclude on May 19, 2028.