About SeongJoong
SeongJoong (also known as 'Matz' in the ATINY fandom) is the fan-shipping between ATEEZ's two oldest members and de facto leaders: Park Seonghwa and Kim Hongjoong, the group's captain. Their dynamic has been described by fans and members alike as a 'mom and dad' pairing โ Hongjoong as the visionary, demanding captain who steers ATEEZ's creative direction, and Seonghwa as the nurturing, grounding presence who looks after the group's emotional health and supports Hongjoong directly. One of the most cited moments in the SeongJoong fandom is Seonghwa's response when KQ Entertainment management asked who should lead the group before their debut: Seonghwa stated that 'Nothing would make sense if Hongjoong wasn't the leader.' Hongjoong, in turn, has said that he thinks Seonghwa is 'the coolest member.' The two are known for constant playful bickering that fans describe as paradoxically deepening their bond. Note: The pair_title 'Seonghwa & Hongjong' reflects the fan pairing name as submitted; the correct romanization of the ATEEZ captain's name is Hongjoong (Kim Hongjoong).
SeongJoong is one of the most popular ATEEZ intra-group ships in the ATINY community, rivaled in the fandom only by WooSan. Fans frame it as a 'captain and his anchor' dynamic โ leadership and nurture in complementary balance. Active communities exist on Twitter/X, TikTok, and AO3.
Fun facts
- โฆ Seonghwa is the oldest ATEEZ member and Hongjoong is the leader (captain), making SeongJoong the group's top-two seniority pairing โ a classic 'mom and dad of the group' dynamic.
- โฆ Hongjoong is called ATEEZ's 'Captain' rather than 'leader' due to ATEEZ's pirate concept, which gives SeongJoong fans an additional mythological dimension for their 'captain and first mate' framing.
- โฆ The alternate ship name 'Matz' comes from the Korean word 'mat-hyung' (๋งํ), meaning 'oldest brother' โ a nod to both members' seniority in ATEEZ.
Moments
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2018-10
ATEEZ debut and leadership declaration
ATEEZ debuted on October 24, 2018. Fans point to a pre-debut moment in which KQ Entertainment management asked members who should lead the group, and Seonghwa stated that 'Nothing would make sense if Hongjoong wasn't the leader.' This quote has become foundational SeongJoong fan lore.
Ship Couples ranking by year
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2020
#85
1116 votes
Best finish: #85
The pairing
Fan gallery
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