Hong Eunchae's path to K-pop began in elementary school, where she started learning choreography in after-school classes as K-pop transitioned from the second to third generation. What started as a hobby quickly transformed into a dream. At age 12, she enrolled at Def Dance Skool, a prominent Seoul academy known for training aspiring idols, where she spent nearly two years honing her skills and filming K-pop dance covers for the school's YouTube channel.1

The defining moment came in 2018 when Eunchae attended a SEVENTEEN concert. "I became drawn to them when I watched SEVENTEEN's concert," she recalled in her Weverse Magazine debut interview. "Seeing the relationship between SEVENTEEN and Carats made me want to share that same excitement and warmth with my fans." The experience crystallized her ambition. She began auditioning for agencies, passing first-round auditions at both JYP Entertainment and Pledis Entertainment before finally finding her home. During one audition, she met future Kep1er member Huening Bahiyyih; the two bonded while waiting at a café and have remained close friends since.2

In January 2021, Source Music held auditions at Def Dance Skool. Eunchae tried out and was accepted, signing with the HYBE subsidiary as a trainee. She had been training for roughly six months when she received unexpected news: she would debut. "I honestly thought I was dreaming," she told Weverse Magazine. "I thought I would be able to debut around 2024 or so."2

The timeline was compressed. When Eunchae joined the final lineup, the other members had already learned the choreography for "FEARLESS." What she accomplished next became part of Le Sserafim lore: she memorized the entire dance in two hours. "The other members were surprised and asked me how I could possibly have done it," she recounted. "I had no idea how I was going to manage it, but more than anything I just didn't want to be a burden on the other members."3 On April 6, 2022, she was revealed as the group's third member. Less than a month later, on May 2, the 15-year-old debuted as LE SSERAFIM's maknae.

Unlike her groupmates—Kim Chaewon and Sakura with IZ*ONE histories, Huh Yunjin with her operatic training, Kazuha with 15 years of ballet—Eunchae entered with no public persona. "I was just going to school before I auditioned and debuted," she reflected. "When I first debuted with LE SSERAFIM, a lot of people told me, 'You're so lucky.' I wasn't exactly sure myself why I was able to be a part of the group."4

The internal struggle informed her artistic contributions. For the 2024 album EASY, she was credited as a songwriter on "We Got So Much." More personally, her performance of "Swan Song" during LE SSERAFIM's concert tour became an emotional outlet. "Everyone in the group has their own story, right?" she explained. "Our group sings about these stories of ours, but in my case, I struggled with what to say whenever I had to write lyrics. That performance gave me an opportunity to express, through voice-over and through dance, exactly that struggle." Sakura offered perspective in the TVING documentary K-Pop Generation: "We're all lucky. If we weren't, we wouldn't be here. Luck is its own kind of skill."4

On February 3, 2023, KBS announced that Eunchae would become the new MC of Music Bank, replacing IVE's Jang Won-young. Her first broadcast aired on February 10, alongside co-host actor Lee Chae-min. The role represented a return to public speaking—something she had enjoyed in school but lost access to as a trainee. "Being a host has felt like rediscovering something I used to enjoy," she told Weverse Magazine. "Since it's a position every idol dreams of having, I'm really grateful for it."5

Her hosting spawned a companion web series, Eunchae's Star Diary, where she interviewed artists in green rooms with an earnest, slightly nervous energy that fans found endearing. Episodes with close friends like NMIXX's Kyujin and Huening Bahiyyih showcased natural chemistry, while encounters with senior groups like EXO revealed her flustered charm. After 1 year and 7 months, Eunchae stepped down from the MC position on September 27, 2024, to focus on LE SSERAFIM's global touring schedule. In her farewell, she asked fans: "Please don't forget your bank president, Hong Eunchae."6

Within LE SSERAFIM's internal dynamic, Eunchae has carved out the role of emotional center. Her constant smile earned her the nickname "Smiley Potato," while her relentless positivity made her the group's self-described "Happy Virus." Yet her relationship with the older members evolved from initial hesitation—given the significant age gaps—to genuine closeness. "I don't have an older sister, so I don't know for sure," she explained, "but Yunjin treats me just like an older sister would—so much so that our unit name is Sisters. zuha is like a sister and a friend, and kkura is like my mom!"7

She credits Sakura with early efforts to bridge the gap. "I found out that Kkura had gone to that instructor before me and asked privately how she could get closer with me. The other members all wanted to become friends with me already. They just needed me to open up first." Now, she says, "I think I could close my eyes and know who's who just by holding their hands." As the group has grown, so has Eunchae's comfort in her role. "It's not easy, but now I'm trying to think, 'This is me—I am me,'" she reflected. Her personal motto within the group encapsulates the journey: "Fearless of the Attention."7