Ateez (, stylized as ATEEZ) is a South Korean boy band formed by KQ Entertainment. The group consists of eight members: Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho. They debuted on October 24, 2018, with the extended play (EP) Treasure EP.1: All to Zero. Ateez were named Worldwide Fans' Choice at the 2019 and 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards, and won the Bonsang (main award) at the 4th The Fact Music Awards, the 30th and 31st Seoul Music Awards. As of January 2023, Ateez have released nine EPs, one studio album and one single album in the Korean language, as well as three EP and two studio albums in the Japanese language. Their records Treasure EP.Fin: All to Action, Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer, Zero: Fever Part.1, Zero: Fever Part.2, Zero: Fever Epilogue and The World EP.1: Movement each topped the South Korean Gaon Album Chart, with Zero: Fever Part. 1 becoming the group's first to be certified platinum in the country. Ateez have sold over four million physical albums worldwide. Often referred to as "Global Performance Idols" by Korean media and dubbed "4th Generation Leaders" by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the group has also served as official global ambassadors for Korean culture and tourism. History 2016–2018: Formation, pre-debut activities, and Treasure EP.1 Plans for a new KQ Entertainment boy band began after a staff member discovered a letter and sample mixtape from Kim Hongjoong, who would eventually become Ateez's leader, expressing interest in becoming a trainee at the company due to his admiration of Block B, a group also managed by KQ Entertainment. Hongjoong became the company's first official trainee and would remain the only one until Yunho joined six months later. Over the next year, members Mingi, San, Seonghwa, Yeosang, Jongho, and Wooyoung joined KQ Entertainment as trainees. Many had previous training experience at other companies: Mingi at Maroo Entertainment, Jongho at TOP Media, and Yeosang and Wooyoung who trained at Big Hit Entertainment together. In late 2017, Hongjoong, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho competed on the survival reality show Mix Nine, placing 42nd, 63rd, 72nd, and 43rd respectively out of all male contestants. Prior to debuting, trainees under KQ Entertainment were known as "KQ Fellaz". On May 18, 2018, KQ Entertainment released the YouTube video "KQ Fellaz Performance Video I", which featured all eight Ateez members together for the first time, dancing