Xu Minghao

Biography

Xu Minghao (Chinese: 徐明浩; Korean: 서명호; born November 7, 1997), known professionally as The8 (디에잇; also stylized as The 8), is a Chinese singer and dancer based in South Korea. Managed by Pledis Entertainment, he is a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen, its performance team, and the sub-unit V8.
In 2018, he had his official solo debut with the release of "Night and Rain" and served as one of the two dance mentors in the Chinese survival show Youth With You. In 2024, he released his first EP titled Stardust×STARDUST3 December 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks154321 (Lift Off)2:302Orbit (轨道)2:553Cold Love3:19.

Early life and education

The8 was born in Haicheng, Liaoning, China on November 7, 1997. He attended Beijing Contemporary Music Academy.

2008–2013: Early actives in China

The8 began learning martial arts at the age of four and later trained in breaking for five years beginning in elementary school. He later joined a youth b-boy crew in China and developed skills in tumbling and acrobatics, while also participating in breaking competitions.
In 2008, The8 appeared on the Chinese program CCTV Variety Show. In February 2010, he appeared on Hunan Television's Day Day Up as the leader of the youth breaking crew Dance Power. During the appearance, the crew performed street dance, and when host Wang Han asked about his ambition, The8 said that he wanted to become a star.Audio of the exchange was later sampled in the opening of “Friend”, a track from his 2026 unit album V8 with Vernon.
In April 2012, The8 led Dance Power at the sixth BBOY IN SHANGHAI World Breaking Competition, where the crew reached the top eight of the global finals.
While attending school in Beijing, The8 continued training in breaking and was cast while taking a breaking class.

Late 2013–2015: Pledis training and pre-debut

While attending school in Beijing, The8 was scouted while taking a breaking class and then moved to South Korea to train under Pledis Entertainment. He began training with Pledis around December 2013, approximately one year and five months before Seventeen's debut.
In a 2020 retrospective segment from SEVENTEEN Comeback Show [Heng:garae], The8 recalled that while living in China he had watched videos that of the Seventeen trainees from the show and seen them as celebrities before meeting them in South Korea.
In July 2014, he began appearing with the group's pre-debut trainees during the fifth and final season of Seventeen TV, titled Last Seventeen TV.
Following Pledis' training process, The8 was confirmed as one of Seventeen's final 13 members in April 2015. He later appeared in the MBC Music reality series Seventeen Project: Debut Big Plan, which followed the group's preparations for debut.

2015–present: Seventeen, solo activities and sub-unit activities

The8 debuted as a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen with their first extended play (EP) 17 Carat on May 29, 2015. After debuting with Seventeen, The8 also landed a television role in Real Class - Elementary School in 2017. On December 12, 2017, Pledis Entertainment announced that The8 would be suspending his promotional activities due to a waist injury. He returned to promotions with the release of Seventeen's special album Directors Cut in February 2018.
In 2018, The8 participated in the Chinese reality television show Chao Yin Zhan Ji alongside bandmate Jun. In 2019, he served as one of the two dance coaches (alongside Jolin Tsai) in the Chinese survival show Youth With You. The8 made his solo debut on June 9, 2019, with the single "Dreams Come True". On May 4, 2020, he announced the release of a second single, "Falling Down", released four days later.
On April 8, 2021, The8 announced the release of his third single, "Side by Side×Side by Side21 April 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Side by Side (Chinese Version)2:592Side by Side (Korean Version)2:59". It was released on April 13 in both Chinese and Korean. On May 4, 2021, The8 released a single called "Mom's Missed Call" along with bandmate Jun, with all proceeds donated to help children in need in China. The single was a part of the Dandelion Philanthropy Music Project for the Chinese Children's Charity Association. In September 2021, Pledis Entertainment announced that The8, alongside bandmate Jun, would be temporarily taking a break from Seventeen activities in order to work in China for the rest of the year. The8 and Jun arrived back in South Korea late December that year.
On March 18, 2022, The8 released the single "Hai Cheng×Hai Cheng18 March 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hai Cheng3:52" (海城), which he dedicated to his hometown. On December 4, 2024, The8 released his first EP titled Stardust×STARDUST3 December 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks154321 (Lift Off)2:302Orbit (轨道)2:553Cold Love3:19. The Chinese-language EP comprises three songs, including the lead single "Orbit" featuring JinJiBeWater. On February 2, 2025, The8 began serving as a producer and mentor in the survival show Chuang Asia: Season 2.
On June 29, 2026, The8 and Vernon debuted as V8, Seventeen's sixth sub-unit, with their self-titled debut EP V8. The eight-track EP explored electronic and hyperpop-influenced music and included the lead single "singasong", which The8 and Vernon co-composed with Mechatok, as well as The8's solo track "8DM".