The Core of WONHO

WONHO’s fans are used to people making assumptions about the artist before he even opens his mouth.

To some, he’s the sculpted physique first and the K-pop star second — an image-heavy performer in a genre itself often dismissed for being glossy. But that surface-level reading dissolves the minute you actually meet him where he lives: on stage.

This year’s Stay Awake Europe tour — his second as a solo artist, following his 2022 debut run — spans ten cities across the continent, including several first-time stops like Paris, Cologne, Tilburg, and Helsinki; he made time for our cover shoot the day after his packed-out show in London. It’s not a legacy victory lap. For his fans (known as WENEE), credibility was never in question. But for anyone still clinging to outdated perceptions of what a “K-pop soloist” can be, experiencing WONHO on tour makes the case.

And if the stage doesn’t convince you, sitting across from him after three hours of photography, like we did for this cover, certainly will.

“There’s a different kind of energy that I feel when I’m on stage compared to when I’m in front of a camera,” he says, still slightly flushed from the shoot. “I really enjoyed myself today… I want to keep this fun energy with me through my shows.” Even in front of the camera, with an open denim jacket and a casual air that shows off his physique, the strength of WONHO’s presence lies in how he carries energy, playfulness, and intention through every pose.

It sounds simple, but that distinction — stage versus lens, spectacle versus stillness — is where the core of WONHO begins to reveal itself. He is not an artist carried by aesthetics but one constantly negotiating intention. Even the shoot, filled with unexpected props (“The apples were a big thing — with the hands and everything”), becomes a shift to carry forward. The apples weren’t just props; they were a moment of improvisation, of play — something unscripted. Instead of just holding them stiffly, WONHO played with them, improvised, and found a genuine moment of fun. “We also took some photos when I was leaning on a chair, and that actually felt like a workout in the middle of the shoot,” he reflects further. Watching him on stage or on set, you’ll realize that WONHO is someone who notices those moments and turns them into momentum; observant and present, able to find creative energy in small, unexpected moments.

And that’s the throughline of this era: observation becomes refinement. He observes what works and what doesn't, and then actively refines his art based on those observations. It's a conscious, thoughtful, and fan-first process.

For example, take his recent run of shows in Latin America. When we discuss how those concerts helped him prepare for the European leg, he talks about restructuring his set not for convenience, but clarity. “The production staff and I discuss the show after and give feedback,” he starts. “We adjusted the talking parts to fit the show better, and the stage lighting became smoother too. Adjusting these parts helped with the efficiency and whole energy of the show.” Obsessing over those seemingly small details is what elevates a good performer into a great one. It feels obvious when talking with him that this is about making the emotional and artistic impact stronger for the audience.

In K-pop — a genre built on grandiose and scale — the instinct is often to keep escalating: higher notes, bigger production, more dramatic outfits, more everything. WONHO isn’t abandoning that power; he’s evolving it. He’s learned when to strip things back, when silence hits harder than noise. This isn't about holding back because he can't do more, but about having complete command over his craft, where every element is there for a specific reason. Think of it like this: it's the difference between a crowded, noisy room and a perfectly arranged, serene space. Precision not as restraint, but control. His actions suggest he is no longer asking ‘how much can I give?’ like a rookie, but ‘where does it matter most?’ with a veteran’s clarity.

Even “Better Than Me,” the throwback R&B single that kicked off his new era earlier this year, wasn’t released as a placeholder — it was positioning. Like the first piece in a chess game, it set up everything that followed. “It marks the beginning of my upcoming album,” he explains. “I think the song itself reflects what I want to show in this album — that I won’t be limited to just one genre, but that I can explore a variety of styles. It’s a song that shows the direction that I’m heading in.”

If “Better Than Me” was the opening statement, the music that follows is the thesis. WONHO describes this chapter as an intentional stripping-back of excess.

“With my new music this year, I wanted my music to feel cleaner and smoother,” he says. “I was working on making my overall sound more polished and clear compared to my earlier songs that can be considered more heavy and loud.” That shift isn’t accidental. “I’ve been working with different producers this time, which has helped to add variety and new energy to my music,” he continues.

He’s not abandoning what fans know — just widening the definition of himself. He clarifies: “My fans probably have certain images that come to mind when they think of “WONHO.” This time, I wanted to show that I can explore a wider range of music while still staying true to “WONHO.” I carefully selected the songs after a lot of thought. Since there are tracks that sound different from what fans have heard before, I hope they’ll enjoy that variety.” Although he describes the process as “something new,” what WONHO has unlocked is the ultimate goal for any evolving artist: how to grow without losing your core identity.

The timing wasn’t luck. “I’ve actually wanted to do this for a while,” he reveals, when asked why now felt like the right time to move forward like this. “I feel like I’m always trying to improve myself and push my musical boundaries. I was able to achieve these things during the break I had, and now I feel like I’m ready to show what I’ve really wanted to do. I’m excited for WENEE to hear what I’m preparing.” It’s interesting to note that when discussing all of this, he doesn’t use words like ‘rebrand’ or ‘rebirth.’ The way he speaks suggests that this new artistic layer was always there, waiting to be uncovered. It’s an act of showing a deeper, perhaps even more authentic part of himself that was previously hidden; an evolution that honors his past.

And if you’ve ever seen him live – which North American fans will have the chance to do later this year, after his album drops – you’ll know his greatest reveals don’t come in the loudest moments. They come in the pauses. Cuts like “Stranger” and “Losing You” strip back production and choreography, leaving his tender vocals and melancholic songwriting exposed, intimate, and visceral. Then, tracks like “Crazy” surge with high-energy choreography and crowd-driven hype — a reminder that his artistry thrives in both extremes, and that every moment on stage is deliberate.

A performer with arena-sized charisma and bedroom-recorded intimacy, you might argue that the true WONHO is the artist who can hold both of these forces at once. He seems aware of that duality. He talks of his art not as a separate, glossy performance; it's an extension of his lived human experience – the big emotions and the small, quiet ones alike. “I don’t really separate my music from my daily life,” he says. “The emotions that I feel as I live just naturally flow into my music. The moments I share with WENEE and even the small feelings I experience on a day-to-day basis end up becoming part of my songs and performances. So for me, my daily life is my music.”

That might be why touring isn’t routine repetition for him. Each night is an experiment in empathy. When asked how it feels to return to Europe after three years away, he doesn’t recite numbers or the fact he’s playing more shows than ever. He talks about impact, not scale. “I was expecting a very positive vibe when I came over,” he says, “but actually seeing WENEE in person during the shows lifted up the whole spirit and the energy even more than I thought it would. The tour experience has been even more touching than I imagined.”

In cities where K-pop is still growing — places like Helsinki, where he’s performing for the first time — he treats the stage like a first handshake; a humble, respectful beginning to a relationship. “For fans in new cities, it’s our first time together so I’m looking forward to meeting them,” he explains when asked what it's like connecting with fans in a city he’s never visited before. “When I’m performing in a city for the first time, I want to make sure my fans have a great experience since I know they’ve been waiting to see me. I just want them to have fun and feel the energy in person so I always do my best to give them a good performance.”

This is an artist who sees legacy not as chart positions, but memory density. So when asked to name his most meaningful moments, it figures that he isn’t able to rank them. “As an artist, every single moment is a memory to keep, especially all the moments with my fans,” he says. “Every moment throughout my career is an important memory for me because I'm grateful to experience so many things. It’s all thanks to my fans and they make every single moment memorable for me. Even moments like today – this shoot, these people that I meet on set – I always want to really cherish these moments too because ultimately, all day, every day is a day to remember.” He’s not just grateful in a performative, “thank you to my team” kind of way — he’s actively aware of the present, naming it, savouring it. That’s rare. A lot of performers live in the “next milestone” mindset. This sentiment shows he anchors himself in the now. Above all, his humility shows he’s collecting human connection, as a person witnessing life as it happens and choosing to honour it.

But back in 2020, during his solo debut, things weren’t so calm, and he was running on pressure. “Back in 2020, I felt pressured and challenged because it was my first time for everything,” he recalls. “I didn’t know what to expect.” And now? “I’ve learned that I’m not alone because I have a whole team, and good people around me who are helping me. Since time has passed, I’ve become more experienced and now, I’m able to feel a little more relaxed to focus on the good moments and enjoy the process more.”

This is what growth looks like when you strip away buzzwords — not louder confidence, but quieter certainty.

He even admits to frustration beneath the discipline. “At first, I felt a lot of pressure to do everything perfectly,” he says. “But as time went on, I realized that what matters most is expressing the stories I want to tell as honestly as possible. There were many challenges along the way, but I think they all ultimately became experiences that helped me grow.” His further insights are telling. “My respect for music has not changed and it’s been the same ever since I started. Over time though, doing so much of one thing and constantly trying to create something can be difficult, so trying to overcome that feeling is something that I’ve worked on to become a better artist.”

Which brings us back to the question: What sits at the core of WONHO?

His thoughtful answer to a question about career insights says it all. “Overall, my main logic is just staying true to myself and trying to keep moving forward to the next thing. That’s kind of like my motto.”

It’s a good motto, certainly. But then comes the line that makes everything else click. “The biggest thing for me is that I always feel that I’m not alone, but that I’m together with my fans. That is the greatest source of strength for my music and performances and it pushes me to keep going. Moving forward in this next chapter, I want to never forget that feeling and continue creating paths where I can be with WENEE.”

‘I love my fans’ is pop star 101, but very few live like they mean it.

WONHO is the exception to the rule. You truly believe him not because he says it, but because he’s built a career on proving it — city after city, stage after stage, livestream after livestream. After stripping away the physique, the productions, and the pressures, you don't find a solitary artist. You find a relationship. He draws strength from his connection with fans, and he pours that strength back into his music and performances, which in turn deepens the connection.