Almost exactly three years ago, in Paris, I met Wonho (real name Lee Hoseok) and the six other members of the K-pop group MONSTA X for the first time. He was less muscular than he is now – dark hair, polite and, in complete counterbalance to an abundant stage confidence, surprisingly pitiful. As an icebreaker, I had brought her a gift: a large store chain filled with junk food and ramen. Wonho opened it and, clearly pleased by its contents, lit up like a Christmas tree. Later, this expression reappeared as the conversation won after the group’s song, to which Wonho contributed regularly from 2017 onwards. He wrote constantly on time, he said, almost every day, despite the fatigue of being on tour. And as he talked about his work, Wonho’s face gleamed.
Over the years it seems that what makes Wonho really happy has not changed. He loves his workouts, his food, his music making, and his fans. Yet everything else in his life has been seismically shifted. On October 31, 2019, Wonho announced his departure from MONSTA X following accusations from a former friend that he owed her a hefty sum of money. At the same time, a Seoul newspaper reported that he had historically used marijuana and, apart from that allegation, revealed that he had been sentenced to probation as a juvenile.
Monbebe (fandom of MONSTA X) left to play but came together worldwide to protest Wonho’s departure, calling on his label, Starship Entertainment, to reinstall him. In the coming months, she refused to back down, using social media and even hiring expensive digital billboards to keep up the pressure. Meanwhile, in Seoul, the police investigation into his activities continued; on March 14, Wonho was removed from all charges. While a reason to celebrate, it was also a dark postscript to a career of hit songs and worldwide milestones that had been abruptly shortened.
A few idols have jumped back from such accusations, even as baseless. More often than not, they take a different path, often finding audiences like YouTubers, or simply choosing to disappear from public life. Wonho, who signed to Highline Entertainment (a subsidiary of Starship Entertainment) in early April, may be the first to change the way idols are received after experiencing a ‘scandal’.
After what seemed like an endless hiatus, a dust devil of activity for the singer-songwriter jumped to life when August began. A new one logo – clean, simple and sharp – and a fan café on the social platform, V Live. A fandom name: 위니 (WENEE, pronounced: wi-nee, short for We Are New Ending). And less than a week ago was the announcement of a mini-album, Love Synonym (# 1): Right for me, which will be released on September 4, preceded by the single from today, “Losing You.”.
The piano lead, English-language “Losing You”, like many of Wonho’s earlier compositions, contains a lightness, even as it wraps its fingers around the heart strings. It’s a love song within a love song – a direct, fervent message to its fandom that is imprinted in a universal context. “I’ve loved the song since I first heard it,” Wonho says Teen Vogue. ‘It’s an appreciation song for my fans. I love it so much, they give me the strength to go on and make music. ”
When he set out for the release of “Losing You,” Wonho spoke Teen Vogue about his new material, his fans, and his expectations for the future.
TV: Let’s talk about your new single – how long have you been working on this, and what made you decide to publish it in English?
.
