Creative Director + Photos / Lauren Nakao Winn
Video Director / Kary Hyunjeong Rho
Videographer + Editor / Kwangmin Lee
Stylist / Morgan Bienvenue
Prod. Assist / EJ
Photo Assist / Jovita Tedja
Story / Christine Terrisse
Shot at DWNTWN Studio.
The first thing you notice when meeting Wonho in person is the contrast between his sizable physique and gentle demeanor. It’s a contrast that comes to sharp relief as he dances. Bulging muscles whip into sinuous, sensual mode in precise choreography typically executed by idols with slighter silhouettes.
On “Syndrome,” the 32-year old K-pop soloist’s first full-length album, he takes full advantage of sex appeal in an Usher-channelling turn as a man whose credit card and backseat are ready for seduction. In the video for “If You Wanna,” he beckons to a potential mate: “You wanna parlay?/That’s in my place. We be f*ckin’ all day.”
It’s a blatant reach for an iconic western sound, one that Wonho, born Lee Ho-seok proves more than capable of mastering. What makes “Syndrome,” a name Wonho says is inspired by the “different kinds of symptoms we can feel in love,” a great album is partly due to his work with an array of producers helping him to crack a pop code of a late ‘90s to mid 2000s-era swag-boy soundscape.
From curvy vocal runs on R&B tracks like “DND” and the disco-club sweet spot his range hits on “On Top of the World” to the chill grooves of “Scissors” on this latest effort, Wonho harnessed the talents of producers like Johnny Simpson and east coast rapper/producer Kinetics both of whom worked on “If You Wanna.”
But rather than stifling his ability, working with new creators on the ten-track “Syndrome” underscores the singer who is now over four years into his solo career’s ability as a songwriter, arranger, and creative director. Proficient on piano, he’s been writing and composing since his days as a trainee and later, as a member of the group Monsta X.
However, when pressed to elaborate on how the lyrics of the album relate to his real life, he doesn’t choose the most provocatively penned track —not unexpected in K-pop where idols typically keep their private lives private—but instead, chooses the heartbreaking ballad “At the Time” the rare track including Korean lyrics.
Wonho, who grew up in Gunpo, a city south of Seoul, met up with us at a hip hotel along the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. His hair, dyed shock red for the “If You Wanna” video has faded to a faint pink reminiscent of Abby Saja from K-pop Demon Hunters, a likeness that has not gone unnoticed. And he’s been having fun with it; the day before, he met up with his “twin” at Billboard’s office.
Later in New York, for our photoshoot, he puts away a slice of Joe’s pizza on his lunch break and gets excited when gifted a box of Pocky sticks for Pepero Day, a modern Korean tradition. It’s a welcome treat for someone whose self-discipline extends from his body to his artistry and who has found a perfect balance on his latest project between substance and decadence.
tank: Diesel, pants: Birth of Royal Child
Congratulations on finally meeting your “twin.” Your K-pop Demon Hunters covers were some of the best, and you came early on the trend. It seemed you had a lot of fun with it. Did you watch the film and feel inspired immediately? Did you see yourself in it?
I heard about the movie from people around me —people at my company, and fans. I saw their comments, so I watched it. And when I was preparing the cover, I had a feeling it would go viral, and I expected it to go well.
Well, it did. Congratulations. And also Congratulations on “‘Syndrome.” How does it feel to have it out in the world?
I’m very happy it’s finally out, and I’m really happy I can connect with my fans through this album.
‘Syndrome’ is your first full-length album. Why is now the right time for a bigger project?
Of course, this is something I’ve always wanted to do: release a full album. There are always different obstacles I face, but given the time I had, this was the best time to release it.
What was the amount of time you had to work on it?
It was definitely an album I worked on for a long time. I feel like even when I was in the military,
I had ideas and I was working on it [the album]. There are things I had in mind even before my military service. After making some clear decisions, I had people on my team —my producing team and company staff —who helped me go in the direction I was picturing.
Did you have more input, creative direction-wise, on this album than previous releases, or was it about the same?
It was definitely something different creatively, because with all my past releases, I was the one making all the songs and everything related to the album. But for this album, a new challenge I wanted was to work with many different people and producers. This one had more creative input [from other people].
You’ve talked about being inspired by ‘90s boy bands like N’Sync, but what struck me when listening to “Syndrome” was how well you captured a mid-2000s R&B sound. On “If You Wanna,” for instance, I hear a lot of Confessions-era Usher, especially in your vocal technique. Do you feel at home with R&B vocally?
Thank you so much. It’s such a big honor, being compared to those names. And I feel like this style—I am getting a little bit more comfortable with it—but I’m not super confident, like those big stars, not just yet. I am working hard to really capture that. And I feel like these vocals are the ones I’ve always been dreaming up.
Is there anything about “Syndrome” you’re especially proud of?
Number one, it’s my first full-length album. So that’s something I’m very proud of, and it’s nice to hear that I did a good job. And every time I release something, I look back and think to myself, “This is something I made really well.” And I also think about my pronunciation. This time, I worked really hard on it, and it came out really well.
shirt: Louis Vuitton, pants: 5000, sunglasses (above): Gentle Monster
How did you choose what producers to work with this time around?
There were producers I already knew and worked with on this one, but there were also producers I’ve always wanted to work with, and I found a way to connect with them. And sometimes there was no connection to the producers, but I listened to the songs first and then got to know who made them, and they also connected me with other songs that suited me. So there are a lot of different ways that I worked with them back and forth.
The lyrics sound personal. You discuss everything from heartbreak to adoration. Is there any one of the songs in particular on this album that is relatable to your life experience?
The song, which I wrote the lyrics for, “At the Time,,” is something I felt similar emotions for; I feel it has the emotions I will probably feel alongside my fans now, too.
What was your first memory as a songwriter?
When I was in training, I thought ‘’Oh, maybe I have a talent for this.”
And what was your very first memory of music as a child?
One of the first memories is that I actually learned piano when I was younger. I studied classical music. And to this day, I still can’t believe I was able to memorize that music and play it. I also remember buying one of my first albums. It was a Red Hot Chili Peppers album sometime during elementary school. I remember playing that at home a lot.
How old were you when you started playing piano?
I played from preschool age until middle school. Seven, eight years.
What’s one piece of advice someone gave you or someone who has made an impact on your life that has stuck with you throughout the years?
I think that’s something that changes often. At first, my motto for living was to “just do it.” But I feel like now it’s changed more to trying to live for myself and doing what I want to do because when I do what I want to do, it creates the best results for me.
And if there was one theme that has defined both your work and life, what would it be?
To live like a movie, like I’m living in a movie. So what that means to me is that I want to make my story and plot as meaningful as possible.
tank: Salt Murphy, shorts: Austin James Smith, shoes: New Rock
I hope it has a happy ending. These days, there’s a lot of chatter in the music industry about AI songwriting. As a songwriter, is that something that worries you?
AI isn’t super related to me, but I feel like there are a lot of things like AI artists coming out these days. In the end, AI can’t really replace humans, especially in creative fields like this. I feel like even when AI produces results, it’s always because it’s studying what people have already made. So I feel like it can be a good influence, but it won’t entirely replace humans.
Back in 2022, you performed in a musical. Is that something you want to do again soon?
Not right now. I just want to focus on making good music and albums.
Your work has taken you all over the world. Is there a particular place that feels like a second home to you?
L.A. (laughs)
In an interview from earlier this year, you mentioned trying out country as a genre. Is that something you still want to do?
Yes. Definitely. I’m still trying to.
You can do it. Do you reward yourself when you finish a big project?
Not really after an album release because I have to keep taking care of my visuals, but I feel like after the music video shoot, I’ll have a huge cheat day and eat all my favorites.
Who is the person or what is the thing that inspires you to do your best?
Definitely my fans. I always think about what they would want to listen to from me.
Aside from your work as a vocalist and songwriter, you are known for your commitment to physical health. When you’re not in the gym, do you have a favorite workout or activity?
Lately, I’ve been very into running outside. It’s something that’s been trending lately, but more so than following a trend, it’s because I’m able to visit other places often, so I like to look at my surroundings while I’m running.
jacket: Purple, necklace: Vivienne Westwood, pants: Moshe Yossel, shoes: Adieu
Last year, you performed at Jingle Ball for the first time. It’s a concert that’s kind of a mainstream pop music touchstone in the U.S. How did it feel reaching that sort of milestone within the U.S. market?
It was a special experience for me, and it had a significant impact on me because I was able to try new things and become more confident in who I am.
What new things did you try?
I was able just to share a stage with a lot of other artists, and also watch their performances as well. And I feel like I was able to perform in front of people who are not just my fans, but like other mainstream artists’ fans, and see their reaction to my music. And I also loved to see a little bit about how show production in the U.S. works, too.
What do you want to manifest for yourself in the New Year?
I want to meet more fans and go to places I haven’t been to yet, to satisfy fans who have been waiting [to see me] for a long time. And of course, I want to release even better music, perform better, and stay healthy.