Wonho shares exclusive unseen images as he releases his latest track ‘What Would You do.’

K-pop idol Wonho is a hard-working powerhouse. He’s as meticulous and precise with his fitness workouts as he is with his performances. Softly spoken and considerate in person, his explosiveness manifests itself when he takes to stage. With a body of a Greek God that has been carved out of marble, and his penchant for a cut-out Paul Mescal-length short short, the ‘Open Mind’ singer’s physique often gets attention both online and in interviews. Despite his tough training regimen in the gym, Wonho’s music takes a much softer side with plenty of ballads with romantic and emotionally raw lyrics with a fusion of EDM, pop and R&B.

After being away for two years to complete his military service in Korea, he’s returned with his comeback single ‘What would You do.’ The quasi-ballad, sang in English, is full of melancholy lyrics that explore the concept of trying to get the person who broke your heart to understand the weight of their actions. In this sad-boy arena, Wonho showcases his exceptional vocal range, that floats right up to lofty falsetto heights as the drums crash beneath him in the song. 

Mandatory military service in Korea, which lasts almost two years, is a long time for an artist to step off the gruelling K-pop Idol schedule, but it can also give time for reflection and growth, both personally and sonically. As Wonho prepares to do his first solo trip to the U.S to bee reunited with his devoted fanbase called ‘WENEES’ and solo Jingle Ball debut, he tells us about his time away from the music industry, as well as sharing some exclusive images with us that give us a glimmer into his world.

How has the landscape of the music industry changed since you have been away? Have you noticed a difference with anything? 

The music scene moves very quickly, so I wanted to focus on keeping my originality and making music that you can listen to for a long time.

What did you miss most about the WEENEES?

What I missed most is definitely being able to directly meet my fans and hear their cheers in person. That’s the thing I want to hear the most, and I really missed it. So I am really happy! 

How about your music? Were you able to write and explore your music at all over the past few years? 

So, I definitely continued to work on my music and I think I had a lot of opportunities to do so. I also tried picking up new instruments and this is definitely a more relaxing time for me to make music and I felt very happy and didn’t have too many worries during this time.

What instruments do you already play? And what new ones did you pick up?

I played piano before but I want to practice it more seriously. I’ve always been interested in guitar and I’ve been having a lot of fun learning how to play now. As I learn how to play instruments one by one, I’m getting more curious about learning and really enjoying it. If I have the opportunity, i’d like to try out many different instruments.

How would you describe the sound of your new music? It seems to still have a strong connection to your discography as a whole, but it has evolved. Could you talk about that please? 

To put it simply, this song has a R&B sound, but instead of the usual common R&B it’s definitely sounds a little bit more trendy. I tried to focus more showing a more mature sound and more mature vocals in it and I think it was a good song to show new things that I wanted to show off this time. 

In terms of your vocals and dancing, was it easy to come back and start performing and making music again? 

At first I had worries, but I think I adjusted very quickly. Because I kept creating music. I tried taking vocal lessons regularly and even did ten practice dancing regularly too, so I was able to bounce back very quickly. 

You are known for being refreshingly free on your social media, which a lot of idols are not able to. How does it feel to be able to do this? 

My fans always show their love for me, so I want to repay them by showing an honest filterless side of me on social media especially. I think because I am able to be free in this way, I feel very loved and happy.

Some of your posts have gotten a lot of attention. Are you aware of all the thirst comments? Do you see all the fan-cams and Tiktoks? 

I definitely like to monitor all the fan comments online and their reactions as I am curious myself an our company’s staff shows me posts that have been very viral or getting a lot of attention, so I think we’re all very aware and I really enjoy watching everything and it makes me happy. 

Do you find it flattering? Do you ever take a picture or have an outfit and think, this is going to cause a frenzy online, I better keep that in the camera roll? or do you not think like that?

Whenever I post a picture, it’s something I want to share. I always share what I think my fans would want to see. I don’t really care that much about how I come off as, or my image, but I really focus on my fans and what they would want.

You work very hard on your body and get a lot of comments about your physique. Lots of athletes and artists, such as ballet dancers have had everything from sculptures, paintings and photos made of their physique. Have you ever been asked to do a project with an artist like that?

I think that every moment that I am living is kind of captured as kind of art, including this interview! When I prepare a new album I always have different photos and videos that I am captured in, so it might be a different form of art. But in the future I would definitely want to have an experience in those arts such as sculpture, photography and paintings as well. 

You have a lot of fun with your outfits, especially on stage. Do you work closely with your stylist? What is the process? 

If I have an idea I definitely like to share it with my stylist or the different staff that I work with, but I trust that the stylist is the expert and that they have the best opinion. So I usually like to follow with it. If it really doesn’t suit me then I will say my opinion about it, but I really do have the best team around me, so I like to follow what they advise me on! 

You are coming to the U.S for the first time. How are you feeling about this? I imagine American WEENEE have been asking for you to for years! 

It’s definitely been a long time since I have seen them, so I think every day I feel full of excitement and I am waiting for the day that we can reunite and I think its the same way, I want to see as many global fans as possible, so after I meet the U.S WEENEE this time, I want to go to Europe and Asia and see all the other fans around the world. I feel like it’s the same feeling that we’re all waiting to meet each other soon. 

Is there anything you’re looking forward to doing in the U.S if you have time off during the tour?  

It will be very comfortable for me and I enjoy working on music in new environments too. So I will try to find different quiet and new places to work on music. I think when I have time off I will spend  it showing the new sides of me to my fans and do things to show the best of me. 

You have been to the U.K before, what do you like best about it there? 

I think in the U.K especially, they have beautiful architecture. I also remember that all the British people that I met were so kind to me, so I have really good memories of that. I also think the country itself has very good vibes and I really enjoyed every second that I was there and I enjoyed it to the full. 

Do you have any favourite UK artists, and why? 

I really like Dua Lipa and Charli XCX, she’s doing a new style of EDM that I think is really cool. Of course, Ed Sheeran, there’s no words needed for him and MNEK is another artist that I enjoy listening to. 

What are you most looking forward to for the end of the year and 2025? 

Now is the new chapter, and me starting the promotional tour again. The end of the year will be especially busy, but it will be a really happy time and I think the beginning of 2025 I will be very busy preparing my new album, but it will be full of busy moments with fans, so I am. Very excited for it.