K-pop Star Wonho Marks Return to Music After Military Enlistment
In September, a little more than a week after completing his mandatory military enlistment, K-pop star Wonho returned to the stage — and to Wenee, his collective fanbase.
“I was so nervous that I wondered if I had ever been so nervous on stage,” says Wonho in November, two months after hosting his first “Welcome Back Wenee” fan event. “I think it was the most nervous I ever felt before, kind of where I felt my mind go blank. But I was really excited about meeting my fans — and by meeting them, I felt more alive after.”
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Wonho is getting ready to reconnect with even more of his fanbase. The 31-year-old singer is coming Stateside in December for a multicity U.S. fan tour, which coincides with several performances as part of the annual holiday-season concert series “Jingle Ball.” “I haven’t seen them in a very long time,” he says of his American fans. “So I thought if not now, then when?”
It’s 10 p.m. on Friday night in Korea, and the singer is working late, discussing his upcoming projects over Zoom. He was one week out from releasing his first single and music video since going on hiatus in late 2022, the English-language ballad “What Would You Do.” “This single was kind of a surprise for my fans, and I’ve been watching and seeing their reactions every day,” says Wonho, who references his gratitude for his fans in response to almost every question about his career and time away from the industry.
The singer has given fans a behind-the-scenes look at his return to music this fall through a series of videos, showcasing moments like him getting fitted for his first fan event, attending dance rehearsals, and attending Seoul Fashion Week in October.
“I didn’t have to show my good looks to anyone during military service,” says Wonho, who has distinguished his visual identity through a muscular physique. “To be honest, I gained a little bit of weight and I didn’t really care that much about my style. But as we saw in the outfit-fitting video, after I tried on different outfits, I [realized] that I needed to get back into working out more.”
While he concedes fashion choices to his stylists when it comes to his public appearances, Wonho adds that he tends to personally gravitate toward Japanese brands and silhouettes that are easy to move in. “These days, I really like outfits that are oversized and comfortable, but I can wear the same outfit to dance practice or to work out or to a fancier event. I like having an outfit that encompasses all of these different styles,” he says.
Wonho, who began his career as part of the boy group Monsta X, recently celebrated four years since launching his solo career and continues to refine his musical style.
“I am on a journey, from the very beginning, to continuously find a music style that fits me more and more,” he says. “So as I continue to show new songs, I think my mindset has become a little bit more relaxed than before. Because before I felt a certain burden to show a certain image and really show off a very glam and glitzy kind of image. But I think now I’m finding that more simple things are better.”
While he’s looking forward to reconnecting with more of his Wenee fanbase in the months ahead, he’s already anticipating a reason for another reunion in the near future: the release of his next album.
“I am looking for songs that really fit me to put into this album,” he says. “I really want to perfect this next album, so it’s taking a little bit more time. My inspiration always comes from my fans. I always think to myself, what would they think when they hear this song? That thought always helps me to judge if this is a good or bad song to include.”
With multiple fan tour dates planned for cities across America, Wonho will have plenty of inspiration to draw from.
“Even though we have a tight schedule, I’ll be really working hard on my next album. I’ll be trying to record and work on it so that I can come back next year with new music,” he says. “I’ve just been feeling very excited every single day now.”
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