5 Reasons WonHo Should Be On Your Radar

WonHo completed his mandatory military service in September 2024 and has been gradually settling back into his activities as an idol. Following performances in Mexico and a soundtrack in the drama “My Military Valentine,” WonHo is back with new music.

The Korean artist released an English single titled ‘What Would You Do,’ on Nov 22. Shortly after, he will hit the United States for his first-ever USA fan meeting.

In case you have come across clips and photos of WonHo and are wondering why he deserves your time and affection, check out five reasons below.

 

1. His Love For His Fans

WonHo does not shy away from expressing his love for his fans, WENEE, who he credits for helping him overcome his low self-esteem. The fandom name which is an acronym for “WE are NEw Ending because WE NEEd each other,” is evidence of his deep love for his fans. Beyond sending messages of appreciation, or declaring his love during live streams or speeches, WonHo has released two songs dedicated to his fans. His first single as a soloist was ‘Losing You,’ a love letter to fans. The song has the notable lyrics “Cos losing me is better than losing You.”

In his sophomore album, “Love Synonym #2: Right For Us,” he serenades fans in ‘WENEED.’ Unlike ‘Losing You,’ WonHo explicitly tells fans that the song was dedicated to them in the lyrics. What makes both songs special is they’re sung in English. In an interview, WonHo revealed it was intentional. He wanted fans all over the world to listen and sympathize with and went for English which is spoken in most countries. Away from his music, WonHo had WENEE inscribed on a perfume he recently bought.

 

2. His Workout Routine

Need motivation to hit the gym? WonHo can give you all the encouragement you need. He has always paid attention to his physical health, and revealed he visits the gym twice daily, spending about four to five hours exercising. WonHo is so committed to his fitness routine, he once trained at 3AM ahead of a 7AM schedule.

Aside from being consistent with his workouts even when overseas, he knows how to balance them by letting his body rest once a week. Additionally, he alternates his daily workout between back and muscle exercises, doing leg exercises at least twice a week. His hard work at the gym is evident in his physique, which earned him the nickname “beefcake.”

 

3. His Duality

On stage, WonHo exudes a cool and charismatic aura thanks to his physique, bold fashion, and sultry and powerful choreography, complemented by a fierce gaze. Off stage, WonHo does a complete 180 and showcases a softer and heartwarming personality with an overload of cuteness. Despite being known for being muscular and masculine, WonHo leans into femininity when covering the songs of girl groups.

Fans who interact with him off stage are exposed to a caring, expressive, and appreciative WonHo. At the recently held outdoor 51 PERCENT Fashion Show, WonHo expressed concern for both the models and his fans due to the unexpected rain. The show was held outdoors and WonHo was worried the floor might be too slippery for the models.

 

4. Diverse Discography

Despite releasing a lot of pop songs, WonHo’s discography touches across other genres including R&B, ballads, hip-hop, and EDM. His second EP, “Blue Letter,” showcased his ability to switch between genres. While he goes into R&B mode with ‘Come Over Tonight,’ he takes his listeners on an acoustic ride with ‘Stranger.’ Other tracks on the EP such as ‘24/7’ and ‘No Text No Call,’ were a fusion of pop with other genres.

Furthermore, as a multilingual, WonHo sings in Korean, Japanese, and English. From his debut solo ‘Losing You,’ to title tracks such as ‘Lose,’ ‘Open Mind,’ and ‘Blue,’ WonHo recorded both English and Korean versions. His discography also contains songs like ‘Somebody,’ ‘WENEED,’ and ‘Ain’t About You,’ featuring American singer Kiiara, which are only sung in English. In 2021, he dropped four Japanese tracks, comprising the Japanese versions of ‘Open Mind’ and ‘Lose.’ His original Japanese tracks are ‘White Miracle,’ which has a Korean version, and ‘On The Way’ from a two-track EP of the same title.

 

5. His Powerful Stage Presence

With each performance, whether through his music or in a musical, WonHo has consistently proven that he was made for the stage. When performing dance tracks, he radiates charisma, precision, and synergy with his dancers.

In the same vein, he puts his heart and soul into performances of ballads and slower-tempo tracks. Irrespective of the tempo of the track he is performing, WonHo always makes it a point to maintain eye contact with the audience.

Does WonHo’s charms win you over? Share what makes him stand out to you!