LEE MINHYUK’s Heatwave

The singer returns with an EP geared towards summer and a sizzling set at WATERBOMB. But 15 years into his career, he’s more determined than ever to be the best at his craft.

Icy. BTOB COMPANY.

It takes perseverance to be LEE MINHYUK: This year, MINHYUK celebrated fifteen years in the industry. While he debuted in 2011 as a member of the vocal group BTOB, I would argue that MINHYUK’s most interesting work has been his solo music, which he releases under the stage name HUTA.

As HUTA, LEE MINHYUK is unafraid of challenging himself. Unlike the ballads that BTOB is known for, HUTA’s music is hip-hop; his flow as a rapper can be aggressive and hard-hitting. But he can also write a sincerely vulnerable ballad like “Lonely” or “Falling blossoms (interlude)”. He’s an accomplished songwriter who contributes to nearly every song he creates. (On his new EP TEMPERATURE, he co-wrote both tracks.) He’s also pushed himself — and his body — to the limit as a performer. 

I love that MINKHYUK’s fearless in how he challenges himself and how he refuses to be boxed in. I also appreciate that he doesn’t let age — he’s currently 35 — stop him. 

“Since I am now in my 15th year, you might think there is no longer much left for me to change,” he told me recently in an interview. “However, I feel that I am still developing in ways that even surprise me.”

“I also believe I still have plenty of room to grow,” he continued, “which makes me excited about what lies ahead. I have no choice but to keep working hard and living my life to the fullest!”

Part of what makes MINHYUK so daring is his determination to be the best. I see that reflected in “KO,” a B-side of TEMPERATURE. “I created ‘KO’ while imagining it as a walkout song for UFC fighter KO SEOK-HYEON, whom I support,” he told me. The “KO” in the title refers to SEOK-HYEON’s family name. “It is an extremely powerful song with a strong sense of weight and intensity, and I dedicate it to him!”

TEMPERATURE is, importantly, a summer album. “The title track, ‘Icy & Spicy,’ was created with summer festivals in mind. I worked on it while imagining a performance that would feel refreshing just to hear and refreshing just to watch,” he said. Then added as a teaser, “So, can you imagine how refreshing it will be when you experience both at the same time?”

Summer is, after all, the best time to experience LEE MINHYUK’s power as a performer. He’s been called the King of WATERBOMB not just because of his powerful stage presence but also because of his physique, which he considers as important as his voice. The first time MINHYUK performed at WATERBOMB in 2024, he told me, was a nerve-wracking experience. “Because I wanted to show everyone the best possible performance, I put a lot of pressure on myself,” he admitted. “That also made me very nervous, so there were several aspects of the performance that I felt could have been better. At the same time, I think all of that passion remained fully visible onstage.”

“This year,” he added, “I think I will be able to bring that same passion while also becoming an artist who can enjoy the stage much more freely.”

Spicy. BTOB COMPANY

Earlier this year, MINHYUK completed his first overseas solo tour in Europe. It was a risk for the singer: BTOB and MINHYUK have rarely performed outside of Asia. But he was driven by the opportunity to meet new fans and to push himself outside of his comfort zone once again.

When I asked how he felt heading into the tour, MINHYUK was blunt. “To be honest, I was extremely worried. I have very little experience performing overseas, and most of those performances have taken place in Asia. I wondered, ‘Do people in other regions even know who LEE MINHYUK is?’” He continued: “However, so many fans came to see me and cheered at the top of their lungs that all of my worries and nervousness immediately felt unnecessary. It was truly incredible.”

Touring and performing for fans has always been what MINHYUK has loved most about being an idol. “My favorite part is, of course, the moment I step onto the stage. It is the culmination of everything I have worked so hard to prepare. When the fans’ cheers are added to that, it becomes incredibly exhilarating,” he said.

But the industry has changed drastically since MINHYUK first debuted. Now, groups are expected to film dance challenges and produce TikToks. Marketing is more hands-on, and expectations can be higher. That shift is felt most when he’s promoting as a soloist. “On the other hand, the most difficult part is filming dance challenges with different teams,” he explained. “I enjoy the challenges themselves, but learning the choreography of so many different groups while already busy and exhausted is no easy task!”

The hardest part, he explained, is that there’s only so much he can do on his own. “When I am promoting with the group, the members can divide the challenges among us,” he said. “However, during solo promotions, I have to handle everything entirely on my own, which makes it very difficult.”

But I would argue that MINHYUK’s work ethic, his ability to do whatever is placed in front of him, is what has brought him this far. He holds himself to incredibly high standards, and it's paid off. When I asked what he wants to focus on these days, he was candid: “Continuing to take care of myself while moving forward,” he told me. “I will continue practicing self-discipline. I cannot neglect either my health or my appearance. I believe those fundamentals need to be in place in order to have a long-lasting career.”

There are so few idols like LEE MINHYUK: so few who have his rich, baritone vocal range and even fewer who can use sexuality to portray a whole new persona. In 2019, he reinvented himself with HUTA, and what I admire most about him is the duality within his music: His most powerful hip-hop songs are balanced by intensely personal ballads. 

Perhaps this is what connects MINHYUK to so many new fans and why he is such a dynamic idol: He remains idealistic. He continues to push forward. “I will also continue studying music and foreign languages. Some people may laugh at me, but I am still dreaming of even greater things,” he told me. “Those dreams are the reason I cannot stop, and they are what continue to motivate me to move forward.”