Lee Chan-hyuk (Korean: 이찬혁; born September 12, 1996), is a South Korean singer-songwriter, producer and author. He debuted as a member of the sibling duo AKMU in April 2014, under YG Entertainment.
Life and career
1996–2013: Early life
Lee Chan-hyuk was born on September 12, 1996, in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Both Chan-hyuk and his younger sister, Lee Su-hyun, moved to Mongolia with their missionary parents for five years, while being home-schooled by their mother, before returning to South Korea.[1] In August 2012, the siblings auditioned for the second installment of SBS reality survival program K-pop Star as Akdong Musician. The sibling duo finished in first place, later choosing to sign under YG Entertainment as they were the only label from the three to provide them the creative freedom they wished for throughout the show, believing their artistry would not be restricted or altered.[2]
On April 7, 2014, Chan-hyuk and Su-hyun officially debuted as AKMU (Akdong Musician) with their studio album Play, instantly becoming a commercial success. The sibling duo has since released two more studio albums, two extended plays, one single album and ten singles in their discography. In September 2017, Lee enlisted in the Korean Marine Corps for his mandatory military service, thus temporarily halting all AKMU activities until his return.[3] In midst of his service, it was revealed the Korean Marines officially chose Lee's self-written song, "Marine Triumph" (해병승전가), to represent the Corps.[4][5] Lee completed his mandatory military service on May 29, 2019, and was discharged. His first appearance since hiatus was as AKMU on JTBC variety program Knowing Bros, where the episode was filmed the day after his release.[6]
On September 26, 2019, Lee published his first novel Fish Meets Water (물 만난 물고기), a day after AKMU's album Sailing was released. The novel portrays his perspective on life values and art, and it correlates with the album.[7] The novel became the number one best selling novel in South Korean bookstores.[8] Three years later, Lee published the picture book Alien in collaboration with illustrator Lee Yoon-woo, based on the lyrics he wrote for Su-hyun's first single, "Alien".[9]
2022–present: Error and Umbrella
Lee released his debut studio album, Error, on October 17, 2022,[10] and his first video album Umbrella on June 28, 2023, under the pseudonym Leechanhyukvideo.[11]
^Baek, Ji-eun (October 5, 2022). "[공식] AKMU 이찬혁, 17일 데뷔 8년만 첫 솔로앨범 '에러' 발매" [[Official] AKMU Chanhyuk Lee, first solo album 'Error' released after 8 years of debut on the 17th] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 5, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Jae-hee (December 3, 2021). 음악으로 하나된 'ELLE리커넥트' 역대급 라인업! [The Best Line-up of 'Elle Reconnect' United Through Music!]. Elle Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
^Jung Yu-jin (June 15, 2022). "[단독] 정지소, 악뮤 이찬혁 곡 부를까…영화 '태양의 노래' 여주인공(종합)" [[Exclusive] Jung Ji-so, Shall we sing Akmu Lee Chan-hyuk's song... Movie 'Song of the Sun' female lead (comprehensive)] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via Naver.