FTISLAND's Lee Hong Gi stuns with bold red hair after 14kg weight loss

FTISLAND's Lee Hong Gi has revealed a striking new look, showcasing a much sharper facial profile after losing 14kg, topped off with an intense red hairstyle. While the unique style looks almost as if he is wearing a wig, Lee emphasized, "It's not a wig," to clarify his transformation.

On the 26th, Lee posted several photos on his SNS with the caption, "Warning: Not a wig."

In the released photos, Lee creates a completely different atmosphere with long red hair that covers a significant portion of his face. The combination of the vivid color and the unique silhouette marks a considerable departure from his previously familiar image.

Matching a white and navy track jacket with jeans, Lee struck unconstrained poses, such as leaning against a chair or crouching barefoot. In a space packed with books and comic books, he stared into the camera with an indifferent expression, and also captured himself in front of a mirror to showcase his new style.

Netizens reacted to the transformation with interest, commenting, "He looks like a cartoon character," "Did he dye it again?" and "I thought it was a wig."

What is particularly striking is his facial line, which has become much more distinct compared to last year. Lee previously revealed in February that he had lost 14kg. With his facial contours sharpened by the weight loss and combined with the long red hair, he has achieved a completely different impression.

This change was driven by preparation for his acting roles. Lee undertook the weight loss to portray Jo, a saxophone player who resorts to cross-dressing to make a living in the musical 'Suga.'

He shared that during the dieting process, he reflected on his eating habits, stating, "I realized I had been eating quite a lot of unnecessary foods like flour." The transformation was not merely for aesthetics, but to physically embody a character.

Lee has long demonstrated a willingness to undergo physical transformations while moving between music and acting. After entering the entertainment industry as a child actor in 2001, he made his debut as the vocalist of FTISLAND in 2007, subsequently expanding his career through musicals and dramas.

This time, he has layered an intense image of long red hair over a face transformed by weight loss. Although the look is unfamiliar enough to elicit reactions like "I thought it was a wig," it highlights the individuality of Lee, who has constantly expanded his expressive range by evolving his image.