Lee Chan-hyuk reveals reason for leaving YG Entertainment: "I wanted to gather my own people"

Lee Chan-hyuk of AKMU has revealed the reason he chose to leave YG Entertainment to pursue independence. Choosing a path where he bears all responsibilities instead of relying on agency support, he confessed to losing 5kg in just one month while preparing for his first concert. Having gained freedom, he also had to shoulder the full weight of responsibility.

During the broadcast of the MBC entertainment program 'Omniscient Interfering View' on the 31st, the sibling duo AKMU, consisting of Lee Chan-hyuk and LEE SUHYUN, appeared to show their daily life living together in one house. The conversation centered on Lee Chan-hyuk's independent life after leaving YG and the hardships he faced while preparing for his first concert.

Lee Chan-hyuk explained that while he received sufficient support at YG, there were certain limits to his activities within the company's system. "Since I was working with a company, there was a thought of 'I should stop here,'" he said, adding, "I wanted to let go of the reins." He expressed a desire to break free from fixed frameworks to present his music and performances in the way he desired.

His reason for deciding on independence was clear. "I wanted to take full responsibility, gather my own people, and take the lead myself. I am very happy now," Lee Chan-hyuk said, expressing his satisfaction. Rather than relying on agency support, he wanted a proactive creative environment where he could form a team and take responsibility for the results through his own judgment and choices.

However, a free environment did not necessarily mean comfort. Lee Chan-hyuk experienced greater pressure than expected during the first concert he prepared after becoming independent. "I didn't have pressure, but my greed was immense," he confessed, while adding, "I said I would do everything now, but since I have to take responsibility and do it all, it became a burden." Although he was able to express his desires freely, the pressure grew as he had to handle everything from planning to execution.

LEE SUHYUN reported that her brother's physical condition was unusual ahead of the performance. She surprised the cast by revealing, "For the week leading up to the concert, my brother couldn't sleep because of convulsions." Lee Chan-hyuk also explained that after working excessively and returning home, his body would feel restless, causing the convulsions to continue even when he tried to lie down. He added that he could not even eat properly, stating, "I lost about 5kg in a month. I just couldn't eat. Food wouldn't go down."

The atmosphere at home also changed during the concert preparation period. LEE SUHYUN confessed that as her brother, who is usually sensitive, became even sharper, she responded by trying to make herself invisible. "I crawled around. To not be noticed. My brother thought I wasn't even home," she said, drawing laughter by describing how she hid within the house. She explained that even after waking up in the morning, she would check if her brother was there before opening her door and would only come out after making cautious noises and receiving no response.

The siblings' unique lifestyle was also evident in their choice of robes. Lee Chan-hyuk revealed that the robe he wore in daily life was a 10,000 won item purchased from an online shopping mall. In response to Lee Young-ja's question asking if it was a women's item, he admitted it, explaining, "Men's versions feel a bit stuffy to me. Wearing a women's one makes me feel a bit more free." He added that he has been wearing the same robe for four years.

On the other hand, the sight of her brother in a robe was not pleasant for LEE SUHYUN. "This is the hardest part for me," she revealed, noting that there are even thinner robes, and disclosed that she once saw him wearing one in the past and had to ask him never to do it again because she was so shocked. When Lee Chan-hyuk was shown bending over while wearing the robe, the cast members all shouted, "Don't do that!"

Lee Chan-hyuk has realized musical independence in his own way after leaving YG. What he wanted was not simply changing agencies, but an environment where he could decide everything, from the direction of creation and the people involved to the final results. Although he went through a grueling time, losing weight and losing sleep during his first concert, he expressed satisfaction with his life since becoming independent. It is a situation that shows how the choice for freedom is closely tied to significant responsibility.

Read the original (Korean)