@ 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙰𝚈 𝙺𝙸𝙳𝚂 . . .

Ban Chan: Date of birth: October 3, 1997. Position: Leader, producer, vocalist, rapper. Lee Know (Lee Minho) Date of birth: October 25, 1998. Position: Main dancer, vocalist, rapper. Seo Changbin, Date of birth: August 11, 1999. Position: Main rapper, producer, vocalist. Hyunjin (Hwang Hyunjin), Date of birth: March 20, 2000. Position: Main dancer, lead rapper, visual artist. Han (Han Jisung), Date of birth: September 14, 2000. Position: Main rapper, main vocalist, producer. Felix (Lee Felix / Lee Yong-bok), Date of birth: September 15, 2000. Position: Main dancer, lead rapper. Kim Seungmin, Date of birth: September 22, 2000. Position: Main vocalist. Ai Yong (Yang Jongin), Date of birth: February 8, 2001. Position: Lead Vocalist, maknae (the youngest)

Gentleness: When caring, it's always quiet. He won't hug you in front of everyone, but he'll put a pillow under Hyunjin's sleeping back. He can't stand tears in public, but if the younger one is crying, he will stand next to him silently and put his hand on his shoulder. Habits and oddities: He hates it when the back of his head is touched (the zone of absolute prohibition). He likes the smell of old paper and rain before a thunderstorm. He is a conservative in food — he can eat one soup for 30 days in a row. He falls asleep with a book on his chest (like a grandfather). Three gestures of happiness: blink slowly, exhale, smile with the left corner of your lips. 2023: Got into an accident with Lee Know and Hyunjin two days before his birthday (September 20th). The injuries are minor, but the shock remains. 2024: Finally made a perfect first pitch at the Korea VS LA Dodgers international match. Little Seungmin, the pitcher, gave him a standing ovation that day. Bottom line: It's not built for high-profile dramas. His drama is inside, between "I have to be strong" and "I'm afraid they won't understand me." A blank sheet of music paper: It looks strict and linear, but inside there is music that can make you cry from scratch. He's not the brightest in Stray Kids, but his strongest wall is. Who cleans up after himself, gets up early in the morning and never stops learning to sing.

The hardest part was not dancing, but the lack of attention from Bang Chan: "He would give a party and leave. I felt abandoned. I had to prove it." Vocals: In 2020, I hired a personal vocal coach outside of JYP, continuing the courses. He turned the warm baritone into a multifaceted instrument. The key feature is the "nasal" timbre (nasal voice), which turns into a trembling string in ballads. The idol is Won Pil from DAY6. Solo works: "Here Always" (Prince of OST), "Stars and Raindrops", "As We Are" (2024, self-written). Appearance: Height 177-178 cm. "Handsome in the sense of smart" — watercolor, not oil. Large expressive eyes with downturned corners — the look of a "melancholic puppy", the color of strong tea. A straight nose with a neat bridge. The smile is asymmetrical, slightly higher on the right. The skin is pale with a cold undertone, almost does not tan. Hands with long fingers are nervous and talkative. A separate fan fetish. The character is an elegy of contradictions: Politeness and perfectionism from the prosecutor's father: he is never late, makes the bed, the only one who does not leave the dishes. He can be harsh — he doesn't shout, but he drops short phrases that hurt more than a scandal. The love of solitude vs the need to be needed: he can spend hours reading a book with headphones on, but he will sit down to write a song for STAY. Gets tired of the noise, retreats to a corner with a book on the set. But at the same time, the only one who says "no" without excuses. Sharp corners: Sarcasm is a quiet weapon, the phrase "Well done, you did a great job" in a tone that makes you want to fail. Possessiveness in the everyday sense: his circle, his place on the bus. He is afraid of appearing stupid — he hates improvisation, and he prepares for radio in two days.

Early years: Born on September 22, 2000 in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul (a prestigious area, but he is the most humble subway passenger). He is the youngest in the family: his father is an acting prosecutor (Seungmin hates dirt, loves structure and logic), his older sister was born in 1993. His maternal grandfather brought him to baseball. At the age of 9, he made a symbolic first pitch for SK Wyverns, dreamed of becoming a pro, but an injury put an end to it. Helicopter accident (2013): A civilian helicopter crashes into his house in Gangnam. Seungmin was brushing his teeth. He was 13 years old. He said he was calm because he "didn't understand what happened." But that day made me realize the fragility of the world, and music was born from the ashes of sports and injury. I joined the choir and won a children's song contest. How I got into JYP: At the call of friendship. His friend Lee Daehwi (the future Wanna One, AB6IX) was already a trainee. On February 23, 2017, he came to an open audition and sang "Old Song" by Kim Dong Ryul. I've been an intern for a little over a year — a rarity for K-pop.

The character is "phlegmatic with sanguine streaks": An introvert with a high need for silence. He closes up in a large company, but inside the circle (group, family) he turns into a cocky, sharp—tongued boy. He's a perfectionist at work: he doesn't laugh at rehearsals, he frowns and repeats in silence. Caring is expressed in actions, not in words. The king of falls in everyday life — the nickname "Worm" stuck firmly. His sense of humor is dry and ironic. Emotionally stable, rarely cries in public (the last time was a concert in LA in 2022, burst with fatigue and gratitude). Anger triggers: disorder (he cleans up after everyone), injustice (he can scowl for half a day), beans (hatred is deep and irrational). Triggers of joy: a quiet evening with a blanket, a successful cover of Bruno Mars, when the elders praise his voice. Relationships: Closest to Seungmin (soulful conversations), Hyunjin (household synchronization, former roommates, "partners in crime and food"), Bang Chan (captain mentor). For him, "hyung" is not a title, but a man who deserves respect by his actions. The main thing: In 2021, the track "Maknae On Top" was released — the anthem of all the younger ones, written by hyungs in honor of him. His solo "Hug Me" revealed him as an artist capable of touching the living. Bottom line: Yang Jongin is a young man with the face of a madonna and the habits of a stray cat. Fox eyes, light body, mole under the eye. Inside is a steely perfectionism wrapped in a soft blanket of introversion. He falls down from nowhere, but keeps his back on the stage. He hates beans and loves Bruno Mars. Its main feature is that it accumulates heat so that it can be distributed without any residue. It's his curse and his gift.

The main feature: Resilience. Underneath that soft exterior lies steel. The boy who heard "you're no good" on national TV at the age of 17 and came back anyway. The one who danced on a broken back until his legs went numb. He doesn't scream about his pain. He just smiles with his crescent moon eyes and says, "Everything will be fine." Bottom line: Felix is a "cover boyfriend" wrapped in the body of a dancer, with the soul of a caring housewife and the voice of a demon. That combination of tenderness and strength that is impossible to come up with is either there or not. And Yong Bok has it.

Character: "The Golden Retriever who convinced everyone he was a black panther" The real Felix is the exact opposite of his stage persona. On stage, he is the "God of Thunderstorms." In real life, he's an angel. Introverted stay-at-home mom (INTJ or INFJ): He's one of the strongest introverts in the group. Felix won't go to the club after the concert. He'll go to the dorm, put on duckling pajamas (he really has them), make brownies, and play League of Legends until 4 a.m. The social battery runs out like lightning. At group V-Live sessions, he often sits in a corner and just smiles, letting others talk. Narcissism (in a healthy sense): He loves mirrors. Not because he's proud, but because he still doesn't believe he looks that way. Phone photos for selfies: 50% are successful, 50% are stupid faces. He knows he's handsome, but he treats it like a fun accessory, not like a weapon. Care (Physical and emotional): Felix is very careful with other people's bodies and feelings. He never squeezes a fan's hands when shaking hands, only gently embraces them. After a back injury (hernia in 2022), he is afraid of sudden movements and sits or lies down at any opportunity. And his psychological defense is conflict avoidance. If Chan and Hyunjin quarrel, Felix just leaves the room. He hates shouting and pressure (HE'S SUCH A CUTIE, AAH). Culinary love and greed for food: He has a strange connection with food. He may forget to have lunch while working on music, but if he sees bread (baguette, toast, croissant), his eyes light up with a wild gleam. The band teases him that he's "crazy about gluten." It's important to understand this: his hardline look in the videos is a role. He himself admitted that it is difficult for him to be angry. When the director says, "make an aggressive face," Felix imagines that the Internet has been blocked for him, or that his favorite coffee shop has been closed. He uses the acting method because nature has rewarded him with a kind heart.

Appearance: "A fragile angel with a voice from the dungeons." If you describe Felix in one phrase, it's a contrast carved into marble. Nature seemed to be joking, putting it together from incongruous elements. The face and "freckles of an angel's kisses": His skin is porcelain, almost transparent on stage under the spotlight. But the main treasure (which he hated as a child) is freckles. They are scattered over the cheekbones and the bridge of the nose like golden pollen. In Korea, they are called "angel kiss marks" (예쁜 주근깨). When he's not wearing makeup, those freckles make him look like a forest elf or a boy from a Renaissance painting—so delicate that it feels like he'll crumble if you touch him.

Eyes and smile: He has "crescent moon eyes". When he laughs sincerely, his eyes disappear completely, turning into two happy arcs. But in moments of thoughtfulness, when he looks at the floor, a deep, almost sad abyss hides under lowered eyelashes. He has two kinds of smiles.:

1. Sunny (for fans): wide, revealing even teeth, sincere.
2. Sly (for the band members): a slight curl of his lips when he plans something naughty (like stealing Hyunjin's hat). Figure and gestures: Height is only 171 cm, but on stage it seems taller due to perfect posture (thanks to 12 years of taekwondo) and long legs relative to the body. The shoulders are not wide (asthenic build), the wrists are thin, like a girl's. His fingers are a separate fan fetish. Long, thin, with neat nails. When he adjusts a lock of hair or squeezes a microphone, it looks like a ballet performance. Gait: In real life, he walks a little "waddling" like a sleepy kitten. But a second before going on stage, his spine straightens up, and that same demonic Felix appears with a squint.

Felix is a favorite of luxury homes. He became a global ambassador for Louis Vuitton. At the shows in Paris (his debut on the catwalk as a spectator happened in 2024), he sat in the front row, and fashion critics wrote: "This guy looks like an android made for filming." His androgynous beauty and unique timbre broke the stereotypes about Korean singers in the West. Felix is a philanthropist. In 2023, he transferred 50 million won (about $38,000) to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. In 2024, he donated 100 million won ($75,000) to UNICEF to help the children of Laos, becoming the youngest member of the UNICEF Honor Club. He doesn't just transfer money — he whispers to the camera.: "Please be happy," and the fans believe that these words are material. Is he still looking for love? Officially, he doesn't have a girlfriend. He says his girlfriend is STAY. And there's some truth to this: no other idol looks at the camera like it's his only love. But Felix's look is not a game, but the natural charm of the "golden boy" from Sydney.

The Stray Kids reality show. Felix was eliminated. The reason was cruel and honest: insufficient skills and poor knowledge of the Korean language. It was a knockout for a 17-year-old boy who left his family. But Park Jin Young gave him a chance. And Felix (Yong Bok) is back. He didn't just come back — he learned the language in a few months and became the foundation on which the power of Stray Kids rests now. The main paradox of Felix (Yong Bok) is that his appearance does not match his voice. He has an angelic face, strewn with freckles (which he used to hate, but Korean fans adored, considering them "angel kiss marks"), and a fragile figure. But when he opens his mouth, a bass guitar bursts out of the speakers. His voice is so low that in the studio, in order to mix it properly, sound engineers use frequencies designed for the subwoofer. Fans call this "demonic" transformation from the stage Duality. In February 2022, the world of STAY shook. The diagnosis is an intervertebral herniated disc. The doctors said he might not dance. Felix was absent from some concerts, sitting on the sidelines during rehearsals so as not to completely lose his back. This period showed his true character. He didn't complain, he came to fan sites and smiled, covering the pain with his crescent eyes. He returned to the stage when the doctors allowed it, but since then his movements have become more calculated and therefore even more dangerous.

He is cheeky, loud, mischievous and physically very tactile: he loves hugging, hanging on the participants, seeking attention. Rolling Stone revealed the other side in an interview: Khan is an introvert, and a deep introvert. He is often thoughtful and reserved, giving way to others in conversation. This is a person who hates heat (both physical and metaphorical) and prefers the cold and solitude of a library or studio. He suffers from anxiety and there was a period (in 2019) when it interfered with performances. That's why he so often says, "That too will pass." This phrase became his mantra . He is an adult man in the body of a child who knows what depression is, and that's why he makes others laugh so desperately. If you ask him, "What are you doing in the studio at 3 a.m.?" he'll answer, "I'm reinventing myself." Khan is a perfectionist to the core. When he's working on music, the jokes stop. He can sit over the text for days, biting his nails in anger if the rhyme doesn't fit perfectly. He admitted that the songwriting process is his therapy, where he feels vulnerable, but at the same time enjoys feedback. The desire to be liked vs The Fear of people: He loves the attention of PEOPLE on stage, but in ordinary life he can get confused by the touch of a stranger. Infantilism vs Wisdom: He can suck lollipops and draw cartoons, but at the same time writes texts about the philosophy of death and loneliness. Laziness vs Hyperactivity: He is called the "king of disorder" in the dorm (role: wreak havoc), but when it comes to dancing or rap, he gives his best 100%.

Han Jisung is a "glass ball". It looks like a bright toy that can break from one awkward movement. But if you look closely, the flame of a real rock musician is raging inside this ball: a mixture of talent, teenage insecurity and adult determination to move on, no matter what.

The one who is often called a "Squirrel" (or more often, a "Hamster" because of his perpetually stuffed cheeks) actually carries the artist's paradox. Han Jisung's height is 169-170 cm (5 ft 7 in), and his weight is about 60 kg. He's compact, lean, and built like a spring. His face is a one—man show. In ordinary life, black (often dyed in bright colors) hair falls over his forehead, and huge brown eyes, which fans compare to "hamster eyes" — round, shiny, full of mischief. But if you look into them during the performance of a sad track, you will see the very depth that turns its lyrics into a cry of the soul. Hands: Hands with thin, almost transparent fingers that create beats; Seo Changbin noticed in one of the descriptions his "chubby fingers" with which Han deftly plucks the strings. Moles and scars: He has fair, warm skin. It is known that he has several scars on his thighs (the result of an active childhood or training), as well as tattoos that he carefully hides under the stage (for example, a compass and the phrase "Blessed" on his chest) . Duck lips": One of his signature features is his pronounced upper lip, which gives out his emotions faster than a mirror. Khan is a chameleon. On stage, Balmain and monochrome tight-fitting suits make him look like a rock star (Rolling Stone magazine compared his movements to Mick Jagger) . Behind the scenes, these are oversized hoodies that hide fragile shoulders, and endless pajamas. His most favorite "uniform" is comfort, complete lack of armor. If you use one metaphor to describe Jisung's character, it's a coke with menthol: it seems sweet and harmless, but if you shake it, the blast wave demolishes everything in its path. In public, he is the "Comedian of the band." He likes being a buffoon, parodying voices (like Doraemon's), stuffing his mouth full of food so that his cheeks look like buns. He's the source of the white noise in the group, the one who keeps his colleagues from falling into depression.

Hates cucumber to the point of nausea. When annoyed, he doesn't scream — he stops talking and goes into another room. (And that's the scariest part) In Stray Kids, he's "the little brother for the older ones and the big brother for the younger ones." With Bang Chan— there is a trusting "fatherly" warmth (Chan was the one who persuaded him not to give up dancing). With Lee Know, there is eternal rivalry in dance and tender friendship in everyday life. Felix and I are soul to soul: they are called the "Australian twins", although Hyunjin is not from Australia, they just speak the same language of emotions. He is condescending and caring towards Jongin. In his interviews, he honestly admits that he is prone to envy if he sees someone's talent that is inaccessible to him. Can be sharp-tongued when tired. After the scandal of 2021, he became hypertrophiously polite to the staff — he was afraid that his rigidity would be considered aggression. He is being treated by work: "If I am perfect on stage, maybe I will be forgiven for being just a human being." To sum it up in one paragraph: Hyunjin is a velvet glove worn on a steel hand. A fragile body pattern, antique facial features and a nervous, sensitive soul that has to put on the "star" armor every day. He is the most beautiful of all when he cries, and the strongest when he is silent.

About the character: "Flame wrapped in silk"

Hyunjin is a paradox man. In one interview, he described himself as an "introvert with an extrovert appearance." And this is probably the most accurate formula. A born perfectionist: He is one of those who can retake one movement a hundred times because the little finger is positioned at the wrong angle. Hidden perfectionism creates anxiety: in his debut years, he cried in the bathroom after rehearsals because he couldn't catch up with dancers of Lee Know's level. But he never quit. His motto is "To become yourself through the destruction of the old self." In public: the mask of a dandy — polite, graceful, sometimes mannered (especially when drawing or talking about art). He doesn't smile widely, but when he smiles sincerely, it's sunstroke. On stage: possessed. His facial expressions live on their own: arching an eyebrow, biting his lip, looking into the lens "through the soul." He doesn't dance, he lives in it. Solo performances (Play With Fire, When the Party's Over) are 3 minutes of pure actor method. In a narrow circle: shy, sensitive (high sensitivity), mumbling. The band members say that he is silent at home, can lie for hours with Cats and pet the dog. If there is a quarrel, the first one goes to make up. (If they didn't get ahead of him, he needs to think about everything before that and curse himself a hundred times) Verbal portrait: Writes lyrics full of metaphors of water, darkness and loneliness. He raps not like a hip-hop warrior, but like a decadent poet - with breaths and whispers. Visual thinking: paints in oil and watercolor. His paintings are always someone's pain: distorted faces, falling figures, blood-red spots on gray. Art therapy brought to a ritual. Sleeps with the light on, is afraid of the dark (although outwardly a dangerous macho man). May forget to eat if he draws. During the meal, he will first arrange everything beautifully, then take pictures, and only then will he eat.

The camera loves her — she makes his face come alive, adds vulnerability. There is a small scar on his right arm, closer to the elbow (a childish prank). He doesn't try to hide it.

Face and features: He has an oval, close to the ideal "diamond" — with a clear, sharp jawline and a soft transition to the cheekbones. The cheekbones are high, as if carved with a penknife. His jaw is aristocratically narrow, which gives him a fragile, almost porcelain appearance, but in profile you can feel the will. Eyes: A business card. Almond-shaped, deep-set, with a barely noticeable overhanging crease of the eyelid. The color is dark walnut, fading into black, but amber sparks appear in the light. They are called "the eyes of a fox" for their slight incision, but their expression changes radically: on stage — the predatory, arrogant squint of the "king", in real life — the frightened, trusting gaze of a deer. A straight nose with a barely noticeable bump is a breed. The nostrils are neat, the wings of the nose are chiseled. But the lips contrast with the whole ascetic geometry of the face: they are plump, with a clear "cupid's bow" and a slightly open shape, as if frozen in mid-sentence. It is this detail that he considers his strongest feature. Hair: The natural color is raven black, but Hyunjin is like a watercolor painter who changes his palette every month. He was ash blonde (period Psycho), platinum, pink, silver-blue ("mermaid scales" in Thunderous), honey, red. But the most "his" color is blue-black, falling into his eyes in heavy strands during the dance. Physique and movement: Height 182-183 cm (exact figures vary). The body is "slim and wiry": there are no massive muscles of a bodybuilder, but there is a total dry work of the shoulder girdle and abs. The shoulders are not too wide, but sloping, which creates the illusion of fragility. The collarbones protrude sharply, like an inverted scale. His arms are long, and his hands have thin phalanges, which he uses like a conductor. The gait is feline, noiseless, with a slight roll from heel to toe. A special sign: A mole under the left eye, closer to the cheekbone.

To date, Changbin (SpearB) has more than 154 copyrighted works registered with the Korean Copyright Association (KOMCA). . In February 2023, he received the status of a full member of the association — recognition of a professional who created the cultural code of an entire generation.

His love of sports (children's taekwondo and a modern gym of iron "pancakes") and his monstrous physical form are the outer shell. Inside, Changbin is a man with a huge heart, accustomed to solving problems with money and action. · 2023: Earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Changbin did not hesitate to transfer 100 million won (about $75,000) through The Promise organization. Fans know that if you see Changbin in the audience, it's Changbin in his element. He turned fitness into an art form. As part of the "Dwaekki Gym" project (the name comes from his stage animal, a cross between a pig and a rabbit), he trains the band members by honing the technique of deadlifts and squats. He even created his own gym so that nothing would distract from working on his body. His life is an example of iron discipline. He is not just a member of a K-pop group, he is its producer, the voice of conscience and a "spear" that always flies forward. It all started with a little boy from Yongin who just wanted to find himself in the beats of this world.

In 2015, after auditioning for JYP Entertainment while studying at the academy, he began his journey to the top. But Changbin's charisma did not reveal itself immediately after his debut, but long before it — in the underground team 3Racha. Together with Bang Chan and Hanon (Jisung), hiding behind the nickname SpearB (Spearhead), he stormed SoundCloud. It was a brash, raw and aggressive hip-hop that would later become the hallmark of Stray Kids. It was there that his style was honed — the very machine-gun shooting (fast rap), which fans call "Changbin squall". 2016: The first attempt to break through the participation in the pre-tours of the show "Show Me The Money 5" (although then it was not possible to get far) . 2017: Stray Kids survival show. Here he proved himself not just as a rapper, but as a leader of the unit line and a songwriter. It was his integrity and strict quality control that helped the team keep the bar high. 2020: The second coming of the show "Show Me The Money 9". Yes, the path was interrupted at the stage of the team battle, but this was not the main thing. Changbin gave the world the meme "Jutdae" ("Principles" or "Fortitude"). His performance was viral, and years later it was used in Samsung Galaxy ads. If you think Changbin is just about loud beats and basses (+ muscles), let me introduce you to "Streetlight". This solo work, released as part of SKZ-PLAYER in 2020, became a personal confession for him. In it, he sings not about coolness, but about the loneliness of a man who always plays the role of "strong", and about how hard it is for someone who is always obliged to shine for others.

"I turn on the light, but no one notices it. After all, the light of the lantern is so familiar that they stop paying attention to it..."

In the shadow of Seoul's famous skyscrapers, in the quiet city of Yongin, which stretches among the hills of Gyeonggi Province, on August 11, 1999, an event took place in the Seo family that years later would make the world of K-pop tremble with the power of bass. The second child was born, a boy named Changbin. Literally translated from Korean, his name means "bright and pure," but, as often happens, fate has prepared for him a different role — the role of SpearB, the role of a rebel and the main striking force of the Stray Kids group. Changbin is the youngest child in the family, he has an older sister who was born in 1997. If Changbin's public image is armor and steel muscles, then in the family circle he turns into a caring brother. Their relationship is a rare example of kinship in the world of gloss. Noona (the older sister) doesn't just support Changbin, she is an example of fanatical dedication for him. She is a professional Pilates instructor, a person who invests the money she earns in education and anatomy. Looking at her "obsession" with her body, Changbin himself is charged with a passion for sports. "I'll learn a lot from her efforts," he confessed on the broadcasts. Their family hobby is training, which has turned from a way to keep fit into a lifestyle. As a child, Changbin did not dream of the stage. Being a diligent student, he saw himself in completely different roles: the president of the country, a great scientist, or a physical education teacher in elementary grades. His parents, seeing his academic success, hoped for a prestigious university. But there was a turning point in high school. Rap came into his life suddenly, like a hurricane sweeping away old plans. The parents, initially unhappy that their son was "abandoning his future for music," changed their minds when they saw his burning eyes. Changbin's story is the story of a workaholic.

At that moment, it seemed like the story had ended before it had even begun. But the founder of the company, Park Chinyong (JYP), saw something in the eyes of this silent dancer that others did not have. "You deserve a chance," they decided. And Lee Minho, the only eliminated contestant in the show's history, returned to the final cast. March 25, 2018. He enters the stage as a member of Stray Kids. Lee Minho is a classic handsome man with soft features that contrast sharply with his sharp tongue.

Lefty: He does everything with his left hand, including the microphone on stage ; River eyes: His eyelashes are long ; Special features: A scar on his stomach from an operation performed in childhood ; Character: "4D" (according to the participants' version). He often speaks of himself in the third person, and his humor is so dry and strange that it borders on the absurd. ; · Personality Type (MBTI): ESFJ-T (Consul) . He is caring, likes order, and genuinely enjoys helping others.

If you ask Minho who he loves the most, the answer will be faster than his dancing. He has three children, and they are covered with fur (seals):

1. Soonie— the eldest, taken from the orphanage in 2011;
2. Doongie — taken from friends in 2013;
3. Dori — rescued from the Abandoned Animals website in 2019. He sleeps with them in his arms, cooks their meals with reverence and is ready to discuss them for hours. Behind the harsh exterior lies a man with a heart filled with tenderness. Besides his love for animals, his kindness has a form: he regularly donates money to charities (including child support through UNICEF and World Vision).

"Let's eat well and live well" is his motto. Minho is the chef at the dorm. He is able to cook Wellington, a technically sophisticated meat pie, as casually as he cooks ramen.

This is the path of a man who made his own way. At school, he chose the computer department at Gimpo Technical University solely for the sake of the dance club (which, to his horror, closed immediately after his admission). Later, he will brilliantly pass the exams at the University of the Arts of Chuge, presenting his own choreography, but fate will order otherwise. 2016 is a year of change. Minho participates in the World of Dance international competition. He gets noticed. But more importantly, he becomes a professional backup dancer.

He's being hired by... BTS.

Yes, Minho stood backstage while the world applauded the "kings of K-pop." He participated in The Wings Tour, dancing "Fire", "Blood Sweat & Tears", "Spring Day" and "Not Today". He could feel the footlights, but he remained in the shadows. This school of endurance tempered his character.

The first attempt (2015)

The story of his joining JYP is similar to the script of a drama. In 2015, after performing at a dance competition, he received a call from JYP Entertainment. "Come to the audition." Minho came and sang John Park's song "Thought of You"... and failed. Silence.

The second attempt (2017)

Two years have passed. Minho works with the best, but suddenly the call repeats. "Come back again." He came. And they took him. On July 16, 2017, Lee Minho became a JYP trainee. He was almost 19 years old, indecently late for the start of his idol career. But he did the impossible: in two weeks he learned 40 basic JYP dances, setting a company record. In 2017, Mnet launches a take—off show, Stray Kids. Minho enters the game as the youngest trainee. Fate strikes. In the second task, he gets lost due to a mistake in the text (ironically, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, but the diagnosis was not widely disclosed, but only explained his manner of reading on camera). He's being expelled. Elimination.

October 25, 1998. The birth of the "Endless Sky" In the small town of Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, a boy was born in the family of a furniture business owner and his wife. He became the only child, the center of a small universe for his parents, whose family name gave him strength and pride. He spent his childhood in the Tagot Men area. There, in an ordinary Korean school, he gnawed at the granite of science, but real life was in full swing beyond it. Little Minho wasn't quiet. He studied the brains of adults, watching his parents carefully fold their clothes in bundles, a habit that would stay with him for the rest of his life and turn him into the main cleanliness officer in the dormitory. However, it was during these years that a paradox formed that would later amaze fans. Being an absolutely urban man, Minho possessed the steel core of a warrior. As a teenager, he mastered three martial arts: Taekwondo (2 dan), a Korean leg art that requires incredible endurance.; Hapkido (2 dan) is a tough defense system that includes throws and painful techniques; Taekken (2 dan) is a traditional Korean martial art with smooth, dancing movements. Someone who wields his flesh like a weapon is usually not afraid of anything. But Minho is an exception. He is terrified of heights and does not like water. This contrast—the soft "I can't" inside the hard "I can"—makes him human. In high school, Minho saw a dance video. "Cool," he thought, and stood in front of the mirror. What he saw in the reflection did not disappoint him. He had talent. The mother let her son go to the dance academy, and he disappeared. He enrolled in Seoul at Souldance Studio, where he studied for five years under the guidance of Biko Lim. To pay for travel and classes, Minho worked wherever he could: handing out flyers on cold streets, teaching children dancing, and grilling meat at a barbecue restaurant. His life is not the story of a major from JYP.

The perfect track? He'll rewrite it 40 times because "there's still half a ton wrong here." This meticulousness is his main strength and main curse. He turns any task into an obsession. Sometimes there is a weariness in his eyes that does not match his age. Seven years of training have taught him two things: patience and understanding that life is unfair. Therefore, during "Chan's Room" streams, he often gives heart—chilling advice: "Don't destroy yourself for the sake of a dream," "If it hurts you, say so," "You have the right to make a mistake." It's funny that he teaches others to take care of themselves, but he doesn't know how to apply these rules to himself at all. It's a tragicomic trait: he's the best psychologist for the fans, but the worst for himself. He is extremely ambitious. He wants to be the best, and that thirst never subsides. But this ambition is not evil. He doesn't want to destroy others. He just wants to prove to himself that the little boy from Sydney, who flew away alone at the age of 13, did the right thing. He hates losing. If he loses in some stupid game (even rock-paper-scissors), his face turns stony for a second. And then he'll smile and say, "Let's have a rematch." (But he's kind, honestly) In short, Ban Chan is a person who will stand in the rain with one umbrella and hold it over you until you enter the room. He will smile, say "I'm fine," even if streams of cold are running down his back, and cough somewhere to the side so that no one can hear. He is an altruist with megalomania (in a very good way), a workaholic with depressive notes behind a screen of fun, and a walking hugger who never asks to hug himself back. The catchphrase that explains everything: "Don't worry. I'll fix it" (Don't worry. I'll fix it). He's really trying. Even the things that didn't break.

If you describe Ban Chan's character in one word, that word is Self—sacrifice. But it's too dry. Let's expand it. The need to take care lives inside him. Have you noticed how at any group activities he constantly counts the participants, like a duck counts its ducklings? He knows who didn't get enough sleep, who's in a bad mood today. He is ready to give the last bottle of water, the last hour of sleep, anything to make others feel comfortable. In the documentary Stray Kids (SKZFLIX), he speaks into the void: "Sometimes I feel like I'm responsible for their happiness. And if someone is unhappy, I think I've done something wrong." It turns into his personal cross. He drives himself into a corner of perfectionism, trying to be the perfect elder, the perfect brother, the perfect artist. The paradox is that the participants see this and pray that he just relaxes and thinks about himself. His trademark laugh is medicine. He laughs as if a turbine has been turned on inside him: loud, booming, with a wild number of dimples on his cheeks and wrinkles around his eyes. In everyday life, Ban Chan is hyperactive, goofy (in a good way), fond of silly jokes and falling out of the blue. He likes to touch people. Literally. Hugging, hanging on the shoulders of the younger ones, patting on the back. For him, physical contact is the language of love. He's also incredibly clumsy for someone who's been working in a dance hall for seven years. He's always dropping things, tripping over things, breaking things. The participants call him "the child who should not be left alone in the kitchen." He doesn't have a sleep routine. There is no exaggeration in this. He can sit in the studio until 5 a.m., recording arrangements, then "practice" in an armchair for an hour, go to a grueling workout, and return to the studio again. More than once, the participants found him sleeping right on the remote control, facing the MIDI keyboard. He doesn't know how to say no to work.

Embarrassment: Touches the back of the head. His gaze goes to the floor. He suddenly becomes small and presses his head into his shoulders, as if he wants to hide behind his own massive neck. Anger (extremely rare): Eyes narrow, lips become a string. He doesn't scream — he becomes quiet. This scares the participants more than any scandal. Happiness: The full range. From a slight half-smile to an epileptic laugh when he bends over and slaps his knees. Hands: They are huge. A palm the size of a cat's face (verified by fans). The fingers are long, but not elegant, but with slightly thickened phalanges — the working hands of a musician. When he hugs one of the participants, his palm covers the entire shoulder blade. When he plays the guitar, his fingers run over the strings at an alarming speed. And when he just sits and stares at the camera, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers, it's a heart—stopping shot. It is not beautiful in the classic smooth sense. There is no doll-like symmetry in his face. But it has the texture of life: shadows under the eyes from sleepless nights, shoulder width from responsibility, dimples from preserved childishness. It looks like a sculpture that was carved out of granite, and then someone came and painted it in soft pastel colors. An appearance that you want to look at because it's a little different every morning, depending on how much strength he gave to the world yesterday and how much he managed to keep for himself.

When he is angry or focused, his nostrils flare slightly — this is the only outward manifestation of his inner volcano. His cheekbones are hard and high, especially noticeable when he loses weight during promotions. They give the face that "tiger-like" predation. The lips are medium, but the lower lip is slightly fuller than the upper one. They are usually compressed — he is constantly thinking about something, playing the melody in his head. But at the moment of the smile, they open, revealing perfectly even teeth, and he bites his lower lip when he is embarrassed. The main weapon is the dimples on his cheeks: They appear only when he really smiles. Not politely, but with all my gut. And then the ferocious tiger disappears, leaving the same boy from Greenacre. These dimples are so deep that you can hide a secret in them. Bang Chan is constantly changing his hair color — this is his way of reliving the epochs.

Natural: Dark blond, slightly curly by nature. When they are untouched by paint, he looks 19 years old — homely, soft, and his own. Haircut is most often the undercard: shaved temples and volume on top of the head. He often combs his bangs back, revealing his forehead, and this small movement makes him look incredibly mature. He doesn't know how to pretend. Everything he feels is written on his face. Surprise: Eyebrows rise to the hairline, mouth opens, he freezes for a second like a toy statue. Thoughtfulness: Constantly twirling something in his hands a headphone case, a corner of a sweatshirt, a hair band. He starts chewing on the pen cap.

To describe it in one sentence: God molded him out of warmth and strength, but at the last moment He added a childish defenselessness. He's not just "pumped up." Ban Chan is a massive, powerful torso that he hides under baggy T—shirts, as if embarrassed by his own strength. Shoulders: Broad, 52 cm in girth (almost like a doorway). When he stands next to the younger members, it feels like he is a living mountain protecting them from the wind. It is on these shoulders that the whole band rests, both physically and metaphorically. Back: Triangular, with pronounced muscles. When he dances in a tight T-shirt, it feels like stone slabs are rolling under his skin. But at the same time, his gait is soft, almost feline — a legacy of swimming. Hands: Sinewy, veins poke out on his forearms as he clamps the capo on the guitar. Fists are knocked down knuckles from slamming on the table to the beat rhythm. Legs: Despite his upper strength, his legs are slender and not overly muscled. He's a dancer, not a weightlifter. Because of this, the silhouette sometimes seems a little awkward: a powerful top and a light bottom - like a kangaroo (which perfectly matches its nickname). He wears either loose suits or T-shirts with wide armholes so as not to restrict movement. The belt always sits low — it does not like to emphasize the waist.

The main contrast lives here. His face is a battle between a stern warrior and a sentimental child. Her eyes are dark brown, almost black. The shape is average, the slightly overhanging upper eyelid creates a permanent shadow, which makes his gaze always seem serious, studying. But when he smiles, his eyes turn into two narrow slits. He looks at the world as if he expects a trick from it, but really wants to believe in it. The nose is straight, with a well-defined bridge. Not "aristocratic sharp", but rather masculine — reliable, like a hook.

Wearing headphones and turning on music, he spends hours chatting with fans (Stays), analyzing life into quotes. He is a positive generator who has gone through the hell of training himself. He's not afraid to be sincere, cry on the air, or lecture on mental health. He is the only one who can twist a brush 360 degrees, and the owner of dimples on his cheeks that fascinate millions. His influence has gone beyond music: he is the face of Fendi, the new ambassador of the fashion house, where he goes just as he once went to the gym — with royal grace and steely determination.

"I didn't think much of it," he recalls. — I thought, "Yes, a new journey." But Korea greeted him with the concrete jungles of Seoul and a ruthless trainee system. Seven years old. Seven years of practice rooms, studio nights, and uncertainty. He saw his friends from GOT7, TWICE, and DAY6 debuting one after the other, and he was still waiting in the wings. There were no free minutes in his schedule, because he studied at the prestigious Chungdam Academy (Chungdam High School), while perfecting his vocals and choreography.

In order not to go crazy in this solitude, he created an underground group 3RACHA, hiding under the pseudonym CB97. Together with the same lost teenagers (Seungmin and Changbin), they posted tracks on SoundCloud, like messages in a bottle in the ocean of the K-pop industry. It saved him. "That was the first time I felt the thrill of making music," he confessed later. He became the architect of his own future. He sacrificed a normal childhood. He missed Australia, his dog Berry, and the smell of the ocean. But the main sacrifice was spending time with the younger ones. His brother Lucas and sister Hannah remained in Australia. He's their "Senior." As a teenager, when his parents were working, Chan would sit with the kids, making up incredible stories about dragons in the backyard. Now Hannah is following in his footsteps — she became a singer and founded her own company Bahng Entertainment, and Lucas, who looks exactly like his brother, lives in his old room in Sydney. His main pain and his main pride is Stray Kids. He is their foundation. When other leaders are bossy, Ban Chan is more of a "caring parent in sweatpants." He cooks food for the members, checks every note of their songs, and cries at concerts as much as the fans. "Would I be here without these guys? — he asks a question in an interview. —Probably not." He is known for his late-night live broadcasts of "Chan's Room".

Date of birth: October 3, 1997 Place of birth: Seoul, South Korea Current role: Leader, vocalist, rapper, producer, "dad" of the Stray Kids band

If we look for Ban Chan's soul, then it is not located somewhere in one point, but is spread between two hemispheres. He was born in Seoul, but almost immediately his family moved to Australia, to sunny Sydney. Therefore, when he speaks Korean, there is sometimes that subtle softness and relaxation in his intonation, characteristic of those who grew up among the ocean waves and the cries of seagulls. The music room of the Chan (Bang Chan) family has always been filled with sounds. Mom, who loves ABBA musicals and the voice of Frank Sinatra, sang with her son, while her father, a strict swimming coach (owner of Uncle Jack's Swimming Club), raised him to be a champion. He holds the school record in the 50—meter freestyle, set at the age of 8. As a child, Ban Chan was a lightning bolt in the water, but fate has prepared him to conquer a completely different scene. The family moved from place to place (Stratfield, Drummoyne, Enfield) until they settled in the suburb of Greenacre. There, at the Newtown High School of the Performing Arts, young Chan mastered not only academic singing, but also ballet with modern dances. He was a real "golden boy": he studied on stage, won in sports and even sang the national anthem of Australia at the graduation ceremony at the coliseum. But the sport was just a body workout, and the stage was the call of the soul. Looking at Hugh Jackman, he realized that he wanted to entertain and impress millions. In 2010, my mother opened the door to a new life. She took 13-year-old Bang Chan to the JYP Entertainment audition in Australia. Out of 800 people, only he was chosen. The agents were so impressed that they came to their house to listen to the boy playing the piano and guitar. He landed in Korea in 2011, when he was just a kid.