Lee Chanhyuk of the sibling duo AKMU (Akdong Musician) has opened up about why he walked away from YG Entertainment, one of K-pop’s “Big 4” agencies, to go fully independent.
Lee Chanhyuk (Credits: Koreaboo)
The revelation came on the October 31 episode of MBC’s “The Manager”, which featured a special on AKMU. His sister Lee Suhyun disclosed that their recent popular concerts were entirely created by Chanhyuk’s efforts — down to the buttons on the dancers’ outfits — after he became independent.
Why Lee Chanhyuk Left YG Entertainment
“YG did support me well, but when working with a company, there are always things I feel I should only do up to a certain point,” Chanhyuk confessed on the show. “I wanted to completely let go of the reins. I wanted to take full responsibility, gather my own people, and lead the way.”
He added that going independent simply feels good — full creative control from start to finish.
The Price of Independence: Lost Sleep and 5kg Down
Independence came with heavy pressure. Chanhyuk admitted that up to a week before his first independent concert, he couldn’t sleep properly due to muscle spasms, saying he was “physically sensitive from overwork.” He lost about 5kg in one month and couldn’t eat.
When comedian Yoo Byung Jae asked about the pressure of the first performance, Chanhyuk replied, “I wasn’t pressured, but my ambitions were high,” though he confessed, “I do feel burdened by the increased responsibilities.”
For her part, Lee Suhyun said she used to simply follow her brother’s plans, but this time, “being recognized now feels even more meaningful” since he built everything himself.
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Source: Koreaboo — read the full story there.
