Wonhee
- Stage name
- Wonhee
- Birth name
- Lee Won-hee
- Born
- June 26, 2007
- Hometown
- Changwon, South Korea
- Agency
- BELIFT LAB
- Fandom
- GLLIT
- Debut
- 2024
- Generation
- 5th gen
Wonhee is a member of the HYBE and BELIFT LAB girl group ILLIT, which was formed through the survival show R U Next? and debuted with the mini album SUPER REAL ME. She was street-cast and had trained for only about a month when the show began, yet she finished first in the finale. Her fast improvement, recognizable vocal tone and unfiltered personality made her one of the group's most talked-about members. In 2026 she widened her work beyond the group with a solo variety show on Coupang Play and guest spots on SBS variety programs.
Where they grew up
Wonhee was born in Busan and moved with her family to Changwon while in elementary school, where she spent most of her childhood. She is the younger of two children and has an older brother. In middle school she was a sports leader and hosted school events, and she enjoyed games like dodgeball, swimming and basketball. As a child she learned the small drum and recorder and dreamed of becoming a magician rather than an idol. She had no formal singing or dance training until 2022, when she traveled alone to Seoul as a first-year high school student and was street-cast at the Express Bus Terminal. She joined Belift Lab as a trainee only about a month before R U Next? began.
Birth details: beliftlab.com
In their own words
“No, we don't talk to each other”
Timeline
- 2023Street-cast by BELIFT LAB
Approached at Seoul's Express Bus Terminal and began trainee life, with only about a month of training before the survival show started (per a fan-run profile).
- 2023Competed on R U Next?
Her first evaluation was a performance of aespa's Dreams Come True. She went on to finish first in the finale and join the original six-member ILLIT lineup, which became five after Youngseo left before debut (per a fan-run profile).
- 2024Debut with SUPER REAL ME and "Magnetic"
ILLIT debuted with a four-song mini album. It reached No. 2 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100, topped Melon's daily chart and set a first-week sales record for a female K-pop debut album.
- 2026Fourth mini album MAMIHLAPINATAPAI and "It's Me"
The title track drove chart success across Korea, China, Japan and the U.S., and Wonhee topped a May rookie idol brand reputation ranking.
- 2026Solo variety show "Wonhee Is Twenty"
Her first solo variety series, on Coupang Play, was scheduled to premiere June 6.
- 2026SBS variety guest spots
Appeared with ILLIT on Actually, It's True and uh, but like, seriously! in mid-June.
Latest
- Guest appearances on SBS variety shows with ILLIT
The group appeared on Actually, It's True, with Shin Bong-sun as special MC, and on uh, but like, seriously!, where they shared childhood photos and family stories and performed a sped-up dance challenge to "It's Me".
starnewskorea.com - Solo variety show "Wonhee Is Twenty" on Coupang Play
Coupang Play announced a solo real-variety series in which Wonhee works through a bucket list for her twenties with older friends from music, creator and celebrity circles. It was set to premiere at 4 p.m. on June 6.
en.sedaily.com - Promotion of ILLIT's fourth mini album MAMIHLAPINATAPAI and title track "It's Me"en.sedaily.com
Our coverage
ILLIT Lands First Billboard 200 Top 10 as 'BREAK EVEN' Debuts at No. 6
The EP also opens at No. 1 on Top Album Sales with 32,500 copies sold, ILLIT's biggest U.S. sales week yet.

ILLIT's 'BREAK EVEN' Posts a Career-Best 444,072 First Week
Hanteo Chart counted 444,072 copies from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, topping the 411,654 that "MAMIHLAPINATAPAI" opened with earlier this year.

A2O LITE's 'NEON' Completes Inkigayo Triple Crown With 11th Music Show Win
The debut single took first place with 6,037 points on the November 8 episode, beating IVE and ILLIT, on a bill that also included BLACKPINK's Jisoo.

A2O LITE's 'NEON' Claims 10th Music Show Win as IVE and ILLIT Give Chase
A2O LITE beat IVE and ILLIT for the trophy with 6,593 points, while RESCENE held No. 1 in November's girl group brand reputation rankings.

ILLIT Take Music Bank Trophy as 'You're Under Arrest' Scores 9,803 Points
The first trophy for the single came over IVE's "Looks Can Kill," with TWS, RIIZE, P1Harmony and NCT's Xiaojun also on the November 6 bill.

AND2BLE Score 2nd 'French Kissing' Trophy on 'Show Champion'
The group took the November 4 trophy over IVE, ILLIT, XLOV and A2O LITE, then performed both "Potion" and "French Kissing" on the broadcast.

Min Hee-jin Says Referral Is No Ruling as Illit Plagiarism Case Reaches Prosecutors
Police sent the defamation and obstruction case to prosecutors on Oct. 1, and Min, calling that no ruling, says Belift Lab is stalling a civil suit set for a Nov. 13 decision.

Gen, Explained: How K-Pop Sorts Its Idols Into Five Generations
From Seo Taiji and Boys in 1992 to RIIZE and ILLIT, the fan-made label that files K-pop into eras, and why the 5th gen line is still contested.

ILLIT Confronts 'You're Under Arrest' Costume Criticism at 'BREAK EVEN' Showcase
The group's 5th mini-album launch in Seoul followed criticism of police-uniform outfits paired with miniskirts and knee socks.

Stray Kids' 'THIS & THAT' Logs an Eighth Week at No. 1 on Billboard World Albums
ENHYPEN, CORTIS and BOYNEXTDOOR round out the top four, as ATEEZ and ENHYPEN line up November releases with ET drop times.

Jennie and Tame Impala's 'Dracula' Climbs Back to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100
The collaboration gained one spot to match its best showing, as Katseye climbed and Stray Kids led K-pop albums on the Billboard 200.

ILLIT Sets a Spotify Speed Record With 'Magnetic' Days Before 'BREAK EVEN' Lands
The 2024 debut single passed 900 million plays in about two years and seven months, Belift Lab says, as the group readies its fifth mini album.

- starnewskorea.com: ILYIT Wonhee: "I don't talk to my older brother"...Honest humor ...
- teenvogue.com: ILLIT Members Talk 'Magnetic' Debut, 2024 Goals & ...
- en.sedaily.com: Coupang Play Launches Solo Variety Show Featuring ILLIT's Wonhee
- kprofiles.com: WONHEE (ILLIT) Profile (Updated!)
- cvmsekai.com: Wonhee (ILLIT): Profile, Career, Facts and Videos - CVM Sekai
- sbsstar.net: ILLIT WONHEE on 'uh, but like, seriously!': "My Dad Said I ... - SBS Star
Fan sites
- CVM Sekai: Wonhee profileFan-run profile covering her background, scouting story and R U Next? run
- Kprofiles: Wonhee (ILLIT) profileFan-run profile and facts page
Last researched Nov. 12, 2026


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