ArtistFountain of Inspiration
Lee Chan-hyuk
Lee Chan-hyuk (이찬혁), born September 12, 1996, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, producer, and author. The older half of sibling duo AKMU (Akdong Musician), he is the principal architect behind the group's distinctive sound: folk-infused indie-pop grounded in literary lyricism and live instrumentation.
Chan-hyuk was already writing songs as a child and developed his craft during his family's years living abroad in Kazakhstan and the Philippines. He and younger sister Lee Su-hyun auditioned for Kpop Star 2 in 2012, winning the competition before signing with YG Entertainment and debuting with AKMU in April 2014 with their debut album Play.
He serves as primary songwriter, vocalist, and producer for all AKMU releases, including Winter: One Season (2017), Sailing (2019), and their acclaimed 2022 solo project Error. In 2023, AKMU released the visual album Umbrella. In 2025 they released Eros, marking continued creative evolution. All AKMU output reflects Chan-hyuk's refusal to compromise: unconventional structures, acoustic sincerity, and lyrics that read like essays.
Beyond music, he has explored literary work and visual art. In 2022 he released his debut solo album Error under his own independent label Fountain of Inspiration (formerly Cemter of Inspiration), marking a more experimental solo direction distinct from AKMU's warmer sound.
3 articles6 creditsDebut: April 7, 2014South Korean
Gallery
Lee Chan-hyuk performing at Ipselenti, Korea University, 2016. CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
Fans Also Ask
Who is Lee Chan-hyuk?
Lee Chan-hyuk (이찬혁), born September 12, 1996, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, record producer, and author. He is the older half of sibling duo AKMU (Akdong Musician), who debuted on April 7, 2014 under YG Entertainment with the album Play.
What solo work has Lee Chan-hyuk released?
Lee Chan-hyuk's solo releases include Error (October 2022, winner of Best Pop Album at the 20th Korean Music Awards), the visual album Umbrella (2023, under the alias Leechanhyukvideo), and his second solo album Eros (July 2025), featuring lead single Vivid LaLa Love.
What is Fountain of Inspiration?
Fountain of Inspiration is the independent label established by AKMU in January 2026 after parting ways with YG Entertainment following a 12-year tenure. The name references Lee Chan-hyuk's 2023 solo art exhibition of the same name, later extended with The Last Drop in 2025.
Is Lee Chan-hyuk a published author?
Yes. Lee Chan-hyuk authored the novel Fish Meets Water in 2019, which debuted at number one on Korean bestseller charts. He also released the illustrated picture book Alien in 2022, extending his creative output beyond music into literature and visual art.
What are AKMU's biggest songs?
AKMU's most celebrated tracks include 200%, GIVE LOVE, RE-BYE, DINOSAUR, and LOVE LEE, the latter a 2022 collaboration with Lee Hi that became one of the year's most-streamed Korean songs. The duo is known for their organic folk-pop and R&B blend and has sold over three million albums.
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