Lee Chang-sub

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Chang-sub (Korean: 이창섭; born (1991-02-26)February 26, 1991), is a South Korean singer and musical actor. He debuted as the lead vocalist of the South Korean boy group BtoB in March 2012. ^[1] He debuted as a soloist in 2017, with the release of his debut single "At the End". The same year he made his theatre debut in the Korean musical adaptation of Boys Over Flowers as Goo Jun-pyo. He has also come to be known for his soundtrack collaborations, most prominently with the release of his cover of Can's "Heavenly Fate" in 2024. In 2023, he founded Chang-Ggo Training Centre vocal academy in Suwon.

Lee Chang-sub
Lee in 2016
Born	(1991-02-26) February 26, 1991 (age 34) Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Education	Howon University
Occupations	Singer musical actor
Musical career
Genres	K-pop dance-pop R&B ballad
Years active	2012–present
Labels	Cube Fantagio
Member of	BtoB BtoB Blue BtoB 4U
Formerly of	United Cube
Korean name
Hangul	이창섭
Revised Romanization	I Changseop
McCune–Reischauer	Yi Ch'angsŏp
Signature

Early life and education

Lee Changsub was born in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.^[1] He studied Practical Music at Howon University with BTOB group-mate Im Hyunsik. He was admitted despite the 3000:5 acceptance rate at the time.^{[2][unreliable source?]}

Prior to his debut as an idol, he won a Daesang at the 16th Suwon Music Festival 2008, and became vice-president of Red Cross Youth Gyeonggi Province in 2009.^{[3][unreliable source?]}

Career

2012–2017: Debut with BtoB

See also: BtoB (band)

Lee debuted as the lead vocalist of BtoB on March 21, 2012.^[4] Although primarily a vocalist in the group, Lee has also participated in lyric writing on a few tracks by BtoB including, "Last Day", "Killing Me" and "Melody".^[5][6][7]

He was a contestant on King of Masked Singer introducing himself as "Mr. Wifi" in 2015.^[8] In 2016, he participated in the Mongolia episodes of SBS's reality-documentary show, Law of the Jungle.^[9]

2017–2022: Solo career beginnings, unit debut

Lee at BTOB Time in January 2017

Lee Changsub released his debut solo EP, bpm 82.5, in Japan. With the title track "At The End". His Japanese debut in 2017 coincided with the launch of the Piece of BTOB project,^{[10][unreliable source?]} which saw each BtoB member releasing solo digital singles during the group's promotional hiatus in the summer of 2017.

He started his career in musicals in 2017. He was cast in the musical adaptation of "Boys Over Flowers" as the lead, Goo Jun-pyo.^[11] He also played a role in the Korean production of the musical "Napoleon" as Lucien, Napoleon's little brother.^[12][13] Next, he was cast as the titular main character in the musical "Edgar Allan Poe".^{[14][unreliable source?]}

The following year, he landed another leading role as Eddie Birdlace in "Dogfight".^[15] His final musical project before military enlistment was "Iron Mask" where he undertook the dual leading role of King Louis XIV as well as his twin brother Philippe ^[16]

In December 2018, he released his first Korean solo EP titled Mark.^[17] He considered it a gift to his fans before his enlistment in January 2019. He held his first solo concert, SPACE, on January 4, 5 and 6, 2019 at the Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul.^[18][19]

On October 27, 2020, Cube announced that the currently active members of BtoB would form a unit called BtoB 4U consisting of Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Changsub and Peniel.^[20] The unit debuted on November 16 with their first mini-album, Inside and title track "Show Your Love".^[21]

In September 6, 2022, he released his solo single titled "reissue #001 'SURRENDER".^[22]

2023–present: Departure from Cube Entertainment, solo success

In April 2023, he established Chang-Ggo Training Centre vocal academy in Suwon.^[23][24] In November 2023, BtoB members departed from Cube Entertainment following the end of their contracts. On November 23, 2023, it was announced that Lee had signed with Fantagio. Lee has stated his plans to continue BtoB group promotions despite being under a different agency to his members.^[25]

On February 21, 2024, Lee released a cover of Can's "Heavenly Fate" as an OST single for the webtoon, A Not So Fairy Tale.^[26] The single was one of the most successful singles of 2024, dominating karaoke and streaming charts, and went on to secure nominations for MAMA and the Melon Music Awards.^[27][28][29] In August, it was announced that Changsub would participate in Universe League as the director for Team Groove.^[30] On October 2, Lee released his debut studio album, 1991.^[31] Lee commenced his solo concert tour, The Wayfarer Tour, on November 30–December 1 in Seoul at the KBS Arena.^[32]

Lee released his debut essay, A Suitable Person, on February 25, 2025, topping the Korean bestseller lists.^[33][34]

Personal life

Health

Lee developed vocal cord nodules around the time of the recording of Mark, in late 2018.^[35][36] In March 2024, Lee halted activities that involved singing due to his "poor throat condition".^[37] Lee later revealed that he was diagnosed with vocal cord polyps, and had had three surgeries to correct it.^{[38][39][40][41]}

Military service

He began his military duty by enlisting as an active duty soldier on January 14, 2019.^[42] On July 24, Lee recorded a special single— a new theme song for the ROK Army alongside Shinee's Onew and Key, Exo's Xiumin, Infinite's Sungkyu, 2AM's Jo Kwon and Jinwoon, Yoon Ji-sung and actors Kim Minseok, and Lee Jae-kyoon.^[43]

He was officially discharged on August 21, 2020 following the COVID-19 protocol.^[44]

Philanthropy

On October 21, 2017, Lee Chang-sub visited his alma mater and delivered a scholarship of ₩10 million to his high school alma-mater, Samil Commercial High School. Changsub said, "I couldn't have imagined this when I was in school. It's an honor to be in a situation where I'm able to deliver this scholarship for the younger generation of students. I've been able to come this far thanks to my teachers and my school who helped me until the end when I was a student."^[45]

Discography

For Changsub's works with BtoB, see BtoB discography.

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [46]
1991	Released: October 2, 2024 Label: Fantagio, Kakao M Format: CD, digital download	7	KOR: 47,762[47]

Extended plays

Title	Details	Peak chart positions		Sales
		KOR [48]	JPN [49]
bpm82.5	Released: June 7, 2017 Label: Kiss Entertainment Format: CD, Digital download Track listing "At the End" (Japanese ver.) "Believe in Me" "Happiness" "This Flower Is to You" (この花をあなたに; Kono Hana o anata ni)	—	12	JPN: 7,141[50]
Mark	Released: December 11, 2018 Label: CUBE Entertainment, Kakao M Format: CD, Digital download Track listing "Way" "Miss You" (틈) "Shelter" "Ever" "Gone" "Gone" (inst.)	5	—	KOR: 47,433[51]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR [52]
"You Inside My Memories" (추억속의 그대)	2015	—	—	—
"At the End"	2017	22	KOR: 95,666[53]	Piece of BTOB Vol. 1
"Gone"	2018	74		Mark
"I Guess I Loved You" (사랑했나봐)	2023	184	—	Non-album singles
"As Always" (그래, 늘 그랬듯 언제나)	2024	193
"Vain Hope" (희망고문)		—		1991
"33"		177
"Old Town"		—
"Feel the Groove"	2025	—		Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Collaborations

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		KOR [54]
"The Love of Fingertips" (손끝의 사랑) (with B1A4, Eunkwang, Heo Young-ji, A-JAX, April, Oh My Girl and Kassy)	2016	—	—
"Sorry" (미안해) (Eunkwang and Minhyuk)	2019	96
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Soundtrack appearances

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales	Album
		KOR [55]
"Be Alright" (with Yoseob, G.NA, Gayoon)	2012	93	KOR: 37,281[56]	Road for Hope OST
"Bye Bye Love" (with Yoseob, Dongwoon, Jung Il-hoon)	2013	35	KOR: 133,418[57]	When a Man Falls in Love OST
"Past Days" (지난 날) (with Junhyung, Ha Yeon-soo, Minhyuk, Hyunsik, Sungjae)		56	KOR: 87,730[58]	Monstar OST
"After Time Passes" (시간이 흐른 뒤엔) (with Junhyung, Minhyuk, Hyunsik, Sungjae)		32	KOR: 125,359[59]
"First Love" (첫사랑) (with Junhyung, Minhyuk, Hyunsik, Sungjae)		61	KOR: 36,395[60]
"Goodbye Sadness" (with Eunkwang and Ilhoon)	2015	—	—	Sweet, Savage Family OST
"After the Play Ends" (연극이 끝난 후) (with Elkie and Heota)	2016	—		After the Play Ends OST
"For You" (with Eunkwang, Ilhoon, Minhyuk)		—		Cinderella and Four Knights OST
"What's On Your Mind?"	2017	—		My Friend's Love Life OST
"Falling"	2018	—		A Poem a Day OST
"In Your Light"		—		Lovely Horribly OST
"The night I miss you"	2021	—		Her Bucket List OST
"Freedom"	2022	—		Doctor Lawyer OST
"Love from a Real Heart" (사랑은 가슴이 시킨다(2023))	2023	120		It Was Spring OST
"Heavenly Fate" (천상연)	2024	6		A Not So Fairy Tale OST
"It's Alright"		—		Dare to Love Me OST
"True Love" (거짓말의 반대말만 할게요)		–		Secret Relationship OST
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Songwriting credits

All credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association, unless cited otherwise.^[61]

Year	Song	Artist(s)	Album	Lyricist	Composer
2014	"Never Ending (Melody)" (끝나지 않을 (Melody))	BTOB	Beep Beep
2015	"Last Day"		I Mean ()
2016	"Killing Me"		Remember That
	"Melody Song" (예지앞사)		New Men
2017	"At The End"	Himself	Piece of BTOB Vol. 1
2018	"Way"		Mark
	"Miss You" (틈)
	"Shelter"
	"Ever"
	"Gone"
2024	"As Always"		1991
	"33"

Filmography

Television series

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2013	Monstar	Men in Black member
2014	The Heirs	Himself as BtoB's member	Cameo (Episode 4)
2015	The Village: Achiara's Secret		Cameo

Television shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2011	K-Pop Star Hunt	Himself	Pre-debut, performed a duet with Sorn
2015	King of Masked Singer	Contestant	as Mr. Wifi.
	National Idol Singing Competition		with Seo Eunkwang as Golden and Silver Axe
2016	Idol and Family National Singing Competition		with Seo Eunkwang and his brother	[62][unreliable source?]
	Law of the Jungle in Mongolia	Himself	Cast Member
2017	Duet Song Festival	Contestant	with Park Soo-jin (Episode 43–44)
	Battle Trip		with Seo Eunkwang, Lee Min-hyuk (Episode 62)
2019	Video Star		Episode 126	[63][unreliable source?]
2020	Bookae Contest (부캐 선발대회)		with Seo Eunkwang as Golden and Silver Axe
2024	Universe League	Director	Team Groove	[30]

Hosting

Year	Title	Notes	Ref.
2019	Korean Armed Forces Symphony Orchestra the Peacekeeper of Gang-Won	with Shinee's Key	[64]
2020	All That Cube	Episode 7–16	[65]

Web shows

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Ref.
2022–2025	Changing Majors	Host	Season 1–5	[66]
2022	Inssa Oppa G		with Seo Eun-kwang	[67]
2023	Lotri Night			[68]
2025	Jeongwaja: Snack Movie		Cameo

Bibliography

Year	Title	ISBN	Ref.
2025	A Suitable Person	ISBN 9791173570025

Live performances and tours

See also: BtoB (band) § Concerts and tours

Stage acting

Year	Title	Role	Ref.
2017	Boys Over Flowers	Tsukasa Doumyouji	[11]
	Napoleon	Lucien	[12][69]
	Edgar Allan Poe	Edgar Allan Poe	[70]
2018	Dogfight	Birdlace	[71]
	Iron Mask	Louis XIV	[72]
2021	The Last Empress	Hong Gye-Hoon	[73]
	Marie Antoinette	Count Axel von Fersen	[74]
	Darwin Young's Origin of Evil	Darwin Young	[75]
2022	Mata Hari	Armand	[76]
2023	Memphis	Huey	[77]
2023–2024	Winter Traveler	Han Min-woo	[78]

Tour

• The Wayfarer (November 30, 2024–present)

Headlining concert

• 2019 Lee Changsub Solo Concert – SPACE (January 4–6, 2019)

Awards and nominations

See also: List of awards and nominations received by BtoB

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
Brand of the Year Awards	2023	Web Entertainment MC	Himself	Won	[79]
Korea First Brand Awards[A]	2025	Male Vocal		Won	[81]
		Web Variety MC		Won
MAMA Awards	2024	Song of the Year	"Heavenly Fate"	Longlisted	[28]
		Best OST		Nominated
Melon Music Awards	2024	Song of the Year		Nominated	[29]
		Best Male Solo	Himself	Nominated

Notes

1. Hosted by the Korea Consumer Brand Committee and the Korea Consumer Forum, the Korea First Brand Awards bases its winners on a nationwide South Korean survey.^[80]