In the dynamic world of 4th generation K-Pop, few artists embody the term “all-rounder” with the quiet confidence and proven skill of Lee Heeseung. As the eldest member, main vocalist, and center of the global phenomenon ENHYPEN, Heeseung is the versatile core around which much of the group’s performance identity is built. Forged in the high-stakes crucible of the survival show I-LAND and honed through years of rigorous training, his journey from a highly sought-after trainee to a global star is a testament to innate talent, relentless perfectionism, and a deep-seated passion for music.
Biography
- Birth Name: Lee Hee-seung (이희승)
- Stage Name: Heeseung (희승)
- Date of Birth: October 15th, 2001
- Nationality: Korean
- Education: Gwangnam High School (graduated)
- Position: Center
- Agency: Belift Lab
- Height: 183 cm (6 ft)
Fun Facts
- He was the only adult in the group at the time of debut.
- A former Big Hit Music trainee, he joined the company on December 2, 2016, and trained alongside TXT at Big Hit.
- During his Big Hit trainee days, he reportedly took on a developmental leader role among the trainees, guiding others with his meticulous and detail-oriented practice.
- Jungwon said he was a reliable older brother who helped keep other trainees on track and was highly trusted thanks to both his skills and character. His words had a positive impact, and he became a role model for many.
- His role model is his father.
- He mentioned that poor multitasking is one of his weaknesses.
- When asked which movie character he’d like to be, he answered a male lead from a Japanese romance anime.
- His favorite sport is basketball.
- His soul food is ramyeon. He first had it at his aunt’s house in elementary school and now eats it more than three times a week. However, he prefers jjambbong over ramyeon.
- He is known for his deer-like eyes.
- Sensitive and emotional, he cries easily.
- He loves wearing hats—especially attached to a leopard-print beanie, which drew major attention among viewers. He even declared during the August 3 I-LAND global audience broadcast that he wouldn’t wear it again in Part 2.
- He’s weak to aegyo (cute behavior). In Episode 10 of I-LAND, he shyly mimicked Sunoo’s aegyo during a fan Q&A.
- His favorite Baskin Robbins flavor is Rainbow Sherbet.
- Fans noted he speaks English quite well, and his pronunciation is good when singing pop songs.
- He has perfect pitch. As a child, he realized this when he identified his father’s fart while driving as the note “G.” Using this skill, he helps ENHYPEN tune before performances.
- He’s friends with TREASURE’s Yoon Jaehyuk, JUST B’s Lim Jimin, Stray Kids’ I.N, YOUNITE’s Eunho, and TXT’s Beomgyu.
- His favorite movie genre is animation.
- He’s considered the funniest member by the group.
- He narrated the opening track “Intro: The Invitation” from BORDER: CARNIVAL in English. He said the experience felt very different from how he usually speaks English.
- He practiced a lot of vocal techniques to hit the high notes for Block B’s “Very Good” during KCON:TACT 3.
- During the EN-CONNECT fan meeting, he rapped BTS’s “Boy In Luv,” which was difficult since he hadn’t rapped since trainee days.
- He hopes to be someone who inspires ENGENEs.
- He has the longest legs in the team.
- He has loved studying English since middle school and scored high enough to enter a foreign language high school.
- Ramyeon vs. Jjambbong — Jjambbong.
- His favorite animated movies are Wreck-It Ralph and Toy Story.
- Fans say he looks even better in person, joking that he could break the camera.
- His favorite movie is Ocean Waves.
- His hobby is gaming. He enjoys FIFA, League of Legends, and Overwatch, and is so good that Sunghoon and Ni-ki once set a goal of “beating Heeseung at FIFA” for July 2021. Due to his schedule, he mainly plays games at night. Members say when he plays, he barely moves his body—only his hand with the mouse moves quietly. He developed this habit from secretly gaming as a child while trying not to wake his parents. He demonstrated his gameplay in EN-LOG, showing titles like KartRider, FIFA, and LoL.
- He’s an all-rounder—great at playing instruments, basketball, soccer, baseball, badminton, skating, gaming, singing, dancing, and even considered the luckiest member by others.
- On September 2, 2021, BELIFT LAB announced that five members—Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, and Sunghoon—tested positive for COVID-19, excluding Sunoo and Ni-ki. They had been quarantining since August 26 after a staff member tested positive. Jake developed symptoms on August 29 and tested positive on August 30, followed by the other four. They were released after full recovery on September 11.
- He likes tteokbokki and prefers it with added rice cakes when ordering from Gcova Chicken.
- After feeling pain in his right toe during promotions for their first full-length album, he underwent surgery for an epidermoid cyst on November 1, 2021—the day after promotions ended.
- He has dreamed of becoming a singer since age 6 or 7.
- His League of Legends tier is somewhere between Gold 2 and Platinum 4, but he jokes that it’s closer to Silver 4.
- He prefers soft peaches over crunchy ones and cream-filled red bean buns over plain red bean ones.
- During live broadcasts, he often unconsciously uses semi-formal Korean speech.
- He had LASIK surgery, so he no longer wears prescription lenses.
- In his third year of middle school, he studied English for a month at a mid-sized language academy in Vancouver, Canada, called Cornerstone College.
- He avoids typing in-game chats while playing because it often leads to arguments.
- He sleeps as much as Jay. Even when Jungwon tries to wake him up, he says, “Just 3 more minutes…” He once wrote that he plans to “sleep beautifully” in a team schedule document.
- His personal color is Autumn Muted.
- He’s the best at basketball among the ENHYPEN members and loves it the most.
Career
Pre-Debut: A Highly Coveted Trainee
Heeseung’s dream of becoming a singer began at the young age of six. His talent was undeniable early on; after taking an entrance test at the prestigious Hanlim Arts High School, he was reportedly approached by seven or eight different entertainment companies. He ultimately chose to sign with Big Hit Entertainment (now Big Hit Music), where he trained for three years and one month.
During his time at Big Hit, he became a standout performer, known for his skills and leadership potential. He trained alongside the members of TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) and was even considered a candidate for their debut lineup, a testament to how highly he was regarded within the company. This extensive training period under a major agency provided him with a robust foundation in vocals, dance, and performance that would become evident during his time on I-LAND.
Forged in I-LAND
In 2020, Heeseung was introduced to the public as a contestant on the Mnet survival show I-LAND. Throughout the show, he consistently demonstrated his all-rounder capabilities, earning praise for his stable vocals, powerful dancing, and natural stage presence. Heeseung’s performance of BTS’s “Fake Love” earned him the highest score of the show, a 93, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier contestant.
Despite his skills, he also showed a considerate and team-oriented personality, at one point declining the center position to give other trainees an opportunity to shine. In the show’s finale, he secured his place in ENHYPEN by ranking fifth with 1,137,323 global votes.
ENHYPEN’s “Ace”: Main Vocalist and Creative Contributor
Since debuting with ENHYPEN on November 30, 2020, Heeseung has been a cornerstone of the group’s identity. As the main vocalist and center, he is often at the forefront of their performances, delivering soaring high notes and anchoring their complex choreographies. His natural gift of perfect pitch is a significant asset, allowing him to help the members with vocal adjustments.
Beyond his performance roles, Heeseung has actively contributed to the group’s music. He has the most album credits for background vocals among the members and has taken on a directing role for some of their songs. Notably, he is credited with the vocal arrangement for the title track “Bite Me” and also directed parts of the song “Bills”. His first official production credit came with the fan song “Highway 1009” from the album ROMANCE : UNTOLD, a track for which all seven members also contributed lyrics.
Solo Activities and Collaborations
While primarily focused on group activities, Heeseung has participated in several notable solo and collaborative projects that highlight his individual talents:
- 2021 MAMA “Bloom the Sound”: Heeseung was selected as one of the 4th generation dance representatives for a special collaboration stage at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards. He performed alongside other top idols like Yeonjun (TXT), Hyunjin (Stray Kids), Yeji (ITZY), Karina (aespa), and Wooyoung (ATEEZ).
- Song Covers: In 2022, he released a solo cover of Justin Bieber’s “Off My Face,” which became the most viewed, liked, and commented-on cover by a 4th generation idol at the time. He has also released a cover of “This is what falling in love feels like” by JVKE.
- Flo Rida Collaboration: In January 2025, Heeseung and fellow member Jake collaborated with American rapper Flo Rida and artist Paul Russell on the single “Confessions”.
- Brand Ambassadorships: Heeseung has secured solo and unit brand deals, including becoming an ambassador for Italian jewelry brand Pomellato (along with Jay) and the Chinese beauty brand Joocyee.
Personal Life
Early Life
Born on October 15, 2001, Heeseung grew up in Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, with his parents and an older brother who is two years his senior. He has cited his father as his role model and is known to value his family deeply. Heeseung is a graduate of Gwangnam High School.
Friendships
He maintains close friendships within the industry, particularly with the members of TXT, with whom he trained at Big Hit. He is also known to be in a group chat with other idols born in 2001, including Stray Kids’ I.N, TXT’s Beomgyu, and JUST B’s Lim Jimin.
Issues
In November 2021, Belift Lab revealed that Heeseung had to undergo surgery for an epidermoid cyst on his right toe. He then resumed his activities in a fanmeeting on the 19th.
In 2024, Heeseung drew concerns as he received threats at the group’s concert, causing fans to call for protection from the agency. At the time, anti-fans of the male idol spam threatening words at him both before and after the concert, even going quiet whenever he appeared on stage and cursing and insulting him throughout the show.
