He comes from a truly wealthy family
Suho's family fits the classic “rich but modest” profile in South Korea. His father is a respected economics professor and educator. However, what is striking is that his father is not only influential in academic circles but also in political circles. Although Suho had the opportunity to attend prestigious schools such as Seoul National University after passing the university entrance exam, he decided to join SM as a trainee on his own, not because of his family's connections. This shows that despite being born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he entered the idol world on his own two feet.
He Was the First Trainee Selected for EXO
SM Entertainment began forming the lineup for EXO with Suho. He was selected as the group's first official member, and the other members were later placed around him. After working as a trainee for approximately 6.5 years, his debut on stage is a rare example of patience in the industry. It is known that the main reason the company made him the leader of EXO was the discipline he gained during this long period and the trust he earned within the company.
The stage name was his idea
The name “Suho” is derived from a Korean word meaning “to protect.” Interestingly, this stage name was suggested by Suho himself. The idea of being EXO's “protector” did not come from SM's marketing department but directly from Jun-myeon himself. This name is not just a stage identity but also reflects his role within the group. His role as a mediator and problem-solver among the group members fully justifies this nickname.
His Passion for Theater and Film Began in High School
Suho played the lead role in a theater play during high school, and this experience sparked a serious interest in performing arts. According to his school friends, everything began when he was persuaded to take the stage while helping out at the school's theater club. This was the first spark of his stage career outside of music. His ability to comfortably take on roles in TV series and films today is directly related to the confidence he gained at an early age.
An Idol Chosen for Challenging Roles
While most idols start out with safe roles, Suho preferred to play psychologically complex characters right from the start. For example, when he played a lonely, introverted character in the movie “Student A,” industry critics were surprised that he was able to play such a quiet character. Suho, who is quite sociable behind the camera, prefers to immerse himself in his roles rather than distance himself from them, which sets him apart in the acting world.
He Turned Down Offers to Study Abroad in High School
Suho received scholarship offers from several private schools in the US and Canada during high school, thanks to his academic grades and language proficiency. However, he turned down these opportunities because he wanted to pursue music and stay at SM Entertainment. His decision to stay in Korea despite his family's insistence at such a young age demonstrates how determined he was from an early age. This decision was one of the turning points that paved the way for him to join EXO.
Genuinely Interested in Literature and Philosophy
While many idols say they “love reading,” Suho is one of those who has really delved into the subject. He has often been seen reading authors such as Plato, Camus, and Haruki Murakami backstage. Once, he was even caught on camera by fans trying to explain to the other EXO members how reading Nietzsche helped him normalize loneliness. There are very few idols who read books backstage before concerts, and Suho is one of them.
His Secret Poetry Was Revealed
For a long time, he kept a notebook where he wrote his own poems without anyone knowing. The existence of this notebook came to light when one of the EXO members said during a live broadcast, “The things Jun-myeon wrote about love really surprised me.” It was later confirmed that several lines he used in a few dramas were adapted from his own writings. This shows that Suho is not just an actor but also has a keen interest in writing, even going so far as to intervene in the script lines.
Mentoring Young Artists Within SM
After EXO debuted, Suho became not only the leader of the group but also a quiet mentor who coached SM's new trainees. Some members of NCT revealed that Suho would come to them during SM training sessions and give them one-on-one lessons on dance and vocal techniques. This assistance is not an official duty, but is entirely his own initiative. In other words, Suho continues to be a “leader” behind the scenes as much as he is in front of the camera.
Quietly Taking Responsibility Even During Military Service
Although Suho served his mandatory military service in the cultural support unit, he is known to have volunteered for military theater projects. In particular, his leading role in the stage play “Return: The Promise of the Day” was well received by both the military and the public. His close interaction with the entire crew, from lighting technicians to set designers, and his lack of “celebrity airs” were often mentioned by his fellow soldiers.
Approaching Fans Personally and Quietly
Suho prefers to be modest and attentive in his interactions with fans. During a fan meeting, he kindly corrected a fan who couldn’t pronounce his name correctly and later wrote a personal note for them. Additionally, he often sends special thank-you cards to fan staff working behind the scenes during birthday celebrations, a rare gesture in the industry. For Suho, fans are more than just a crowd; they are individuals with faces and stories.
Doesn't shy away from sending social messages
Although EXO generally maintains an apolitical stance, Suho has taken a clear position on some social issues. His statements on education rights, child labor, and freedom of expression in the arts have been particularly noteworthy. Behind the scenes, he once said, “An idol's job is not just to entertain, but sometimes to remind people of uncomfortable truths,” which sums up how he uses his popularity. He presents himself as quiet, thoughtful, and conscious.
Consciously Participating in International Projects
Suho has contributed to several global projects as a voice actor, music consultant, or script consultant, but he did not want his name to be in the spotlight. It is known that he supported the music theme of an independent animation in Japan, but refused to have his name appear in the credits. This attitude shows that he sees his art as contribution-oriented rather than ego-driven. Suho prefers to be one of the leading figures in global cultural production rather than a shining star.
His English Improved Behind the Camera, Not in Front of It
Suho did not speak much in English interviews for many years, but in recent years he has begun to form fluent sentences. However, he did not achieve this through private lessons or flashy language training, but by communicating one-on-one with English-speaking teams. According to a dance coach, Suho began organizing all rehearsals with English notes instead of Korean. This shows another dimension of his leadership, which has been quietly developing behind the scenes.
He Had to Stay on Stage with Painkillers
During EXO's 2016 world tour, it was revealed that Suho suffered a knee ligament strain and continued the tour despite the pain, taking painkillers under a doctor's supervision to perform on stage. The fact that he showed no signs of pain on his face during the dance earned him great respect among his fans. Backstage, he was heard saying, “I went on stage so that the group's energy wouldn't drop before my body did.” This was a moment that showed his leadership was not just in words, but also in his physical actions.
One of the rare idols who takes notes during dance practice
Suho’s habit of taking notes in a small notebook during every choreography rehearsal and meticulously recording the sections where he made mistakes by the hour was confirmed by his group members. Some dance instructors describe this habit as “working with almost academic discipline.” Suho’s obsessive note-taking plays a direct role in the precision of EXO’s group dance synchronisation. He sees dance not just as something to memorize, but as a structure to be analyzed.
He Works One-on-One on Vocal Arrangements
Although Suho is not the lead vocalist in EXO songs but rather a “support vocalist,” he is known to play an active role in the arrangement of background vocals. In some recording sessions, he has sung harmony sections in 4-5 different variations instead of the main vocals, presenting alternatives to producers—a detail rarely seen in the industry. One of SM's producers once said that Suho is “the idol who suggests the most background vocals.”
He Didn't Just Use His Voice for Music
In addition to participating in theater during his military service, Suho also did voice-over work for some public service announcements. His calming voice tone in a public service announcement addressing exam stress and psychological pressures among young people was cited as an example by psychology consultants. Contrary to his energetic stage persona, he manages to maintain a soft and balanced tone in voice-over work, demonstrating his advanced vocal control.
He Starts His Morning Routine with Meditation at 6 a.m.
An interesting detail about Suho's morning routine is his habit of meditating before sunrise. One of the members said that Suho wakes up around 6 a.m. in his hotel room, quietly unfolds his yoga mat, and starts his day with 20 minutes of meditation followed by classical music. The fact that he doesn't give up this habit even on tour shows how he maintains his mental balance. This aspect explains how he is able to create a powerful aura on stage without being overly dramatic.
His Walls Are Covered with Books
A rare detail shared about Suho's home is that his obsessive love for books is physically reflected in his living space. A large part of the walls in his home are covered with bookshelves, and there are literary details in almost every empty space. He prefers to spend his time off stage quietly reading books rather than watching movies. Some fans describe his book collection as “more like the office of a literature professor than the home of an idol.”
EXO Members Sometimes Find Him Too Polite
Suho's sometimes overly polite and formal behavior within the group has been the subject of jokes among the members. Especially Baekhyun once said on a variety show, “When I call Jun-myeon hyung, he sends me a message like his assistant, saying, ‘He's busy right now,’” which made everyone laugh. However, the same members also say that when someone is in a difficult situation, Suho is the first to respond. This shows that despite appearing distant, he maintains strong emotional bonds.
He gave up his own projects so that the group wouldn't break up
It is a little-known fact that Suho postponed his personal projects so that EXO could remain active for a long time. He turned down several prestigious offers in the acting field because they conflicted with the group's schedule. One of these projects was an independent Korean film that was screened at Cannes. The director later said in an interview that Suho was perfect for the role but politely declined the offer, saying, “EXO comes first.”
Planning to Become a Manager in the Cultural Field After the Music Industry
Suho's plans for the future include not only staying on stage but also reflecting his cultural background in organizations. He has mentioned the idea of establishing a music production company or an art management agency several times in interviews. It has even been reported that he attended academic seminars on cultural policies and watched university lectures as an audience member after completing his military service. In his own words, he wants to be “someone who leaves a mark behind the scenes.”
Quietly Shattering the “Weak Leader” Label
In the early years of EXO, Suho was labeled a “weak leader” by some circles due to his calm demeanor on stage and avoidance of bold statements. However, over time, it became clear that he was the one who stepped forward during all of the group's crises and quietly maintained order. It has been recounted many times that he resolved conflicts among members through one-on-one meetings before they were reflected in the media. His quiet leadership gradually became a model example in the industry, and it is noteworthy that this transformation was achieved without any PR efforts.
Not Taken Seriously Because of His Appearance
Suho's “very clean, very neat” appearance sometimes made him seem superficial. Some media outlets promoted him as an idol who was only visually appealing. However, behind the scenes, his technical knowledge of sound, poetic writing style, and social awareness broke down many preconceptions. This change in perception among fans spread rapidly, especially after his solo music projects and theater performances.
A Real Sense of Humor Behind the Camera
While Suho presents a polite and formal image on TV shows, he is actually one of the group's sharpest-tongued members with a sarcastic sense of humor, which becomes much clearer in behind-the-scenes content. This is particularly evident in his conversations with Sehun, where he often makes subtle sarcastic remarks without drawing attention to them. He is known among fans as a “master of subtle sarcasm,” and this side of him contrasts sharply with his image on stage.
His Disinterest in Luxury Is a Conscious Choice
Despite his family's wealthy background, Suho has never chosen to be seen with flashy luxury brands. In fact, he is known to have turned down many promotional offers, saying that they did not align with his personal preferences. In his private life, he prefers to dress simply, own few possessions, and collect vintage items. This minimalist attitude makes him stand out from other K-pop stars and arouses curiosity.
He Does Not Interfere with His Public Image
Instead of engaging in public battles over inaccurate or incomplete news reports about himself, Suho prefers to let time change people's perceptions. His avoidance of scandals is not only due to his calm demeanor but also a strategic choice. Those who know him closely say that his silence in the media is not a sign of weakness but a deliberate approach aimed at “creating reality rather than managing public opinion.”