The K-popWorld Festival 2026 runs in San Antonio, Texas, from Wednesday, October 28 to Saturday, October 31. One performer, WONHO, talks with MySA about being excited to try local BBQ, greeting new fans, and his latest musical projects.
Courtesy of FleurComGroup
The countdown is on for San Antonio’s first-ever K-PopWorld Festival, which will bring some of music’s biggest stars to the Alamodome. For beloved artist WONHO, the desire to meet his Texas fans is his biggest priority. Understandably, trying the city’s authentic BBQ is a close second.
The 33-year-old, born Lee Ho-seok, debuted as a soloist in 2020 after departing from boy band Monsta X the previous year. His first mini-album, Love Synonym #1: Right for Me, introduced a mix of high-energy tracks and ballads, and snagged a No.1 spot on the iTunes worldwide charts in the U.S., UK, India, Germany and other countries.
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It laid the foundation for WONHO’s new identity: one more centered on his personal style and vocal talent, evident in emotional tracks like “Losing You,” described as an expression of gratitude to those who supported him through a highly publicized exit from the septet.
His most recently released EP, CORE, continues that evolution. Composed of up-tempo beats and R&B elements that compel the listener to groove, WONHO experiments with a new way to tell his stories.
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Q: You’ve visited some major Texas cities over the years for tours, but it appears this will be your first time in San Antonio. What are you most excited to experience, eat, or do?
A: This will be my first time in San Antonio, so I’m excited about everything. When I think of Texas, the first thing that comes to mind is barbecue, so I definitely want to try some authentic local BBQ while I’m there. If I have the time, I’d also love to walk around the city and really take in San Antonio’s unique atmosphere. Most of all, I’m looking forward to meeting my fans in San Antonio for the very first time.
What was one challenge you experienced while creating ‘CORE,’ and how did you resolve it?
A: The biggest challenge was figuring out how to make the album feel like one complete story. I didn’t want each song to stand on its own—I wanted the entire EP to flow naturally from beginning to end. That’s why I spent a lot of time thinking about the track order, making sure every song connected smoothly and created one cohesive listening experience.
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Q: Completing an EP is such an accomplishment, and I’m sure it requires countless hours of work and brain power. What activities help you rest and re-energize your creativity?
A: The biggest source of inspiration and motivation for me is communicating with my fans, WENEE. Through them, I get to hear stories and emotions that I wouldn’t experience on my own, and that gives me so much inspiration. Every conversation I have with my fans is incredibly meaningful, and those moments give me the energy and creativity to keep making new music.
Q: How do you like your stage outfits to make you feel, and what are your thoughts on these Texas fashion staples? Could fans ever expect to see you try this style for a future concept?
A: In my everyday life, I prefer a comfortable and natural style. On stage, though, I think it’s important to wear outfits that best match the music and the concept I’m trying to express. I think cowboy fashion is really cool, too. If I ever get the chance, it would be fun to perform in a special look inspired by the unique atmosphere you can only experience in Texas.
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Q: How does the fact that Texas has such a strong passion for K-pop — regardless of region or language — make you feel?
A: It fills me with nothing but gratitude. Even though I haven’t had many opportunities to visit, my fans have always shown me the same unwavering love and energy, and that means so much to me. I hope there will be more opportunities like this to visit San Antonio and perform in person. I’ll continue working hard so I can come back and spend more time with my fans here in the future.
K-Pop World Festival 2026 Texas
Wonho is a festival co-headliner performing on Friday, October 30. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, and more information about the days-long event can be found here.
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Wonho is a K-PopWorld Festival co-headliner performing on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Alamodome. Concert tickets are purchasable via Ticketmaster.
Courtesy of FleurComGroup
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