From Pollock Roe Seaweed to Towels: Winner Lee Seung-hoon's Unique Business Ventures
Winner's Lee Seung-hoon is continuing his activities as an entrepreneur by running a shopping platform, where he personally introduces various products such as pollack roe seaweed, towels, and parasols, and even visits factories.
From Myeongran-gim ASMR to Towel Factory Tours: Lee Seung-hoon's Unique Ventures
Lee Seung-hoon, a member of the group WINNER, is revealing his side as an entrepreneur alongside his activities as a singer. Recently, Lee Seung-hoon released videos on social media and online communities promoting products from the shopping platform he operates. In the videos, Lee showcased ASMR content eating Myeongran-gim (pollock roe seaweed) while also introducing products by personally verifying the performance of parasols and portable fans.
His hands-on management style is also noteworthy. Lee recently visited a domestic towel manufacturing factory to inspect the production process. Visiting the site to check product quality, he participated in everything from product planning to the inspection stage, such as releasing limited-edition towels in collaboration with the brand. His current product lineup includes Myeongran-gim, towels, handheld fans, parasols, and cosmetics.
Mixed Reactions: Criticism of Being a 'Seller' vs. Fan Support
As news of Lee Seung-hoon's recent activities spread, netizens' reactions were divided. Some expressed disappointment, commenting, "Has he become a 'seller' now?" or "I wish he would focus more on his singing career." Some even left speculative comments mentioning WINNER's income issues or member Song Mino's situation, asking, "Is it because of Song Mino?" or "Did he make a bad stock investment?"
On the other hand, fans supported Lee Seung-hoon's challenge. Fans defended him, saying, "He has always mentioned that he wanted to try running a business himself," and "Lee Seung-hoon is naturally the type of person who enjoys challenging himself with things others don't do." Lee has a history of embracing new platforms and methods, having been one of the first to start Weverse Lives in the past. Fans sent their support, stating, "It's good to see him working hard on his business," and "It's cool to see him doing what he loves."
Balancing WINNER Activities and Business
While running his business, Lee Seung-hoon continues his primary career as a singer. Recently, WINNER took the stage at a university festival to perform. Members Lee Seung-hoon, Kang Seung-yoon, and Kim Jin-woo participated in this performance.
Member Song Mino has been serving as a social service agent since March 2023. Song Mino stood trial for violating the Military Service Act and had his first trial on April 21, with the prosecution seeking a prison sentence of one year and six months. During Song Mino's absence, Lee Seung-hoon is balancing variety show appearances, content creation, and operating his shopping platform.
Direct Management as a Platform CEO
As the CEO of the shopping platform, Lee Seung-hoon is expanding his business model by collaborating with brand representatives. He is actively involved in management by posting photos with brand officials on social media and directly announcing collaboration news. Rather than simply selling products, he adopts a strategy of releasing products through collaborations with brands and his own in-house productions.
Lee continues to collaborate with various brands within the platform and personally produces content that tests product performance to deliver to consumers. He has previously expressed his business ambition to grow the platform into a space where one can discover collaborations between various brands and celebrities and explore their tastes.
