Lee Felix, also known by his Korean name Lee Yong-bok, is a prominent figure in the Korean pop music scene and is currently associated with the K-pop boy band ‘Stray Kids.’ Operating under the mononym Felix, he holds the roles of lead dancer and rapper within the group. Despite his Korean heritage, Felix was born and raised in Australia, completing his high school education in Sydney before relocating to South Korea. Felix gained recognition through his participation in the reality TV show ‘Stray Kids,’ which debuted on Mnet in October 2017. This program, created by JYP Entertainment to initiate a male idol debut project, quickly captured public interest. Although initially removed from the show along with another member, Lee Know, Felix was eventually reinstated, ensuring that Stray Kids retained its original nine members in the final lineup. In October 2017, Stray Kids released their debut single, ‘Hellevator.’ Following this, the group unveiled their pre-debut extended play ‘Mixtape’ in January 2018, officially debuting in March of the same year. Since then, Stray Kids has continued to make a significant impact, releasing three additional EPs, numerous singles, and multiple music videos. The year 2018 marked a milestone for Felix and Stray Kids as they received the New Hallyu Rookie Award at the Soribada Best K-Music Awards, recognizing their contributions to the global spread of Korean pop culture.
Rise to Stardom of Lee Felix
Upon being accepted as a trainee at JYP Entertainment (JYPE), Felix decided to relocate to South Korea. In August 2017, JYPE announced the launch of a new reality TV show, specifically created to introduce a male idol debut project. Over the next two months, various details and teasers were revealed, leading to the official unveiling of the show’s name, ‘Stray Kids.’ Before the show’s premiere, Stray Kids released their inaugural single, ‘Hellevator.’ The show premiered on Mnet on October 17 to positive acclaim.
Felix faced a temporary setback when he was eliminated from the show on episode eight, along with fellow member Lee Know, who had been eliminated earlier on episode four. However, both were reinstated on episode nine and ultimately, all nine original members secured their places in the final lineup of Stray Kids. The show concluded its run on December 19, solidifying the group’s formation. In addition to Felix and Lee Know, the lineup included Bang Chan, Kim Woo-jin, Seo Chang-bin, Hwang Hyun-jin, Han Ji-sung, Kim Seung-min, and Yang Jeong-in.
Following the show’s conclusion, an official website was established for Stray Kids, and they released their pre-debut EP ‘Mixtape’ on January 8, 2018. The EP achieved notable success, reaching number two on the Gaon Album Chart and the US World Albums Chart. On March 25, Stray Kids held their first showcase, ‘Stray Kids Unveil (Op. 01: I Am Not),’ at Jangchung Arena. The official debut took place on March 26 with the release of the EP ‘I Am Not,’ which debuted at number four on the Gaon Album chart, selling over 54,000 physical copies in March alone.
Continued Success of Lee Felix
Stray Kids expanded their reach by performing outside South Korea for the first time at KCON Japan 2018 on April 14. Their second showcase, ‘Stray Kids Unveil (Op. 02: I Am Who),’ took place on August 5 at Kyung Hee University’s Grand Peace Palace. The group’s second EP, ‘I Am Who,’ released the following day, reached the third spot on the Gaon Album chart, sold over 80,000 copies in Korea, and secured the fifth spot on the US World chart.
On October 21, 2018, Stray Kids hosted their third showcase, ‘Stray Kids Unveil (Op. 03: I Am You),’ at Olympic Hall, coinciding with the release of their fourth EP, ‘I Am You,’ which peaked at the number two spot on the Gaon Album Chart.
Apart from their reality series, Stray Kids members have made appearances on various shows, including ‘The 9th,’ ‘Stray Kids Amigo TV,’ and ‘Stray Directors.’ In 2018, Felix and the group also starred in the drama ‘First Day of Becoming a JYP Trainee.’
Personal Life of Lee Felix
Felix, born on September 15, 2000, in Sydney, Australia, has two sisters, Rachel (Jisue Lee) and Olivia. He attended St Patrick’s Marist College, a Roman Catholic co-educational high school in Sydney. A practicing Catholic himself, Felix developed an interest in music and performing from a young age, even playing the piano. He draws inspiration from BIGBANG’s G-Dragon.
Felix is a skilled taekwondo practitioner, earning numerous awards in the sport. Known by various nicknames such as Bbijikseu, Bbajikseu, Bbujikseu, and Jikseu, Felix, having spent a significant portion of his life in Australia, is fluent in English. His favorite sport is soccer, as revealed by him.
The net worth of Lee Felix
The estimated net worth of Lee Felix is about $1 million.