When YOON SAN-HA first stepped into the fantagio training studio in December 2012, he was a boy of thirteen with a guitar in his hands and a galaxy of possibilities above his head. Introduced to the world through the company’s iTeen Photo Test Cut, YOON SAN-HA quickly stood out, not only for his visuals and height (which he’d later joke about often) but for a charm that sparkled even without a stage. Before debuting, he dipped his toes into acting through the 2015 web drama To Be Continued, foreshadowing a career that would dance effortlessly between performance and character work.

But it was February 2016 that was a true beginning: the launch of ASTRO’s journey with Spring Up. As the group’s youngest, YOON SAN-HA brought youthful energy and sweet vocals to the team. Over the years, fans watched him grow not only taller (impressively so) but also into his work – hosting teen-focused talk shows, starring in musicals and dramas, and eventually forming one of ASTRO’s most beloved sub-units, MOONBIN&SANHA.

Starting in August, I’ll be kicking off my fan concert tour starting from Korea. This time, I’ll also be heading to South America and the Philippines for the first time (…). I’m working hard to prepare, and I hope we can make some amazing memories together.

MOONBIN&SANHA’s debut EP In-Out in 2020 showed a darker, more stylised side of both artists. They showed the world that apart from being great idols, they were also storytellers with shadow and light in equal measure. 

Bad Idea, their title track, offered their first music show win as a unit – a moment that still lives vividly in fans’ hearts. 

In 2024, YOON SAN-HA released his first solo project, DUSK. Where ASTRO was sunlit and angelic, DUSK was earth-toned and soul-searching. Still, he felt something was missing. There were emotions, ideas, and movements left unsaid, a part of himself that hadn’t yet made it to the stage.

“I especially felt like I couldn’t showcase enough performance-wise in my first mini album,” YOON SAN-HA admits. “So I really wanted to highlight that this time. I also had a lot more confidence and certainty about this project.”

And it shows.

That “this” is CHAMELEON, his vibrant second mini-album, and a sign of how much he’s grown, not only on stage but as a singer-songwriter too. It’s a project built on colour, curiosity, and the kind of creative instinct that won’t settle for repetition.

“I had a strong desire to show more of my versatility,” he says. “Especially through performance.” The music videos, the styling, the stage, everything about CHAMELEON throbs with intention and heart.

I especially felt like I couldn’t showcase enough performance-wise in my first mini album. So I really wanted to highlight that this time. I also had a lot more confidence and certainty about this project.

From the unexpected metaphor in EXTRA VIRGIN to the groove of Bad Mosquito, YOON SAN-HA isn’t afraid to take chances or to laugh at the journey along the way.

“The song came with the title EXTRA VIRGIN from the beginning,” he explains, with a grin. “I didn’t actually know what it meant at first, but I found out it’s the highest grade of olive oil. The company suggested changing the title, but I thought EXTRA VIRGIN sounded unique and had a strong impact, so I wanted to keep it. Thankfully, the company respected my opinion, and we naturally incorporated the olive oil concept into the music video and concept photos.”

It’s the kind of edge that leaves a subtle aftertaste – unexpected, and utterly YOON SAN-HA.

As we continued, the conversation landed on Bad Mosquito.

“When I first heard Bad Mosquito, I thought it would lend itself to a sexy performance,” YOON SAN-HA says. “It was a song I wanted to try, and it felt like a continuation of my unit work. That’s why I really wanted to include it on this album.

It’s cheeky and fun; all balanced by his unmistakably polished delivery.

Beneath CHAMELEON’s bright colours lies something softer, and AURA maps the tender contours of that emotion.

Co-written and co-composed by YOON SAN-HA, it is a soft and steady song, full of warmth but touched by something enigmatic.

“I wanted to try something a bit different with AURA,” he shares. “So I took part in both the writing and composing. We used sounds that give a calming atmosphere, and while I was talking with the producer I worked with, the word ‘AURA’ just popped into my head. There’s something mysterious and dark about the word itself, and I felt like it carried many layers of meaning. I think it fits the concept of this album.”

There’s a certain calm to how he explains it – like the song already existed, and he just had to find it.

I’m always thankful for the support from fans. But the recent ASTRO concert was meaningful to me. It had been a while since we held one, and yet so many fans still came… still stayed.

On the opposite end of the spectrum lies 6PM (Nobody’s Business).

“I tried to record this one as naturally and comfortably as possible,” YOON SAN-HA says. “Instead of aiming to sound cool, I just imagined a calm summer night and tried to bring that feeling into the song.”

It’s that kind of intimacy, that closeness to feeling, that makes his solo work land in the heart, not just the ears.

And then there’s Love You Like Fools, a beautiful tribute to the fans who’ve walked beside him all these years. The ones who’ve cheered through his debut, his sub-unit, his losses, and now his re-emergence as a solo artist.

“I’m always thankful for the support from fans,” YOON SAN-HA says softly. “But the recent ASTRO concert was meaningful to me. It had been a while since we held one, and yet so many fans still came… still stayed.”

He doesn’t need to say more; the feeling says it all.

As for how he takes care of the voice that speaks, what words can’t always say?

“I drink a lot of water and try to sleep at least eight hours a night,” he says with a gentle smile. “Mentally, I think it’s important to build confidence. I often tell myself, ‘It’s okay, you’ve got this.’ That kind of mindset helps keep my voice stable.”

It’s a small ritual of self-trust, and perhaps the reason his vocals feel so consistently honest.

Looking ahead, YOON SAN-HA is finally about to take on something he’s never done alone: a solo tour. And he’s bringing it far beyond Korea and Japan.

“Starting in August, I’ll be kicking off my fan concert tour starting from Korea,” he shares, his voice equal parts nerves and excitement. “This time, I’ll also be heading to South America and the Philippines for the first time (…). I’m working hard to prepare, and I hope we can make some amazing memories together.”

From his days training at fantagio to performing on big stages with ASTRO, and now stepping into the beautiful and expressive world of CHAMELEON, YOON SAN-HA has continued to grow as an idol, actor, lyricist, and storyteller.

But most of all, he is someone who continues to blossom without letting go of the tenderness that made fans fall in love with him in the first place.

A chameleon, yes. But never camouflage. Always a light that finds its way to the stage.

Written and interviewed by Maggie Gogler

Featured image © fantagio

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}