ANTON

Biography

Anton (born Lee Chanyoung) is a Korean-American singer and performer based in South Korea. He is the maknae (youngest member) of the South Korean boy band RIIZE, formed and managed by SM Entertainment. Riize debuted on September 4, 2023, and quickly gained attention as one of SM’s newest groups in the K-pop scene.

Early Life and Education

Anton Lee was born on March 21, 2004, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. He moved with his family to New Jersey when he was three years old, where he spent much of his childhood.

He is the son of prominent Korean musician Yoon Sang and actress Shim Hyejin, and has a younger brother. Anton was raised bilingual and developed a strong background in both English and Korean. 

Career

Pre-Debut and Training

Anton originally pursued swimming from a young age and trained competitively for many years, with aspirations of becoming a professional swimmer. However, around 2020 his focus shifted toward music, and he persuaded his parents to support his move into the entertainment industry. He then auditioned for SM Entertainment, was accepted, and became a trainee.

During his trainee period, Anton developed skills in vocal performance, dance, music composition, and cello, reflecting a broad musical ability that would contribute to his later activities.

Debut with Riize (2023–present)

On August 1, 2023, SM Entertainment officially announced that Anton would debut as a member of its new boy group RIIZE. He debuted with the group on September 4, 2023, with the single album Get a Guitar. RIIZE’s name is a combination of “Rise” and “Realize,” symbolizing growth and shared accomplishment.

As the maknae of the group, Anton contributes vocals and performance and is recognized for his unique musical sensibility and compositional potential. RIIZE quickly established itself in the K-pop scene, releasing music, performing on major stages, and embarking on international tours. 

Discography