Anton

Who Is Anton?

Anton is the maknae and a vocalist of RIIZE, the six-member South Korean boy group under SM Entertainment that debuted in September 2023. Born Lee Chan-young on March 21, 2004, in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in New Jersey, Anton is a Korean-American idol with a rich artistic pedigree — his father is celebrated producer and singer Yoon Sang, and his mother is actress Shim Hyejin.

From Competitive Swimmer to Idol Trainee

Long before he became RIIZE’s maknae, Anton was a serious competitive swimmer, once ranking 10th overall at the U.S. junior nationals. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down pools in 2020, he made the bold decision to pivot toward music, a passion he had quietly nurtured since childhood, partly thanks to growing up in a musical household. After convincing his initially hesitant parents, he auditioned for and joined SM Entertainment, where he trained alongside future RIIZE members — including Wonbin, the very first trainee he befriended at the company.

Debut and Musical Contributions

Anton officially debuted with RIIZE on September 4, 2023, with the single album “Get A Guitar,” introduced by SM Entertainment as a new talent in composition with a unique musical sense. A trained cellist since childhood, he delivered a standout cello collaboration with X Japan’s Yoshiki during RIIZE’s stage at the 2023 MAMA Awards. Beyond performing, Anton is known for his budding skills in music production, having contributed to behind-the-scenes content and signal songs for RIIZE-related projects.

Personality and Fun Facts

Fans know Anton by his playful nickname “Brachio,” paired with his representative dinosaur emoji. He’s fluent in both Korean and English, has studied Chinese, and is famous within RIIZE for his loud, booming laugh. Naturally observant and detail-oriented, Anton often notices small habits about his members that others miss, and while reserved with strangers, he’s known to be warm and talkative with close friends. His hoodie is his go-to comfort item, and his bucket list famously includes a dream of traveling to space — along with a heartfelt goal of one day performing a concert at MetLife Stadium in his home state of New Jersey.

Why Fans Love Anton

As RIIZE’s youngest member, Anton brings a rare combination of classical musical training, a multicultural upbringing, and genuine warmth to the group. His journey from competitive swimming pools to the RIIZE stage has resonated with fans worldwide, and his continued growth as a vocalist and producer makes him one of the members to watch as RIIZE’s career progresses.