Sangwon

Sangwon of ALPHA DRIVE ONE: Biography

ALPHA DRIVE ONE‘s Sangwon (born Lee Sangwon, 이상원) is the center and visual of the eight-member WakeOne project group, having topped Mnet’s Boys II Planet finale with over 7.2 million votes — the highest total in the entire competition. Known for his flower-boy visuals, dreamy stage presence, and years of hard-earned trainee experience, Sangwon is widely considered one of the breakout faces of ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s debut era.

Born on May 8, 2003, in Seoul, South Korea, Sangwon spent over six years as a trainee before debuting, including a stint at Big Hit Music’s pre-debut project Trainee A alongside groupmate Leo. The pair remained close after Trainee A disbanded, later forming the duo Leo & Sangwon and continuing to train together at GRID Entertainment ahead of Boys II Planet.

Quick Facts

Sangwon officially debuted with ALPHA DRIVE ONE on January 12, 2026, in the group’s first EP Euphoria, fronting promotions for the lead single “Freak Alarm” as center. His journey from Big Hit trainee to Boys II Planet winner has made him a fan favorite, and he is often praised on variety shows like Amazing Saturday for both his visuals and his easy-going, warm personality.

A graduate of Hanlim Multi Arts High School’s Practical Dance department, Sangwon is also skilled at DJing and choreography, and speaks good English on top of his native Korean. Outside music, he enjoys photographing flowers, listening to music, and watching mukbangs, and he has spoken openly about working part-time at a café during a gap between agencies — a humbling chapter of his journey that fans often bring up as proof of his perseverance before finally debuting with ALPHA DRIVE ONE.