E-Chan

E-Chan (DKB): Meet DKB’s Leader, Main Rapper, and Lead Dancer

E-Chan is the leader, main rapper, and lead dancer of the South Korean boy group DKB, formed under Brave Entertainment. Born Lee Chang-min on February 19, 1997, in Incheon, South Korea, E-Chan was the very first member revealed when Brave Entertainment began teasing its new boy group back in October 2019. If you’re getting into DKB or just curious about their charismatic front man, let’s walk through who E-Chan really is.

From Boys24 to Brave Entertainment

Before E-Chan became a K-pop idol with DKB, he actually tried his hand at survival show fame. He competed on Boys24, a project that later produced the group IN2IT, where he was placed in Unit Purple and then Unit Yellow before being eliminated. He also trained for a stint at YG Entertainment beforehand. So by the time he signed with Brave Entertainment, E-Chan already carried real trainee experience — and it shows in how comfortable he looks handling both rap and dance duties on stage.

Debut with DKB and Rise as Leader

E-Chan officially debuted with DKB on February 3, 2020, with the group’s first mini album Youth and its title track “Sorry Mama.” As one of the group’s leaders, he’s guided DKB through eras like The Dice Is Cast, Rebel, Autumn, and more recently Urban Ride and Emotion. Along the way, DKB picked up recognition like the Next Artist Award at the 2020 Soribada Best K-Music Awards and the Focus Singer Award at the 2021 Asia Artist Awards.

Personality, Hobbies, and Fun Facts

Off stage, E-Chan likes to unwind by watching movies, going shopping, and listening to music — and he’s said he actually prefers movies to novels. His childhood dream was to become an actor, which fits with his current specialty as a rap-making, choreography-focused idol who brings a lot of expression to his performances. He’s also known to be close friends with THE BOYZ’s Hyunjae, a friendship that shows up often in fan-shared clips and interactions.

Where E-Chan Stands Today

After member Teo departed DKB in late 2023, E-Chan stepped up further as one of the group’s two leaders, helping steer the reorganized eight-member lineup through the Hip, Urban Ride, and Emotion eras. In July 2026, Brave Entertainment confirmed that E-Chan would begin his mandatory military service, a milestone that many male K-pop idols reach in their late twenties. Fans of DKB, known as BB, have continued to show their support as he prepares for this next chapter.

Want to keep discovering more about DKB? Check out the profiles for his groupmates D1 and GK to get the full picture of this eight-member Brave Entertainment group.