‘I Live Alone’ Minho gets emotional visiting his father’s flat… What’s the story behind ‘Solar do Minho’?

Debuting in 2008, Minho is now in his 18th year in the industry. As the heart of SHINee and a man often called an 'all-round sportsman', there’s more to him than his glittering K-pop career. Behind the accolades lies a devoted son. In the latest episode of 'I Live Alone', aired on the 3rd, Minho visited the flat of his father, a K-League football manager, revealing a deep family bond. The broadcast not only dominated real-time search rankings but also sparked curiosity among Korean fans about a rather unusual keyword: 'Solar do Minho'.

A fiery father-son reunion… Minho chokes up at his dad’s place

In the episode, Minho went to the K-League stadium to cheer on his father, whom he doesn’t get to see often. The real moment came after the match. For the first time, Minho saw his father’s humble living quarters – a cramped studio-like room with an unmade bed and a sparse fridge. As he looked around, he admitted, "I came because I was wondering how Dad was doing." Then, with a simple "It made me feel so sad," he welled up, touching viewers’ hearts.

Since his debut, Minho has been running non-stop – practice rooms, schedules, even his time in the Marine Corps. True to his nickname 'Korea’s ultimate passionate guy', he successfully released the single 'TEMPO' last year, appeared in the play 'Waiting for Godot', and completed a solo fanmeeting tour, proving his workaholic side. But amid that busy life, it’s clear that longing for and feeling sorry towards his father has always been there in a corner of his heart.

Watching him carefully grill meat and place each piece on his father’s plate was a heartwarming sight. As they ate together, he remarked, "We look more alike because we’re both big," and in that moment he wasn’t an 18-year idol veteran, but simply a son wanting to be like his dad.

From 'Solar do Minho' to 'Pedaçao De Mau Caminho' – what on earth do they mean?

After the broadcast, unusual keywords shot up on Korean portal sites alongside Minho’s name. Among them were Portuguese phrases like 'Solar do Minho (Sentado à Beira do Caminho)' and 'Pedaçao De Mau Caminho'. This isn’t a typo or just overseas fan searches. In fact, these terms come from song titles by Brazilian duo Carlos & Alessandro, roughly translating to 'Sitting by the roadside' and 'Piece of a rough road'.

The story goes back to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Before South Korea’s match against Portugal, Minho posted a fiery 'Let’s do this' on social media, rallying support. At the time, Korea miraculously advanced to the round of 16 thanks to a certain 'assist' from Ronaldo. Netizens then started using this Brazilian song as a joke to poke fun at 'Ronaldo sitting by the roadside crying'. And because Minho was right at the centre of that moment, the meme – along with the 'Minho World Cup photo' – is still legendary today. The phrase 'Sons do Minho' (Sounds of Minho) even emerged, showing just how iconic Minho remains among Korean football fans.

A multi-talented path: no mountain too high

Minho has now moved beyond being just an idol. He’s a fitness enthusiast with unusual credentials – a model for global sports brand DYNAFIT and winner of the HiRox Korea competition – and he’s also building a solid acting career. In an interview with a fashion magazine last January, he showed his trademark positive mindset, saying, "I know that the challenges I face now will help me grow."

Truth is, there’s never been an 'easy path' in his life. Even during his Marine Corps service, he gave up his final leave to join training – he’s burned himself out on the word 'passion'. After 18 relentless years, he no longer whines about tough situations. He just gets on with it: "Wake up and do something, anything."

'The Nation’s Son' – and there’s more to come

Through this episode of 'I Live Alone', the public has given Minho another nickname: 'The Nation’s Son'. The realisation that even a huge star is just a son who becomes a little shy in front of his own father struck a warm chord with many viewers.

• A special show of support for his K-League manager dad
• Seeing his father’s unfamiliar flat for the first time in 18 years
• Sincere tears at the words "It made me feel so sad"

As dazzling as he is on stage, it’s the humble everyday moment of Minho grilling meat for his dad at the dinner table that felt even more moving. Fans are already hoping we’ll get to see more of this 'fiery father-son' chemistry every now and then.