Minho from 'I Live Alone' visits his father's humble accommodation and gets emotional… What's the story behind 'Solar do Minho'?

Debuting in 2008, Minho is now an 18-year veteran. He's the heart of SHINee and known as the 'all-around sportsman'. But behind his impressive career and status in the music industry, there's also a son who cares deeply for his father. On the 3rd, an episode of 'I Live Alone' showed Minho visiting his father's accommodation – his dad is a K-League football coach – revealing a strong family bond. After the broadcast, not only did he dominate real-time search rankings, but a somewhat unfamiliar keyword, 'Solar do Minho', also became a hot topic among Korean fans.

A fiery father-son reunion… Minho gets choked up at his dad's place

In the episode, Minho headed to the K-League stadium to cheer on his father, whom he doesn't get to see often. The emotional moment came after the match. Visiting his dad's modest accommodation for the first time – a cramped space resembling a small studio apartment – Minho took in the unmade bedding and the items in the fridge. "I just wanted to see how Dad was doing," he said. Then, with a simple "It made me feel a bit sad," he teared up, tugging at viewers' heartstrings.

Since his debut, Minho has been constantly on the go – practice rooms, schedules, even Marine Corps service. Living up to his nickname as 'Korea's ultimate passionate guy', he's successfully juggled last year's single 'TEMPO', a role in the play 'Waiting for Waiting for Godot', and a solo fan meeting tour – truly a workaholic. But even in that busy life, a quiet longing for and guilt towards his father had clearly taken root in his heart.

Watching him personally grill meat and place each piece onto his father's plate was a heartwarming sight. As they ate together, Minho noted, "I think I look more like him now that I'm bigger," revealing not a seasoned idol of 18 years, but a son who simply wants to be like his dad.

From 'Solar do Minho' to 'Pedaçao De Mau Caminho' – what does it all mean?

After the episode aired, unusual keywords alongside Minho's name trended on domestic portals. These were Portuguese search terms like 'Solar do Minho (Sentado à Beira do Caminho)' and 'Pedaçao De Mau Caminho'. This isn't a simple typo or just overseas fans searching. In fact, these keywords come from song titles by Brazilian duo Carlos & Alexandre – roughly translating to 'Sitting by the Side of the Road' and 'Piece of a Rough Road'.

The backstory: during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, ahead of Korea's match against Portugal, Minho fired up fans with an SNS post saying "Let's do this." Korea miraculously advanced to the Round of 16 thanks to a certain assist from Ronaldo, and netizens started using this Brazilian song as a meme to joke about 'Ronaldo sitting by the roadside crying'. And because Minho was right at the centre of it all, the meme – along with the legendary 'Minho World Cup screenshot' – is still talked about today. The phrase 'Sons do Minho' ('Sounds of Minho') even emerged, showing just how much of a cult figure Minho has become among Korean football fans.

On the path of a multi-entertainer: no mountain too high

Minho is now far more than just an idol. He's a fitness fanatic with an unusual resume: model for global sports brand DYNAFIT, and winner of the HiRox Korea competition. He's also firmly establishing himself as an actor. In an interview with a fashion magazine last January, he showed his trademark positive mindset, saying, "I know that the difficulties I'm facing right now will help me grow."

The 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 a training exercise – he's always burned bright with that 'passion' label. After 18 years of non-stop running, he no longer complains about tough situations. He simply lives by the motto: "Get up and do something, anything."

'The Nation's Son' – and the future looks even brighter

Through this episode of 'I Live Alone', the public has given Minho another nickname: 'The Nation's Son'. The realisation that even a superstar feels small and humble in front of his own father brought a warm sense of empathy to many viewers.

• A special bond with his K-League coach father
• Seeing his dad's unfamiliar accommodation for the first time in 18 years
• Honest tears over a simple "It made me feel a bit sad"

His glamorous stage presence is great, but it's the simple, everyday Minho – grilling meat at the dinner table for his dad – that somehow feels even more moving. Many fans are now hoping for more occasional glimpses of this 'fiery father-son' chemistry in the future.