K-pop artist Lee Changsub firmly denied dating rumors involving MAMAMOO’s Solar during an appearance on SBS’s variety show “Dolsing Fourmen” that aired on October 28.
The BTOB member and musical actor clarified the nature of his relationship with Solar, whose real name is Kim Yongsun, explaining how their friendship developed.
Lee Changsub revealed that he asked Solar for her number while they were waiting backstage at a music show. Since they were the same age, he suggested they grab a meal together outside of work. However, the cast members immediately questioned his account of events. Choi Daniel suggested this could be interpreted as flirting, while Lee Sang-min noted that asking for someone’s number among singers typically implies romantic interest. Lee Changsub expressed disbelief at these interpretations.
Suspicion intensified when footage was shown from their time together. In the video, Solar patted Lee Changsub’s shoulder in the waiting room, and he reciprocated by patting her back. The cast seized on this physical contact as evidence of closeness beyond friendship, with KCM remarking that Lee Changsub must have had feelings for her. Choi Daniel added that friends typically do not display such physical affection.
Lee Changsub countered these assumptions by explaining the context of their interactions. He stated that at the time, Solar was making her musical debut in “Mata Hari,” and as a fellow performer in musical theater, he understood the nervousness that accompanied such a significant milestone. He expressed that his concern for her was rooted in professional empathy rather than romantic interest.
When asked directly whether he ever harbored romantic feelings for Solar, Lee Changsub denied this claim. He pointed to an appearance they made on “Amazing Saturday” to promote the musical, during which Solar herself said it was “gross” to kiss him. Regarding their actual kiss scene in the production, Lee Changsub joked that the experience felt completely unromantic, describing it as “two chunks of meat bumping into each other.” His comment drew laughter from the studio audience and reinforced his position that the two maintain a purely platonic relationship.
Further evidence of their distant friendship emerged during the episode. When asked about each other’s birthdays, both admitted they did not know the dates, which surprised the cast members present. Lee Changsub and Solar have maintained their friendship since performing together in “Mata Hari” in 2022, but the singer’s latest statements make clear there is no romantic element to their connection.