Kim Jae-hwan: "I was afraid of being forgotten... I believe 'my season' will come" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Singer Kim Jae-hwan, formerly of the group Wanna One, shared deeper music and sincere thoughts as he made his first comeback after completing his military service.

Kim Jae-hwan quickly returned to his fans with the digital single "I'll Come to Pick You Up" on the 22nd. He said, "I prepared my body and mind to the best of my ability," and added, "I hope Wind, our fandom, will watch this comeback comfortably and happily."

The new song "I'll Come to Pick You Up" is a rock ballad filled with love and comfort, promising to always be by your side even in exhausting moments. Kim Jae-hwan personally wrote the lyrics, composed the music, and even participated in guitar playing to enhance the song's quality. He explained, "I worked honestly, with sincerity, and with joy. I know that both I and my fans will have difficult moments, and I wanted to offer comfort."

Notably, this comeback marks his return 1 year and 9 months after leaving the military. Regarding the decision to release it as a digital single, he said, "I wanted to meet my fans as quickly as possible," and added, "I felt time might be delayed, so I decided to come first. I also have ideas for future activities in mind."

His time in the military was a period that brought change and growth. Kim Jae-hwan reflected, "There were lonely and difficult moments, but I endured them positively and tried to train myself. I believed that time would help my activities after discharge." He continued, "I often thought I might be forgotten due to the activity gap, but I thought I could just start again. What matters is how I am perceived. The feelings I experienced during my military service naturally seeped into this song."

His contemplation on musical direction also deepened. He emphasized, "I believe trends should not be followed but created. If I consistently pursue my own music, I believe 'my season' will eventually come."

Since his activities with Wanna One, Kim Jae-hwan has tried various genres as a solo artist. He stated, "I began asking myself, 'What kind of music comes to mind when people think of Kim Jae-hwan?' I had enough time to ponder during my military service and could organize my direction while listening to opinions from those around me."

As a result, his unique style has become even more distinct. He said, "I often heard that the image of me singing while playing the guitar suits me well. I felt that folk and rock ballads are the most authentic music for me. It seems unlikely that dance songs will appear in future albums."

Regarding his music production process, he explained, "I tend to refer to opinions from others more than sticking to my own stubbornness. When I tried dance songs in the past, I found the direction that suited me amidst various reactions."

Recently, he has also been drawing attention for a reunion project with his former Wanna One members. He shared, "As I prepared the single album, communication naturally continued, and we even ended up filming a reality show. I think my solo preparations and timing aligned well, so I will be able to enjoy the activities more happily."

Kim Jae-hwan revealed, "After my discharge, I was eating gukbap and watching videos related to Wanna One, and I suddenly became emotional. Although I didn't express it outwardly, I think I missed them a lot. It was surprising that the members felt the same way. I want to cherish the given opportunities and create a path without regrets, remaining humble."

He has not forgotten his sincere feelings toward his fans. He said, "Even though a long time has passed, I am grateful to the fans who waited for me. I feel they are seeing not only my external growth but also my internal growth."

The chemistry with his members remains unchanged. Kim Jae-hwan laughed, "Park Ji-hoon received a lot of love for 'The Man Who Lives with a King' and teased me a lot. I was even more grateful because he remains humble and unchanged."

Kim Jae-hwan emphasized, "As this is my first start after discharge, I want to focus on building my own story rather than competing. I hope to receive a lot of love, but I want to offer comfort to more people than just focusing on performance results." He added, "I hope an environment will be created where I can continue releasing albums in the future."

Furthermore, regarding this comeback, Kim Jae-hwan said, "It feels like a process of buttoning up a new coat. Depending on the mindset I approach it with, the musical style of the future may change. I am more satisfied because it is not that I made it well, but because it fits the story I wanted to tell."

Finally, he stated, "My goal is to become someone fans can lean on. I want to grow into a mature artist who conveys good stories."

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*This content was translated by AI.