Singer Kim Jaehwan, a former member of the group Wanna One, has returned with his first comeback since military discharge, sharing deeper music and his honest thoughts.
Kim Jaehwan swiftly returned to his fans on the 22nd with his digital single, ‘I’ll Go Pick You Up Now’. He expressed his feelings, stating, “I prepared with my mind and body to the best of my ability,” and “I hope WIND (his fandom name) can enjoy this promotion comfortably and happily.”
The new song, ‘I’ll Go Pick You Up Now’, is a rock ballad that conveys love and comfort, promising to always stay by your side even in exhausting moments. Kim Jaehwan personally participated in writing the lyrics, composing the music, and even playing the guitar, enhancing its completeness. He explained, “I worked on it honestly, sincerely, and joyfully. I wanted to deliver comfort, knowing that both I and my fans might have difficult moments.”
This comeback is particularly significant as it marks his return after a year and nine months since his military hiatus. Regarding the decision to release it as a digital single, he shared, “I wanted to meet my fans as soon as possible. I felt like it would take too long otherwise, so I came back first. My next activities are already being planned in my head.”
His military service period was a time of change and growth. Kim Jaehwan reflected, “There were lonely and difficult moments, but I tried to endure positively and strengthen myself. I believed that time would be beneficial for my activities after discharge.” He continued calmly, “I often thought I might be forgotten due to the career break, but I believed I could just start anew. What’s important is how I present myself. The experiences I gained during my military life naturally melted into this new song.”
His reflections on his musical direction also deepened. He emphasized, “I believe trends are not to be followed, but to be created. I trust that if I consistently pursue my own unique music, ‘my season’ will eventually come.”
Kim Jaehwan, who has explored various genres as a solo artist since his Wanna One activities, revealed, “I started asking myself, ‘What kind of music defines Kim Jaehwan?’ I had ample time to ponder this during my military service and was able to solidify my direction by listening to opinions around me.”
As a result, his unique musical color has become even clearer. He shared, “I’ve heard a lot that singing while playing the guitar suits me well. I felt that folk and rock ballads are the most ‘me’ kind of music. It seems unlikely you’ll see dance tracks on my future albums.”
He also revealed his approach to music production: “Rather than sticking solely to my own stubbornness, I tend to refer to a lot of opinions from those around me. When I tried dance songs in the past, amidst various reactions, I was able to find the direction that suited me best.”
Recently, he has also gained attention for a reunion project with his Wanna One members. He stated, “While preparing my single album, communication naturally led to us even filming a reality show. The timing aligned well with my solo preparations, so I think I’ll be able to promote even more happily.”
Kim Jaehwan confessed, “After my military discharge, I was eating gukbap (Korean rice soup) and got choked up watching Wanna One-related videos. Although I didn’t outwardly express it, I think I missed them a lot. It was surprising that the members felt the same way. I want to cherish this given opportunity and humbly create something without regret.”
He also didn’t forget his sincere feelings for his fans. He said, “I am grateful to my fans who waited for me even after such a long time. It seems they see not just my outward appearance, but also my inner growth.”
The unchanging chemistry with his members also remained. Kim Jaehwan laughed, “Park Jihoon received a lot of love for ‘Man Living with a King,’ so I teased him a lot. I was even more thankful that he remained humble and unchanging.”
Kim Jaehwan emphasized, “As this is my first start after military discharge, I want to focus on building my own story rather than on competition. While I hope to receive a lot of love, I want to convey comfort to more people than just achieving chart success.” He then expressed his wish, “I hope an environment is created where I can continue releasing albums in the future.”
Furthermore, Kim Jaehwan described his current activities as “like a process of fastening a new button. The future musical color will change depending on the mindset with which I approach it.” He added, “Rather than saying I made it ‘well,’ I’m more satisfied that it’s a song that perfectly suits the story I want to tell.”
Finally, he stated, “My goal is to become someone my fans want to lean on,” and “I want to grow into a mature artist who delivers good stories.”
