[OSENWORLD] It took 4 years and 9 months for JUN. K of 2PM to release a new Korean solo album. During that time, the singer-songwriter kept busy with two solo albums in Japan, a steady stream of singles, and group activities with 2PM. But the decision to return to Korea with new music in 2025 came after much consideration — and with a clear purpose.
His fourth mini album Dear My Muse is, as JUN. K describes, “a gift” to the fans who have waited patiently and remained his source of inspiration. “As time goes by, I feel more grateful to the fans who allow me to keep making music,” he said in a recent interview in Seoul. “I wanted this album to feel like a present to them.”
The project emphasizes comfort and accessibility. “Instead of trying to prove something new, I wanted to make songs that anyone could listen to easily,” he explained. The result is an R&B pop record with an “easy listening” spirit — his way of lowering barriers and making music that feels warm and familiar.
The title track “R&B ME (Feat. Changbin of Stray Kids)” plays on the initials of the genre while reimagining them with new meaning. With synth-driven melodies and JUN. K’s smooth vocals, the song blends dreamy atmosphere with heartfelt lyrics about love.
Stray Kids’ Changbin features with a rap verse, a choice that came naturally. “Originally it was all vocals, but I thought a rap section would bring more color,” JUN. K recalled. “I told him he could change the lyrics, but he insisted on keeping them as they were out of respect, and went straight into recording. I was very grateful.” He added humbly, “I hope Stray Kids fans who hear his part might stay and listen to my music as well.”
Known as a perfectionist songwriter, JUN. K shifted focus this time. “In the past I had to write and compose everything. Now I focused more on selecting and refining tracks I had collected, working together with others. It’s less about pressure and more about how the music will reach people.”
The album’s concept was inspired by the fans’ gaze during live performances. “Concerts are the greatest happiness of my life. The looks I see from the audience can’t be described in words. That gratitude built up over the years, and naturally turned into this album.”
Before the album release, JUN. K launched his 2025 JUN. K SUMMER ROOM TOUR : SP-ICY across Osaka, Yokohama, and Taipei. Alongside the performances, he organized a special charity initiative with the Korea Roosevelt Teddy Bear Foundation, donating teddy bears purchased by fans to children battling cancer in Kyoto and Osaka hospitals. “So many people participated,” he said. “It was meaningful to share hope beyond just the concerts.”
Now in his 17th year, JUN. K acknowledges the pressure of returning after such a long break. But more than anything, he sees this comeback as a renewal of his relationship with fans in Korea. “I was nervous, but the support means everything,” he said. “This album is a message of gratitude — and a promise that I’ll keep making music for them.”
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Photo courtesy of JYP Entertainment
