Bae Jin-young Set to Make Solo Debut This September

Bae Jin-young is stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist this September.

According to TenAsia, Bae Jin-young, who first gained public attention through Mnet's 'Produce 101 Season 2' in 2017, is preparing for his solo debut in his ninth year in the industry. Industry insiders reveal that he is in the final stages of preparation for his solo debut next month.

During 'Produce 101 Season 2', Bae Jin-young was recognized alongside Park Ji-hoon as one of the top visual trainees, ultimately debuting with Wanna One after finishing in 10th place. Born in 2000, he entered the music scene at the young age of 18. Despite not being at the forefront during Wanna One's activities, his relentless efforts earned him the nicknames 'practice bug' and 'growth character'.

Wanna One's official activities concluded in January 2019. Bae Jin-young took a six-month hiatus before re-debuting in July of the same year with CIX, where he became the group's center and main dancer. His skills and presence, honed during his time with Wanna One, helped establish CIX's identity. The group made a splash by winning first place on SBS MTV's 'The Show' with their debut track 'Movie Star' just seven days after debuting.

Bae Jin-young, who was a trainee under C9 Entertainment during 'Produce 101 Season 2', helped solidify C9's name among idol fandoms. While C9 was initially known for solo artists like Younha and Lee Seok-hoon, Bae Jin-young's success with Wanna One paved the way for the planning of groups like CIX, the eight-member boy group EPEX, and the girl group cignature.

After his exclusive contract with C9 ended last year, Bae Jin-young left CIX. He explored various agencies before signing with the newly established Aura Entertainment in December.

This solo debut comes approximately a year after leaving C9 and nine months after joining Aura. Previously, Bae Jin-young released his first solo single 'It's Hard to Accept the End' in April 2019, shortly after Wanna One's disbandment. He participated in writing the lyrics for this album. He considers this upcoming activity not as a 'comeback', but as a 'debut' as a solo artist.

An industry insider commented, "Bae Jin-young has accumulated experience and expanded his activities, yet he remains a dedicated artist. After moving to a new agency last year, he took his first long hiatus, which was not merely a break. During this time, he honed his skills as an artist and prepared thoroughly for his reunion with fans."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr