Kim Jae-hwan Reflects on Military Service and New Single Release

Kim Jae-hwan, who is gaining attention for the full reunion of the group Wanna One, revealed that he once sang in front of just 10 people during his military service, surprising many.

On the 20th, Kim Jae-hwan held a round interview at a cafe in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, to commemorate the release of his first single 'I'll Go Get You Now' after his discharge, and met with Ten Asia.

Kim Jae-hwan, who mentioned that his vocal skills improved significantly during the 1 year and 9 months without activities, showcased a stronger vocal power with this single. He reflected, "While serving in the military band, I often went on tour. As an idol, I used to have in-ear monitors and excellent sound facilities, but as a soldier, I was given just one speaker and one microphone. When performing with a band, my voice would get drowned out. My task was to break through and sing. I overcame this by referencing and seeking advice from soldiers who performed in musicals. I practiced vocalization a lot," he recalled. He added, "Thanks to that, my voice has definitely gotten louder," and expressed satisfaction with his increased vocal power.

Reflecting on his military days, Kim Jae-hwan said, "Thankfully, my position involved singing, so my abilities grew a lot. However, singing in a military uniform without makeup among non-fans made me miss my fans even more. There were times I sang in front of just 10 people in the military. It was awkward, but while performing, I thought, 'What does the number of audience members matter? I should be grateful to sing where my voice is needed.'" He humorously added, "Fans would cheer even if I just drank water. I realized how grateful I am."

The digital single 'I'll Go Get You Now' is the first music release after his discharge, conveying a message of love and comfort, promising to always be by the fans' side. During the album production process, he showcased his producing skills by recording the guitar accompaniment himself and participating in writing and composing.

Meanwhile, Kim Jae-hwan's digital single 'I'll Go Get You Now' will be released on various music sites at 6 PM on the 22nd.

Min-kyung Lee, Ten Asia Reporter 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr