Kim Jae-hwan Returns as a Rock Ballad Singer-Songwriter After Military Service

Kim Jae-hwan, who is gaining attention for the full reunion of the group Wanna One, has transformed into a rock ballad singer-songwriter. As this is his first comeback after completing his military service, he is expected to showcase the inner strength he developed during his service through his music.

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 Come to You Now' after his discharge, and met with Ten Asia.

Reflecting on his comeback after 1 year and 9 months, he said, "Since this is my first comeback after completing my military service, I did my best to manage my body and mind to be in the best condition. I don't want to be obsessed with results. I was so happy during the music-making process that I was very satisfied when the song was released."

Kim Jae-hwan expressed his desire to become a vocalist in genres based on guitar, such as rock ballad and folk, with this comeback as a turning point. Rock ballad, in particular, is a genre that has recently gained popularity in Korea with singer WOODZ's 'Drowning'. He said, "I envisioned performing with the sound of the guitar. I wanted to capture the comfort and emotion contained in that sound." He continued, "While my friends liked Super Junior and Wonder Girls, I grew up listening to artists like Kim Kwang-seok, Yoo Jae-ha, Lee Moon-se, John Mayer, and Jason Mraz. I thought about returning to the music I truly love. I also want to aim for festival stages."

During the 1 year and 9 months without activities, Kim Jae-hwan significantly improved his vocal skills and showcased a stronger vocal range with this single. He recalled, "While serving in the military band, I often went on tour. As an idol, I used to wear in-ear monitors and had 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 added, "Thanks to that, my voice has definitely become louder. Constantly projecting my voice opened up my vocal cords. I'm satisfied with the increased vocal range."

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

Kim Jae-hwan also mentioned the upcoming Mnet Plus reality show 'Wanna One Go: Back to Base', set to premiere on the 28th. He said, "I don't know if we'll be doing group music activities as Wanna One. There are many parts we need to coordinate. I just have expectations. When I meet the members, that's all we talk about—when we'll perform on stage."

He continued, "I'm focused on filming the reality show that's about to air. The atmosphere is so similar to when we were active. We've matured a bit since then. We've developed more understanding and consideration for each other. It's like going back to those days, crying and laughing without any discomfort. I think the Wannables (fan club name) watching will feel the same emotions."

He also expressed gratitude to Park Ji-hoon, who became a million-seller actor with the movie 'The Man Living in the King'. Kim Jae-hwan said, "Ji-hoon remains humble. Even though he's doing well, he doesn't boast. He was always like that. I recently told Ji-hoon, 'You're our pride. Thanks to you, our popularity has increased.'"

Kim Jae-hwan revealed that the most important reason for singing in the future is 'self-satisfaction'. He said, "What I enjoy and find fun comes first. I used to think about how I would be perceived before my satisfaction, but now I believe that if I enjoy it first, others will feel that joy too. It's important to envision and look forward to the future of my music career."

The digital single 'I'll Come to You Now' is the first song released after his discharge, conveying a message of love and comfort, promising to always be by the fans' side. In 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 Come to 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