Kim Jae-joong returns as ‘rock star,’ embracing challenge through music

Singer Kim Jae-joong poses during a press conference for his new EP “Beauty in Chaos” at MBC Golden Mouse Hall in Mapo District, Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

Singer Kim Jae-joong has returned with a new persona — that of a rock star. Known for expressing a passion for rock music throughout his solo career, Kim unveiled his latest EP, “Beauty in Chaos,” at a press conference Monday at the MBC Golden Mouse Hall in Seoul.

The five-track album spans genres from rock to electronica, channeling emotional turbulence and conflict while ultimately embracing hope and beauty. At its core, the EP reflects Kim’s signature take on rock — raw, expressive and deeply personal.

Reflecting on his return to the genre, Kim said with a smile, “Fans recently asked me to come back with my ‘rock virus’ again, so I feel a bit awkward not knowing what pose to strike here.”

Kim previously joked on variety shows that he had “recovered” from his so-called rock obsession, but during the press conference he remarked, “I think it really is cured now. I tried to bring it back on purpose, but it wasn’t easy. I used to be consumed by it like a teenager going through a phase, but now I’m just doing my best to recreate the spirit of it.”

When asked what rock music means to him, Kim was thoughtful: “It might be presumptuous to say, ‘I can’t live without rock,’ because there are people for whom that’s truly the case,” he said.

“But personally, I love it. It’s a genre that gives me a sense of freedom. No matter what sounds or gestures you add to it, that freedom never changes. Rock has driven me to keep challenging myself in my solo career — and the thrill and tension it brings is something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

Kim also expressed appreciation for rocker Kim Bada, former vocalist of Sinawe, who helped launch his solo rock journey.

“He once told me, ‘I want people like you to try rock. I want to support and encourage it.’ I never imagined I’d still be challenging myself more than 10 years later. I want to thank him again.”

Singer Kim Jae-joong / Courtesy of iNKODE Entertainment

Breaking ground for future artists

The album’s title track, “Rock Star,” bursts with intense sound and energy, sending a message of self-acceptance — even the imperfect, hidden parts behind the mask — and the idea that with the right company, anyone can become a star in their own right.

Kim described the track as “a song about yearning for freedom.” He continued, “There’s still some bias around the rock genre in Korea. I thought many people probably share that longing for expression, and this song was my way of channeling that.”

Kim, who has long walked the line between idol pop and rock, emphasized that his choice to revisit the genre was also for those who will come after him.

“In a group, you follow the music and direction set by the company. But as a solo artist, you find your own path,” he said. “If a senior takes on a hard road first, maybe it’ll be a little easier for juniors to follow. Moon Hee-jun, for example, really paved the way. There was a time when people scoffed at the idea of an idol doing rock. But now, things have changed. I want to keep challenging myself freely and deliver good music in a range of genres.”

Singer Kim Jae-joong / Yonhap

“Beauty in Chaos” was released at 6 p.m. on Monday via major streaming platforms. Kim will kick off his 2025 Asia Tour with a concert in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday at Jangchung Arena.

Kim rose to fame as 'Hero Jae-joong' of SM Entertainment’s boy band TVXQ, known for hits like “Rising Sun” (2005) and “Mirotic” (2008). In 2009, he and fellow members Kim Jun-su and Park Yoo-chun left the group amid a legal battle over what they called excessively long “slave contracts.” The trio formed JYJ in 2010, and Kim launched his solo career in 2013 with the mini-album “I.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.