Singer L to drop first solo album before joining Marine Corps

Singer and actor Kim Myung-soo will start his mandatory military service on Feb. 22. Korea Times file

By Lee Gyu-lee

Singer and actor Kim Myung-soo of K-pop boy group Infinite, better known by his stage name L, made his solo debut Wednesday with the new song “Memory.”

This is the first solo release in his 11-year K-pop career after debuting as a group member in 2010.

“Memory” is an acoustic pop song with Kim Myung-soo's emotional voice weaved into subtle guitar sounds,” his agency Management Leesang said Wednesday.

“The single was composed only using acoustic instruments, without including any digital sounds, to offer an analog ambiance.”

The song is set to hit streaming sites at 6 p.m.

His solo debut will be his last work before he begins his mandatory military service at the Marine Corps on Feb. 22. Two days before joining the military, Kim will hold an online showcase event, “Remember US,” to interact with fans with the new song.

Kim is currently starring as the lead in KBS's historical comedy series “Royal Secret Inspector,” about an undercover agent fighting against local government corruption. It is set to finish its 16-episode run next Tuesday.

The star debuted as the vocalist of the sextet Infinite with the song “Comeback Again.” The group has released a string of hits, including “Be Mine” (2011) and “Last Romeo” (2014).

Kim made his way into acting with a minor role the TV series “Master of Study” in 2010. Since then, he has taken lead roles in various TV dramas, such as MBC's romance series “The Emperor: Owner of the Mask” (2017) and JTBC's legal drama “Ms. Hammurabi” (2018).