Group 2PM member Jang Wooyoung expressed gratitude to "Doriver," which brought him a major change.
Jang Wooyoung will release his third mini album I'm into at 6 p.m. on the 15th through various online music sites.
"I'm into" is his new album, released about three months after the digital single Simple dance that Jang Wooyoung released in June. Returning as a solo artist for the first time in a full 7 years and 5 months since mini album 2 Hair-eul Ttae in January 2018, Jang Wooyoung, who heated up early summer 2025, now makes a superfast comeback with a mini album and colors early autumn.
"I'm into" includes a total of five tracks led by the title track Think Too Much (Feat. Damini), as well as Carpet, Swamp, Reality, and Homecance. Jang Wooyoung, who has directly worked on a variety of emotional songs including the digital single Simple dance released in June, 2PM's Hae-ya Hae, solo songs R.O.S.E and Off the record, is credited on all tracks of the new album and shows his singer-songwriter side.
As this is his first new album in 7 years and 5 months, the title track has attracted great interest. Jang Wooyoung said, "There was a guide, and when I received it I just liked it. Sometimes a song gives you a feeling when you listen to it, and with Think Too Much I felt like I could sing and dance to it. I thought people might enjoy watching me play on stage, and that was the kick. I think if Think Too Much hadn't existed, this album wouldn't have come out." He added, "It took a long time to release this album, and because I can be stubborn, I didn't want to compromise to present a new album. My album process is usually choosing the title track first and building the album around it. If there's no title track, can you even release it as a digital single? If there is a title track, you could release it even without other tracks as a digital single. Without a lead (title track), it doesn't mean much, so I chose the title track first and then added the rest, which made the schedule a bit tight."
He continued, "Even if you didn't major in music, a singer should at least be able to say what they want to talk about in their album. The album title is I'm into. It's about being into something, being in a situation where you're into something, but the songs I had been working on felt distant from the album title or meaning. I could have been moderately satisfied and included other songs I had worked on to release the album faster and more easily, but I didn't want to make an album that was just moderately satisfying."
Jang Wooyoung said, "The start of I'm into was the title track Think Too Much. I wondered what to talk about, and after about 17 years of activity I thought about what stories I could tell. I wondered what would be good, and after worrying for a long time my confidence had dropped, so I sent an SOS to our music team members. It would have been right for me to say to them, 'This is the kind of music I want to do,' but if I had been too proud I shouldn't have asked. When I did ask, everyone told me, 'Please tell Wooyoung's story.' They said, 'Wooyoung is most natural when he tells his own story,' which gave me courage. Last year I went to Japan with brothers Jung Jae-hyung and Lee Juck on a channel called Fairy Tour, and they advised me to stop thinking and just try. The words from people around me were consistent. I wanted to tell the public and myself not to Think Too Much."
After this process, Jang Wooyoung returned with a new album after 7 years and 5 months. He said about this time, "I needed time to find out about myself. Last year, thanks to Jung Jae-hyung, I tried surfing, which had been a hobby I wanted to do for a long time, but I worried about getting sunburned or getting hurt, so I didn't do it. In a way I could have relieved it by doing what I wanted, but because I worried a lot I relieved myself by safely cleaning the house. Later I decided I wanted to do what I wanted, but I suddenly thought that as I get older my body might not follow, and I had a moment of realization. Since I had danced originally, I like using my body, so I decided to let myself do it naturally. The title track is Think Too Much, and I wanted to show that even if you think a lot, you can still do it."
Plagued by worries from overthinking, Jang Wooyoung fell into a process where those worries became a burden. He met the members of "Doriver" and, by appearing on variety shows, gradually changed. In the early broadcast of Honggimdongjeon, which can be seen as the predecessor to "Doriver," Jang Wooyoung seemed out of place and couldn't fully blend in with the members, but he gradually settled in and is now active as a core member.
About "Doriver," Jang Wooyoung said, "The filming set for 'Doriver' feels like a place to relieve stress. It's very hard, but by the end you strangely go home smiling as if possessed." Regarding the members, he said, "I think the members are my second 2PM. Not only the members but the entire production staff lifted me up when I was a nobody. At first I couldn't adapt and couldn't blend in, so I was awkward, but I think variety for me is about giving viewers vague enjoyment and laughter, so I tried saying things recklessly, and even if that could harm my image, the members were doing the same so I felt at ease. And when someone needs something, we do more for them; during Simple Dance they mentioned it more and tried to let people know. Because we care for each other, I think we can perform more confidently and broadly," expressing his gratitude.
Meanwhile, following his comeback, Jang Wooyoung will hold solo concerts 2025 Jang Wooyoung Concert < half half > on the 27th and 28th at the YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul. From stylish and energetic performances to stages focused on delicate and highly polished sound, the shows will let fans see all aspects of artist Jang Wooyoung's musical appeal, which fans have long awaited.
[OSEN]