Group 2PM member Jang Wooyoung spoke about Park Jin-Young, the JYP Entertainment founder and representative producer, who was appointed co-chairman of the presidential committee on pop culture exchange.
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 Jang Wooyoung's new album, released about three months after the digital single Simple dance he released in June. Returning as a solo artist for the first time in 7 years and 5 months since mini album 2 Hair Jib in Jan. 2018, Jang Wooyoung, who heated up early summer 2025, makes a superfast comeback with a mini album and colors early autumn.
I'm into includes five tracks in total, led by the title song Think Too Much (Feat. 다민이 (DAMINI)), as well as Carpet, Swamp, Reality, and Homecance. Having directly worked on a variety of emotional songs, including the June digital single Simple dance, 2PM's Hayae (해야 해), solo songs R.O.S.E and Off the record, Jang Wooyoung earned credits on all tracks of the new album and showcased his singer-songwriter side.
While he exchanged opinions with Park Jin-Young, the JYP Entertainment representative producer, during his earlier solo activities and prepared albums, this time Jang Wooyoung himself and the music team in charge worked together. About the process, Jang Wooyoung said, "Working together on the second album Hair Jib, I learned a lot. At the time I was about to enlist and was worrying about the album title, and Park Jin-Young asked, 'How about Hair Jib?' I wondered what he meant, but when I put that phrase up and quietly thought about it, it matched my situation then and what I wanted to tell fans. I don't know whether he had that in mind when he mentioned it, but when someone suggests a direction I had never considered, I thought there must be a reason. Back then we communicated directly, but after I returned from the military the company grew and became more of an artist-label structure, so the system changed. So now our music team and I worked while thinking of Park Jin-Young. You can't ask only Park Jin-Young forever. There are team members in the label who handle me, and I think of them as Park Jin-Young. They are so excellent, capable and even kind that we trust each other, and watching the album come out as we talk, I felt, 'This can happen,'" he said.
Jang Wooyoung expressed his respect for Park Jin-Young. He said, "Having had a long relationship with Park Jin-Young, I tell him everything as if he were close family. In a way it's like an uncle and nephew relationship: because I'm not satisfied I complain and gripe, and Park Jin-Young asks why I think that and we naturally have a conversation. I can speak without saving face and he listens to everything, and if his replies were authoritarian and predictable the conversation wouldn't continue, but he communicates so honestly and meets me at my level that my heart is moved. My thinking solidified more during contract renewal: I still feel I have much to learn at JYP Entertainment. If I want to do something and can't resolve it within this fence, I have no choice but to look outside, right? But when I want to do something, the company has already grown enough to embrace me. Especially communicating with Park Jin-Young made me feel there is no pretense, and I still think there is much I can do and must do here. In that respect, I'm trying to emulate Park Jin-Young's good qualities," he said.
Park Jin-Young, the JYP Entertainment founder and representative producer, and a senior singer, will now serve as co-chairman of the presidential committee on pop culture exchange and take the lead in advancing Korea as a cultural power. The appointment at a ministerial level surprised Jang Wooyoung as well. He said, "I was really surprised. I haven't been able to contact him, and if I did I wouldn't know what to say. I know nothing, but as a student, junior and younger brother figure, I wondered what kind of courage, plans, ambitions and mindset were needed. Above all, I'm curious what Park Jin-Young is thinking next."
He added, "Park Jin-Young has always lived with a posture of challenge and trying new things. Even when working on songs, he worries and tells us not to put in any lyrics just to fill a line or syllable, and that attitude seems to match his current course. He believes there is no progress in being comfortable with the familiar, and because he always tries to take responsibility, I don't know what mission he will take on and carry out, but I'm very curious what he plans to do."
Meanwhile, following his comeback, Jang Wooyoung will hold solo concerts 2025 Jang Wooyoung Concert < half half > at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, on the 27th and 28th. From stylish, energetic performances to finely crafted, sound-centered stages, the shows will offer fans all of artist Jang Wooyoung's musical charms they have been waiting for, raising expectations.
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