Singer Jung Seung-hwan added a deep autumnal sensibility as an emotional balladeer through his first full-length album released in seven years.
On the 30th, a release showcase for Jung Seung-hwan, who is releasing the full-length album "Called Love" after seven years, was held at CGV Sinchon Artreon in Seodaemun District, Seoul.
Jung Seung-hwan became known to the public after finishing as the runner-up on SBS's audition program "K-pop Star Season 4" in 2015, and in 2016 he won love by conveying his distinctive delicate sensibility and sincere heart in his own tone through the title track "You Fool" from his first mini album "Voice."
Since then, he has been loved as an emotional balladeer through poignant classics that touch the heart such as "Snowman," "It's Raining," "Spaceship," "Confession of Dec. 25," "Anywhere Anytime," "Friend, That Long Time," "I Came to Like Winter," and "Epilogue."
"Called Love" is a full-length album released about seven years after 2018, consisting of 10 tracks including Jung Seung-hwan's self-composed song "Embrace," and it captures memories named "love" that anyone may hold in a corner of their heart, calmly portraying the moments of love that existed for us sometimes as feelings, warmth, and seasons.
The first title track "Bangs" is a song that expresses the wish for the happiness of a departed relationship, and Jung Seung-hwan's vocals warmly envelop the song like a lingering reverberation. The grandeur of the orchestra and band sound that intensifies toward the latter part of the song becomes a wave of emotion, delivering long-lasting resonance and emotion.
The second title track "Happiness Is Hard" is a medium-tempo song that deepens the narrator's empty heart—who only realizes after parting that the small days spent together were happiness—through Jung Seung-hwan's unique sensibility. The retro mood of city pop amplifies the song's seductive atmosphere and completes a more three-dimensional panorama of emotion.
The music video for "Bangs," released along with the single, is drawing attention with "national actress" Kim Young-ok starring as the lead. The music video depicts a fairy-tale–like love between a man and a woman spanning boyhood, young adulthood and old age. As the time periods intersect, it is expected to draw listeners into the song by beautifully portraying a midday happiness that transcends the years.
On the day, Jung Seung-hwan opened up about his feelings about releasing a full-length album after a long time: "I am Jung Seung-hwan, returning with a full-length album after seven years and eight months. It's been so long since an occasion like this that I'm nervous. Although it has been seven years since a full-length album, I have continuously released singles and mini albums in the meantime. The word 'full-length' carries weight."
Jung Seung-hwan said, "During the preparation process I felt the weight, and since it's been seven years, I think this will be an album that contains Jung Seung-hwan's musical identity. Many people, including myself, worked hard together. I feel both excited and, on the other hand, worried at the same time."
About the "essence of love" distributed at the showcase, he explained, "We wanted to convey a message about love in this album and decided to include the 'essence of love.' Essence of love? Then how about sharing water, I wondered, so I made water with a bit of B-grade sensibility, as people say it's currently annoying, and tried that."
Regarding his recent activities, Jung Seung-hwan said, "I enlisted in the military in July 2023 and served in the military band. I was discharged on Jan. 16 this year. I served a little over two years, and one of the things I enjoyed in the military was soccer, and I ended up joining Let's Play Soccer," and added, "And I released a digital single in May. I am currently appearing on SBS's The Ballad of Us as a top backup guest. While doing festival performances here and there, I was also working on the album, which led to today's release. In December I am preparing a concert, '2025 Jung Seung-hwan's Goodbye, Winter,' held over three days for the first time in three years. I'm happy these days."
Regarding the focus of this album, Jung Seung-hwan said, "There wasn't a specific point that I considered most important. It's perhaps the purest essence that the current Jung Seung-hwan can do. I wanted to blend that well into the album."
He said, "It's an album released after a long time, and personally it's an album that fans have been waiting for, but I also placed importance on the meaning that a full-length album conveys. It is an important device in shaping myself as a singer, so although I don't know the definition of good music, I wanted to condense and express the aspects I can do well and wanted to express well in this album."
Regarding the meaning contained in this album, Jung Seung-hwan said, "I thought there are various forms of love in life. The theme of love could seem clichéd at a glance, but it carries important meaning as we live. I tried to include the stories of love I explored in various forms. Not only lovers but also family, friends, and different periods of life—I tried to include those forms of love in this album."
Specifically, Jung Seung-hwan explained, "When singing ballads, farewells, longing and regret tend to be included. It wasn't my intention to make farewell and longing the main themes, but since the album title is 'Called Love,' I thought about the meaning of the words: truly loving feelings, excitement, emotion and joy aren't the only kinds of love—there are moments when farewells, sadness, pain, regret, longing are passed and you realize those were love too. Not only the lovely things are love; I felt that even painful things or things called wounds can be as clear a form of love. Since the songs that make up this album are like that, I tried to include various loves, pains and excitements."
About the title track "Bangs," Jung Seung-hwan introduced it saying, "It's an unfamiliar title for a title track. Rather than just being sad about letting go of a lover, it's a song that sincerely wishes for their farewell and happiness. Lyricist Park Joo-yeon wrote the lyrics. The song expresses a genuine wish for the person's brightness to continue because love is greater than the pain and suffering of parting, and even if the relationship with me ends, my love doesn't end."
On meeting lyricist Park Joo-yeon, Jung Seung-hwan said, "Personally, I was moved by stories of this kind. I wondered who could write that well, and Park Joo-yeon was someone I definitely wanted to work with. We made a connection on Immortal Songs and casually promised to work together. While working on this song I contacted her, and she wrote it very beautifully."
The music video for "Bangs," released along with the single, is drawing attention with "national actress" Kim Young-ok starring as the lead. The music video depicts a fairy-tale–like love between a man and a woman spanning boyhood, young adulthood and old age. As the time periods intersect, it is expected to draw listeners into the song by beautifully portraying a midday happiness that transcends the years.
About working with actor Kim Young-ok, Jung Seung-hwan said, "I was really nervous. I have watched the teacher's works here and there since I was very young, and even though it's been 10 years since I became a singer, she still seems like a celebrity to me." He recalled, "When I heard she would appear in my music video I was so nervous I was flustered on set. Since she was participating, I tried to make sure she was comfortable while she was there, I acted silly and gave her a bouquet."
He continued, "I finished filming first, and when the teacher went on to film, the moment I saw her acting I thought, 'This is an actor.' I remember being amazed the whole time watching why I had stood in front of the camera."
About the title track "Bangs," Jung Seung-hwan said, "While discussing and singing the lyrics of the title track, I felt that a breakup puts a period on a relationship but inevitably leaves a comma on love. Love that started from love inevitably arrives at love again, perhaps. I wanted to capture that thought—that love remains love to the end—and portray it as love, like 'a love that even a breakup couldn't separate.'"
During the Q&A session, Jung Seung-hwan was asked whether his attitude toward music changed over the 10 years since his debut, including military enlistment and discharge. He smiled and said, "First, I want to say I'm still 29 by international age," then added, "A lot of time has passed, and I've been with Antenna for 10 years before I knew it. Being around truly excellent musicians and seniors, I've learned a lot by watching over their shoulders, as the saying goes."
Jung Seung-hwan said, "I think that time has become a great nourishment for me, and I believe that as a singer I have matured and deepened by spending that time. There are moments when I feel that in my songs, and I tried to put that into the album. In the past, especially as a rookie, it was hard for my thoughts or opinions to be reflected in the music. Apart from singing, other parts needed help from the company or someone else. As time passed, I developed messages I wanted to convey and things I wanted to express, and I began to include those. I think this album captures something most true to Jung Seung-hwan."
Jung Seung-hwan has earned the nickname "prince of ballads" and received much love from listeners. When asked what new moniker he would like to have through this album, he hesitated. Park Seul-gi asked, "Are you trying to wedge into Park Bo-gum's place in the ballad world?" Park Bo-gum replied, "I think I should no longer cause trouble for senior Park Bo-gum."
Jung Seung-hwan said, "I would be grateful if people continue to call me the prince of ballads, and 'crown prince of ballads' feels out of reach. A handsome balladeer? Personally, I'd be proud if there were visual-based evaluations that I had improved, more than musical ones."
Meanwhile, Jung Seung-hwan's full-length album "Called Love" and the double title tracks "Bangs" and "Happiness Is Hard" will be released on online music sites at 6 p.m. today (the 30th). Also, Jung Seung-hwan will hold a year-end concert, "2025 Jung Seung-hwan's Goodbye, Winter," for three days from Dec. 5 to 7 at Ticketlink Live Arena in Olympic Park, Songpa District, Seoul, meeting fans.
[Photo] Reporter Choi Kyu-han
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