TVXQ! member Yunho returned with his first solo full-length album 22 years after his debut. Presenting both artist Yunho and the person Jung Yunho in a "fake & documentary," he delivers authenticity and the fun of choosing tracks to listen to.
Yunho held a press conference at 2 p.m. on the 5th in the grand ballroom of the Sofitel Ambassador Seoul Hotel in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of his solo full-length album I-KNOW (I-KNOW).
That day Yunho said, "I'm releasing a full-length album 22 years after my debut," and added, "I'm greeting you with good news after a long time while preparing an album. The first time for anything is very exciting. Many people around me asked, 'Is your fourth lesson finally coming out?' and I'll say, 'Finally, the fourth lesson — "compare and listen: fake & documentary,"'" expressing his feelings about the comeback.
Yunho continued, "Actually, I wish the timing had been earlier. I would have had more popularity and could have tried more new things," and added, "On the other hand, because it's now, I thought I could greet people as I am now. I used to be the member with the least singing parts, but I've improved enough to release a solo. I also had many experiences until my thoughts settled, and I think now is the time I can accept and move past them. I think I could release an album about who I am with a smile."
Yunho's full-length album I-KNOW, released at 6 p.m. today (the 5th), is his first new album in about two years since releasing his third mini album Reallity Show in August 2023, and is composed of 10 tracks of diverse charm including the double title tracks Stretch and Body Language.
As this album is his first full-length release since his solo debut, Yunho authentically captured the process of understanding and growing his "self" as both an artist and a person.
Yunho described the new album, "This album, literally, I wanted to express the story about me as it is. The image the public sees of me is artist Yunho — 'fake,' while the many stories of me looking into myself are the 'documentary.' I paired the two parts and planned it thinking those two sides together make my complete self."
Under the "fake & documentary" concept, Yunho portrayed the artist Yunho viewed from the outside as "fake" and the honest inner side of Jung Yunho as "documentary," and completed a multi-layered musical world more three-dimensionally through a special structure in which songs expressing a single theme from the perspectives of fake and documentary are paired in twos.
About this, Yunho explained, "Having shown many sides for more than 20 years, what the public seems curious about now is the artist's own story. Thinking about what message I could possibly deliver, and since many people and fans like Yunho's bright and healthy image, if that image is 'fake,' I thought I could now take responsibility and talk about how many worries and hardships there were behind showing that image."
He added, "Fake can deliver a bouncy, flashy, and positive message that matches pastel tones, and documentary might tell the story of Jung Yunho that I felt while talking about and experiencing myself. I think it's a track with the fun of choosing what to listen to."
Asked about the area he focused on, Yunho said, "I think it was authenticity. Usually we talk a lot about flashy stories. While there are flashy stories, I could also bring up deep stories about myself, and I focused on balancing those. I think now I can say that music and messages are interpreted differently depending on the subject and the perspective from which you view it."
The title track Stretch is a pop song that delivers tension through the contrast of intense electronic sounds and vocals that unfold almost in a chant, and its lyrics candidly express the inner emotions and meaning toward dance and the stage. The performance is expected to enhance immersion with distinctive angled point moves that resemble stretching and a dancer formation that changes from minimal and clean choreography at the beginning to more three-dimensional arrangements toward the latter part.
On choosing Stretch as the title track, Yunho said, "When I was in TVXQ! I was in charge of the bass. I wanted to return to basics and find a song where the bass is attractive. While looking for a song where the bass stands out, I made Stretch the title track, and it's sharply divided from Body Language," and added, "When you hear this song, you'll feel 'Yunho is evolving.' I think I've greeted people a lot with memes, so I structured the choreography with fun points so I can greet people with memes."
The pre-released double title track Body Language is a dance song that blends blues, funk, and retro hip-hop—genres loved for a long time—to deliver a pleasant vibe. The lyrics carry a message of becoming one and enjoying through dance, and Yunho's lively vocals further amplify the song's bright and upbeat energy.
In addition, the album includes a variety of moods starting with the intro track Set In Stone, followed by Spotlight2, Waterfalls (Feat. KAI), Leader, Premium (Feat. MINNIE), Fever, Let You Go, and the outro track 26 Take-off, offering both polished music and sincere messages.
Regarding the track Waterfalls, which he worked on with Kai, Yunho said, "You might think, 'Yunho and Kai met? Won't they show an incredible performance?' Both have strong performer images, but I thought it would be interesting to greet people in a vocal way. Kai's voice is a pretty falsetto. Bringing back the R&B genre that was popular in the 2000s and applying our own style seemed fun. If you pair it with Premium, which features MINNIE, it will be fun to listen to."
On working with Kai, Yunho said, "When I worked with Kai, I didn't know he was such an ambitious person. He has a really attractive light voice, especially when he uses falsetto. He did multiple takes when singing. I intentionally gave him a difficult singing part. I thought when he pulled it off many fans would recognize more of his charm. I thought EXO fans might like it if I recommended these parts," and added, "To my knowledge, Kai's MBTI is I, but he worked so actively and diligently that recording went smoothly."
On working with MINNIE of (G)I-DLE, Yunho said, "MINNIE's voice has a unique darkness. But Premium needed to be bright. Because of MINNIE's uniqueness, Premium came out bright," and added with a laugh, "And I've learned a lot lately about how to take good photos."
Yunho not only carried out domestic and international activities this year but also received recognition for his acting through the drama Low Life. On deciding to finish the year with a solo album, he said, "This year had many things to celebrate and was busy, but I wanted to greet people as an artist at the end. I wanted to conclude things precisely. The preparation process is a bit busy, but I've planned this since my military days, so these elements might become good keywords if I perform someday. The driving force to do that is the fans."
Yunho's first solo full-length album I-KNOW, released 22 years after his debut, is available from 6 p.m. today.
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