Kim Jae-hwan’s ‘competitive fire’ softens into a comforting flame in new digital single

Singer Kim Jae-hwan [CONTENTS X]

Singer Kim Jae-hwan remembers when everything was about winning. After debuting with the boy band Wanna One through a survival audition program, he chased every moment with competitive fire. Now, he says that fire has cooled, replaced by a mindset of gratitude reflected in his latest release.
 
"My competitive fire was incredibly intense when I debuted with Wanna One in my early 20s," Kim said during a roundtable interview with reporters on Monday at a cafe in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, ahead of the release of his new digital single, "I'll Be There," on Wednesday.
 

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"Whenever I appeared on variety shows, especially in survival-style segments, I always wanted to come in first. But now, I see younger artists coming up, and I feel like that phase has passed for me. I just want to keep making music while staying grateful and never losing a sense of appreciation."
 
Kim debuted as the main vocalist of Wanna One in 2017 alongside members such as Park Ji-hoon and Kang Daniel after placing among the finalists on the second season of Mnet’s hit audition program "Produce 101" (2016-19). The group was active for about a year and a half, releasing hits such as "Energetic" (2017), before disbanding in January 2019.

Singer Kim Jae-hwan [CONTENTS X]

 

Singer Kim Jae-hwan [CONTENTS X]

That sense of gratitude largely shapes his latest digital single — his first new release in nearly two years since his seventh EP "I Adore" (2024), excluding original soundtrack projects. The track serves as a heartfelt gift to fans who waited for his return.
 
"The lyrics of this song are about offering comfort," Kim said. "When I was writing them, I kept thinking about how fans had been waiting for me, during my military service and even after while preparing this song. I wanted to create a song that says, 'I will come get you,' something that can comfort them through their tiring daily lives." Kim was discharged from his mandatory military service last December after serving in a military band.  
 
But he hopes the message extends beyond his fan base, delivering "a sense of warmth to people going through exhausting days."
 
The latest track also signals a return to the sound he feels most like himself in — a band-driven style. Built as a rock ballad, the single features a full arrangement of live-recorded instruments, including drums, bass and guitar. Before debuting with Wanna One, Kim trained as a band musician for four years and has played guitar since elementary school.
 
"I am more comfortable with band music," he said. "Holding a guitar on stage feels more natural to me, so I think it will show a more natural side of me." 
 

Singer Kim Jae-hwan [CONTENTS X]

For the latest single, Kim played guitar and participated in both composing and writing the song.
 
"I believe the guitar, among all instruments, carries the warmest tones. Because I've played it since I was young, I think that warmth in the guitar's sound can also come through in my voice."
 
After Wanna One's disbandment, Kim built his solo career with a full-length album, multiple EPs and a range of drama original soundtracks, including "Someday" from tvN's hit drama "Crash Landing on You" (2019–20).
 
Still, the transition into working alone was not without pressure, particularly following the immense popularity of Wanna One.
 
"I definitely felt that pressure in the beginning, right after Wanna One ended and I debuted as a solo artist," he said. "Because I received so much love as part of the group, I felt like I had to carry that over into my solo career. But over time, I learned to let go of certain things and tried to stay humble even more during those moments."
 
Recently, the group announced a reunion and held a fan meet-and-greet in western Seoul on April 6, where they spontaneously performed "Pick Me" (2017).
 
"Even though it was brief, I could tell everyone has improved so much," Kim said. "Since we've all been active individually and performing on stage, we must have all grown a lot." The group's reality program "Wanna One Go: Back to Base" is set to air on April 28.
 

Singer Kim Jae-hwan [CONTENTS X]

Singer Kim Jae-hwan [CONTENTS X]

That sense of growth also shapes how Kim now sees himself as an artist. Today, much like the message of his new digital single, Kim believes the word that best defines him is "comfort."
 
"I think 'comfort' suits me well," he said. "People often tell me that my voice feels warm when I sing. I hope to become an artist who can deliver that warmth, someone whose music brings comfort to others."
 
Above all, Kim is eager to return to the stage.
 
"I want to perform at a lot of festivals. It's not about headlining. I just want to find as many stages as I can where I can share my music."


BY WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]