[E-Daily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “I’ve told people around me so many times that I’m really confident about this album.”

Throughout the interview, Ki Hyun repeatedly mentioned the word “confidence.” Although he’s not the type to easily say “it’s good” even when a new album is released, this time was different. Having personally selected each track and spent a long time refining them, his face radiated the conviction that “I can confidently present this to you.”
His second mini-album, “BORDERLINE,” set for release at 6 p.m. on the 7th, is the result of that careful deliberation. It is his first solo album in about 3 years and 9 months since “YOUTH” in 2022, and his first new release since completing his military service. Rather than resting on his laurels as MONSTA X’s main vocalist, this project was more about redefining the artistic identity of Ki Hyun as a solo vocalist.

◇“I chose what was difficult rather than what I’m good at”
While preparing this album, Kihyun deliberately avoided the easy path. Rather than simply repeating his familiar rock style, he embraced songs so challenging that even he felt the pressure. He wanted to create an album that tested “how far he could go,” rather than one that simply showcased “what he’s good at.”
The title track “So Good” is also an extension of that choice. While it sounds like a rock number where he lets loose freely, it’s actually a song that demands both delicate emotional nuance and a high vocal range.
Ki-hyun said, “I chose it precisely because it’s a song I can’t just sing however I want,” adding, “It felt like I was tackling a series of assignments one by one. I felt it was time to show a new side of myself, rather than just what I’m good at.”

The track he put the most effort into was the album’s B-side, “Stealin’ Air.” While his usual recording sessions last just over an hour, this one took nearly three and a half hours. That’s because it wasn’t simply a matter of hitting high notes; it was a song that required him to sustain the emotional arc until the very end.
Ki Hyun explained, “Although the style is a bit different from my usual music, it had a vibe similar to James Bay, whom I’ve always liked, so I was eager to take it on,” adding, “I completed it by constantly discussing with the director how to carry the emotion throughout.”
The process was far from easy. As demo tracks began to pile up one by one, the pressure actually grew. He confessed that, having set his sights on a wide range of genres, he pushed himself so hard that he even wondered, “Did I start this for nothing?” Ki-hyun said, “There were times when I looked at my demo folder and felt regret,” adding, “But when I listened to the finished album, it felt like I had absorbed the things that had seemed difficult. It feels like I’ve overcome a major hurdle, which makes this album even more meaningful.”

◇ “‘Trust the Map of Yourself’… The phrase that best reflects who I am now”
“Borderline” naturally reflects the changes Ki-hyun underwent during his military service. Rather than being impatient for results as he used to be, he learned to accept his own pace, and that mindset became the message that runs through the entire album.
He said, “The lyric ‘Trust the map that is me’ best describes this album,” adding, “People around me are always telling me the ‘right’ answer and trying to force me down that path, but ultimately, it conveys the message that I should trust myself and forge my own path. This was the part I discussed most with the lyricists.”
His military service also changed his attitude toward music. For a while, he was deeply worried about being forgotten or falling behind, but now he has come to accept even that anxiety as a part of himself.
Ki-hyun said, “I used to stress a lot about falling behind, but now I’ve come to accept that I’m different,” adding, “I’m still working just as hard, but I’m approaching my activities with a little more gratitude.” He continued, “I met fans on tour, and even though I’m not usually an emotional person, I got choked up,” adding, “Seeing the fans who stayed right there with me made me feel so grateful.”

Surprisingly, what Kihyun hopes for is simpler than dazzling achievements or records. It’s the words every singer wants to hear—and the praise he wants to hold onto the longest.
Ki Hyun said, “I feel best when I hear, ‘You really sing well,’” adding, “Once, after a performance, a staff member told me, ‘Watching you sing makes me feel like I’m going to die, but you’re really good,’ and those words have stayed with me for a long time. If I hear that kind of praise during this promotion as well, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
When the topic of the “Top 5 Idol Vocalists” came up, he flashed his signature shy smile.
Ki-hyun laughed, saying, “It would be a real honor to have my name mentioned alongside outstanding vocalists like EXO’s Baekhyun and SEVENTEEN’s Seung-kwan,” adding, “I’d be grateful just to be on that level.” He continued, “This album is a work I can confidently present not only to my fans but also to the general public,” and said, “I want to use this promotional run as an opportunity to further solidify the perception that ‘Ki-hyun is a singer you can trust.’”