[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “I put everything on the line for this album. I felt like there was no turning back.”
Young K of the band DAY6 repeatedly used the word “best” when describing his new solo album. His second full-length solo album, *YOUNGEST*, released after two years and ten months, is an album he completed by putting everything on the line. The 15 tracks—written over 15 months by sacrificing sleep and making the most of even travel and waiting times—tell the story of Kang Young-hyun the person, rather than “Young K” on stage.

◇15 Songs Created Over 15 Months… Unveiling “Kang Young-hyun”
“YOUNGEST,” set for release at 6 p.m. on the 27th, is a title combining the name “Young” with the suffix “-est,” which denotes the superlative. While it signifies “music that is most true to Young K,” the starting point for this project was taking a fresh look at Kang Young-hyun offstage.
In an interview ahead of his comeback, Young K said, “I thought I had given my all as a member of DAY6 for 10 years, but I had actually been neglecting the person Kang Young-hyun.” He added, “This album features music that is most true to Young K, while also telling stories that are most true to Kang Young-hyun.” He continued, “While making the album, I kept asking myself, ‘What state are you in right now?’” He confessed, “Kang Young-hyun is a person who falls short compared to Young K. He gets hurt, feels lonely a lot, and sometimes harbors petty or negative thoughts.”
He added, “Until now, I didn’t have the confidence to reveal that side of myself, but now I’ve decided to acknowledge that Young K and Kang Young-hyun are, ultimately, one and the same person.”

This album was Young K’s most intense creative project to date. While juggling DAY6’s tour and TV appearances, he would head straight to the studio as soon as his schedule ended, and even wrote songs in cars and on airplanes. Over the course of about 15 months, he completed 15 tracks.
Young K said, “I’d go to the studio as soon as my schedule ended, and I kept writing songs even while traveling or waiting,” adding with a laugh, “It was actually a good place to work on a plane because the engine noise was constant. Even if I sang a little loudly, people around me didn’t seem to mind much.”
There was also a sense of urgency behind her decision to include 15 tracks. Since this was her first solo opportunity after such a long hiatus, she wanted to pour everything she could into it right now rather than saving anything for later.
Young K said, “Since this is my first solo album in two years and ten months, I thought I didn’t know when another opportunity might come.” He continued, “I told myself there was no turning back and just kept moving forward. The company suggested reducing the number of tracks, but no matter how much I cut back, I wanted to keep at least 15 songs. I wanted to create a full, substantial album.”

This album features 15 tracks for which Young K wrote all the lyrics and composed all the music. The title track, “Shut The Door,” captures the sense of liberation and freedom felt when breaking free from a confined space. In contrast to the upbeat sound, the lyrics are imbued with the honest emotions of a wounded and exhausted Kang Young-hyun.
Young K said, “I wrote expressions like ‘getting knocked around here and there’ just as if I were writing in a diary,” adding, “While Young K is closer to a polished image ready to be loved by people, Kang Young-hyun is an imperfect person who gets hurt and harbors grievances. This time, I wanted to reveal even those emotions without hiding them.”
He also incorporated an experience where he accidentally overheard his friends talking behind his back into the song. Young K explained, “I was hurt when I heard my friends talking about me, but as I wrote those feelings into the lyrics, I actually found comfort myself,” adding with a smile, “Later, when I played the song for them, they cried and apologized. We’re getting along well now.”

◇From the Songs to the Challenges… A Second Solo Album Designed Entirely by Himself
For this album, Young K actively participated not only in the music but also in the music video, concept, color palette, marketing, and production of short-form content. From the visual concept of the title track to the challenge format, he offered his own input, effectively co-designing his entire solo project from start to finish.
“While I used to be someone who simply did my best with the tasks assigned to me, this time I wanted to be involved in the production process from start to finish,” he said. “It was the first time I realized just how many group chat rooms are needed, and I came to understand that experts in each field exist for a reason. It was a time when I was able to identify both what I can do and where I fall short.”
He continued, “Up until now, my approach was to take on every challenge that came my way, but this time, for the first time, I thought about the format myself and even formally asked other artists to participate,” adding with a smile, “I’m also preparing various types of content, such as Reels. This time, I plan to really give the challenge my all.”

Having been deeply involved in the entire production process, he felt a particularly strong sense of responsibility toward this album. Aside from the satisfaction of having completed a work to the best of his ability, he didn’t hide his realistic hope that good results could bring forward the opportunity for his next solo project.
Young K said, “I’m already satisfied with this album because I poured everything I could into it, but of course, I want it to be well-received,” adding, “I hope ‘Shut the Door’ does well so that I’ll have the chance to release my next solo album a little sooner.”
He continued, “Music isn’t just something I love unconditionally. I’ve struggled to survive in this industry, and that’s led to a mix of love and hate—but through that process, it’s actually become more and more fun.” He added, “I want to keep writing songs, singing, and performing on stage for as long as possible.”
Finally, he smiled and said, “I’d love it if, someday, people who’ve seen my music and performances would say, ‘Wow, that’s awesome.’” He added, “While I’m grateful for praise about being a cool artist, ultimately, I want to be remembered as a good person.”