Tomorrow X Together's Yeonjun to make solo debut with 'GGUM'

Yeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together hopes to show a side of himself "never before seen as part of the band" with his first solo mixtape "GGUM," the singer said on Thursday ahead of its release at 6 p.m.

Yeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together [BIGHIT MUSIC]

Yeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together hopes to show a side of himself "never before seen as part of the band" with his first solo mixtape "GGUM," the singer said on Thursday ahead of its release at 6 p.m.

"I feel so overwhelmed with anticipation for the moment I've been dreaming of for so long," Yeonjun said in a press release.

"I tried to express my own colors and show the things that I'm best at, which I had not been able to as part of the team. I worked, thinking, 'Let's make music that tells my own story, whatever it is,' and I'm pleased that it shows it well."

"GGUM" is a hip-hop track with a catchy electro sound and the first official solo song from Yeonjun since his debut, except for his participation in a soundtrack for the Coupang Play series "Cinderella at 2am" titled "Boyfriend" on Sept. 1.

"GGUM" is aimed at showing Yeonjun's rebellious side, in stark contrast to the fantasy fairy-tale concepts he has embodied as a member of Tomorrow X Together so far.

Yeonjun of boy band Tomorrow X Together [BIGHIT MUSIC]

"Everything has my touch on it, from start to finish," Yeonjun said. "This is literally 'Yeonjun's music' and the more I adored it, the better I wanted it to be. It was difficult making music for myself for the first time but I poured in everything so that nothing is under par."

Yeonjun debuted as the oldest member of Tomorrow X Together in March 2019 and has demonstrated his talents in both vocals and dancing, the latter of which he flaunted through multiple dance challenge videos with other K-pop artists.

The apparently difficult dance challenge for "GGUM" has already garnered millions of views online, with jumps and splits that make it a true "challenge."

"There are two versions of the 'GGUM' challenge," he said. "Just as it feels more fun to level up in games, I prepared two versions so that people can feel the same thing with the challenge. But I don't believe you can be good or bad at a challenge. Please just enjoy it in your own way and style!"

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]