Jaehwa Bernardo

South Korean singer-songwriter Ilhoon. Photo from Carpenterz Art Republic

Article (news)

Korean singer Ilhoon embarks on 'new beginning' with 'The Adam'

Alyssa Carmina Gonzales

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746436257963The Adam.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">South Korean singer-songwriter Ilhoon. <em>Photo from Carpenterz Art Republic</em></span></span></span></div><p>In the months leading up to the release of his first studio album “The Adam,” South Korean singer-songwriter Jung Ilhoon <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/music/2025/1/30/k-pop-artist-ilhoon-on-painting-music-and-finding-courage-from-fans-0714"><strong>staged an art exhibition titled “Tiny Ark,”</strong></a> inspired by the biblical story of Noah’s ark. Now, with “The Adam,” the 30-year-old artist appears to draw once again from scripture — this time turning to the creation story.</p><p>Described by his label CPTZ as an exploration of “the first human with the first breath,” the album’s title invokes the image of Adam, the first man. In that same spirit, “The Adam” symbolizes a fresh beginning for the former K-pop idol, marking his reemergence as a solo artist.</p><p>“‘The Adam’ represents a new beginning. The message of this album reflects my personal values, my life, destiny, art, and spiritual journey,&quot; Ilhoon told ABS-CBN News in an email interview.</p><p>“‘Tiny Ark’ and ‘The Adam’ together form one overarching narrative. Of course, I used symbols like the ark and Adam to express the ideas in this album, but more importantly, it marks a continuous story — one that evolves, but still remains connected,” he explained.</p><p>Released last April 30, the 12-track package dives into themes of art, self-discovery and growth.</p><div><br/><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/2RKZ3F4GtpgNCrwYgajwCv?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>While Ilhoon was inspired by R&amp;B, hip-hop and early 2000s music in writing the songs in the album, he clarified that he “didn’t set out to make a genre-specific album,” instead prioritizing the songs’ lyrics throughout the creative process.</p><p>“I just created what felt natural. I deliberately tried to avoid anything artificial—this album was made with complete sincerity,” he said.</p><div><strong>Bringing comfort, hope</strong></div><p>But while Ilhoon described “The Adam” as an album containing his personal story, he believes it can also be something listeners could relate to.</p><p>“If listening to it can bring even a small amount of comfort, encouragement or hope to your life, then I would feel truly thankful and happy,” he said.</p><p>At the forefront is the album’s title track “Michaelangelo,” accompanied by a music video that depicts Ilhoon as a sculpture breaking free from its shell, eventually collapsing onto a blank canvas before splattering it with paint.</p><p>“‘Michaelangelo’ has always felt destined to be the title track — from the moment I started making it until now. Its message is clear, and I feel it’s the most honest song I’ve ever written,” said Ilhoon, who debuted as a member of K-pop boy band BTOB in 2012 until departing the group in 2020.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4OioJvTLuxs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Ilhoon believes that “Michaelangelo” embodies the core message of “The Adam.” With the track, he hopes to deepen the trust between himself and his fans, inviting them to walk alongside him as he begins a new chapter in his life.</p><p>The video for “Michaelangelo” also includes the track “Long Way,” which serves as a sort of prequel to the lead single.</p><p>“‘Long Way’ is like the narrative that leads into ‘Michaelangelo.’ It’s a separate track, but not an unrelated one — it’s essential to the overall work that is ‘Michaelangelo.’ The story flowed naturally. And even though the mood of the two videos is quite different, they are unmistakably connected,” he said.</p><p>Filming the music video was especially memorable for Ilhoon, who rode a horse on his way up to a volcano in East Java, Indonesia. </p><p>“It was fun and thrilling at the time, but I think I got a bit too excited — my backside ended up getting scraped pretty badly, and it was painful to sit for days after that,” he recalled.</p><p>“Still, the scenery at Mount Bromo was breathtaking — so beautiful it took my breath away.”</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1746436455083Long Way.png" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ilhoon in the music video for &#x27;Michaelangelo.&#x27; <em>Screenshot from video on Carpenterz Art Republic&#x27;s YouTube channel</em></span></span></span></div><div><strong>No time to feel bored</strong></div><p>These days, Ilhoon said he is “so immersed in the creative process that I don’t even have time to feel bored.”</p><p>His daily routine, he shared, generally revolves around work, exercise, and leisurely activities like watching videos on YouTube.</p><p>“I start the day by catching up on work, then I move on to either exercising or working on music. Sometimes I go for a walk or meet friends in the evening,” he said.</p><p>Despite his packed schedule, Ilhoon makes it a priority to connect with fans. In fact, the singer is set to hold a fan meeting in Seoul on May 10 and 11 to celebrate the release of “The Adam.”</p><p>“Since it’s been such a long time since we’ve seen each other in person, I hope it becomes a heartwarming, joyful time for both me and my fans,” he said.</p>

<p>Korean singer Jung Ilhoon's first studio album 'The Adam' represents a 'new beginning.'</p>

Korean singer Jung Ilhoon's first studio album 'The Adam' represents a 'new beginning.'