Former Wanna One member Park Ji-hoon officially kicked off his solo career with the EP “O’Clock,” released March 26.

The six-track album arrives just three months after Wanna One, a project group formed through Mnet’s Idol competition program “Produce 101,” held its final concert in January. The group officially disbanded in December 2018.

His first solo album includes title track “L.O.V.E,” “The Beginning Of,” “Us,” “Would You,” “Dawn Moon” and “Young 20.” Park, known for his cuteness and charm during his Wanna One days, wants to project a more manly and mysterious image with the new release.

“I am very satisfied with this album,” he said at a showcase event held at Sangmyung University’s art hall on the release date. “I am very nervous and excited about how everyone will see the stage I prepared. I chose the name of the album, in the hope that all my hours of solo activities will be remembered.”

As the title suggests, the future R&B track “L.O.V.E” is a song about love, he said. “Under the theme of love, I filled it with feelings of purity, joy, passion. It’s a man’s confession of love, and my love message for the fans that have waited so long.”

The movielike music video was filmed in Prague, and Park said the trip was both fun and meaningful. “I wanted the music video to portray a mystical feel that is nonexistent in reality.”

He also performed another song, “Young 20,” a soul jam R&B produced by former Wanna One bandmate Lee Dae-hwi and written by Park himself.


“Lee has a definite style,” said Park. “The feeling that he had in mind about the song has to match when I sang it. And I am so grateful for Lee giving me such a good song. I had fun working on it.”

The transition to a solo career may be tough after being part of an 11-member boy band, Park admitted.

“I think the positive thing about going solo is that from beginning to end, I have to carry on with my voice and performance solely on my own. The downside is, it’s a bit lonely to be by myself. But it’s something I have to overcome.”

But Park said he tried not to stress out about the change too much. “I didn’t worry too much, because I couldn’t wait to meet the fans. So I didn’t have time to worry.”


Park said he worked hard to let his true self show in his solo work. “Unlike what I have prepared in the past, I contemplated and worked hard to show who I really am.”

With the new release, he’s not all that concerned about the rankings, preferring instead to focus on becoming a solo artist who can communicate with fans musically, and says he hopes to hold a year-end concert as well.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)