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| ▲ This photo of K-pop singer Jang Hyun-seung is provided by Nextar Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) — South Korean ballad singer Kim Hyun-sung, once known for hits like "Heaven" and "Wish" in the late 1990s and early 2000s, is set to release his first new song in 15 years, calling the moment "a miracle" and likening it to debuting all over again.
“I believe it’s a miracle that I get to sing again,” Kim told reporters at his agency Nexstar Entertainment’s headquarters in southern Seoul last month. “When I recorded the new song and finally got to share it, I was overwhelmed. It truly felt like debuting anew.”
Kim endured an unexpected hiatus spanning over a decade due to muscle tension dysphonia, a vocal disorder that left the singer, once renowned for his high notes and gentle timbre, unable to perform properly. He made a heartfelt appearance in 2021 on JTBC’s audition show "Sing Again 2," where his emotional performance of "Heaven" drew tears and sympathy from viewers and judges alike.
“At my lowest point, people in the studio were saying things like ‘He’s done’ or ‘His voice is gone,’ and those words cut deep,” Kim recalled. During that time, he stepped away from music entirely and spent about three years working a regular office job.
Still, Kim did not give up. In 2022, he joined Nexstar Entertainment, led by veteran producer Cho Young-soo, and slowly began vocal rehabilitation. Despite occasional setbacks, he continued to practice and rebuild his voice with steady determination.
Kim likened his experience to the storyline of his 2022 book "Young Bird," which tells the story of a fledgling overcoming fear to take flight — a metaphor he now acknowledges was autobiographical.
Now, three years later, Kim is preparing to release a new digital single titled "I’m Ready to Love Again" in May 2025.
“I’m happy to be making music again,” he said with a smile. “Just like the bird in my book, I dreamed of being healed and flying again. In the story, the bird recovers quickly — it took me three and a half years.”
Kim emphasized that the most important aspect of his recovery is the return of his vocal range. “I was initially afraid of high notes and thought I should stick to the softer ballads popular these days. But as I practiced, I found that my range was the first thing to return. The high note in this new song is as high as the peak in 'Heaven' — it’s almost like my voice is back to where it was,” he explained.
"I’m Ready to Love Again" is a collaboration between composer Cho Young-soo and lyricist Kim Eana. The song portrays the pain of a breakup and the yearning to love again. The lyrics also serve as a poignant reflection of Kim’s own emotional return to the stage.
Kim first heard the song a few months ago while driving with his wife Nika, a former member of the girl group Badkiz. “When I listened to it for the first time, something stirred inside me. My wife just burst into tears next to me,” he said.
He praised lyricist Kim Eana for capturing emotions he had long struggled to articulate. “She took my painful story and expressed it as a love story, not a tragedy. That was brilliant,” he said.
Of composer Cho Young-soo, he added, “I always knew he was good at writing songs, but he really poured his heart into this one. I could feel he genuinely wanted to help me make a strong comeback. The track blends the sweetness of 'Wish' with the rhythm and high notes of 'Heaven' beautifully.”
Once the song was complete, Kim made sure that Kyuhyun — a fellow singer and judge on "Sing Again 2" who had shown great empathy during Kim’s previous appearance — was the first to hear it.
“While preparing the song, I kept thinking that Kyuhyun should be the first to listen. I asked my manager to invite him to a listening session, and thankfully, he responded right away,” Kim recalled.
“This song is a classic ballad created by the best of the genre,” Kim said. “At one point, I even considered using AI to restore my old voice, but now that I hear my voice sounding like it did during 'Wish' and 'Heaven,' I couldn’t be happier.”
Looking ahead, Kim plans to reconnect with his longtime fans through various performances. While he acknowledged that the label of a “failed singer” still lingers, he expressed hope that this comeback will serve as a meaningful response to those who supported him throughout his journey.
“I’m a singer who can express rock energy with pop sensitivity,” he said. “What I want to hear more than anything is, ‘Kim Hyun-sung is back.’ That’s the phrase I’ve been longing for.”
“I want to keep making music that is true to me. Being back in the recording booth felt so exciting — like I was a rookie again,” he added with a laugh.
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