Jun. K shares insights on 2PM's future, his new album 'Dear my muse', and the importance of mental health in the music industry.

2PM's Jun. K talked about the group's activity plans. Recently, at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul, he participated in an interview to commemorate the release of his 4th mini-album 'Dear my muse', revealing his thoughts on the new album, the agency, and the group. Jun. K released his 4th mini-album 'Dear my muse' on September 1, which includes five songs: 'R&B ME (Feat. Changbin of Stray Kids)', 'PRIVACY', 'ALL ON YOU (Feat. YOUHA)', 'LARGO', and 'HAPPY ENDING'. The title track 'R&B ME (Feat. Changbin of Stray Kids)' is a melodic pop track that highlights the synth sound and Jun. K's sweet vocals, with him participating in the lyrics and composition. Regarding the collaboration with Changbin, Jun. K shared, 'Originally, it was all singing, but I thought it would be nice to have a rap point, so I wrote a guide and sent it to the company, and they responded positively. When I thought about who to ask, Changbin's voice came to mind, and when I asked, he readily accepted. I told him it was okay to change the lyrics, but he said, 'I can't change what my senior wrote,' and we immediately started recording. I'm grateful that we could collaborate that way.' He also serves as the external cooperation director at JYP Entertainment, stating, 'I'm grateful to be here. The attitude of the agency I've seen so far is straightforward and honest. I feel the same way being inside. I think I am influenced by many around me, but fortunately, the members, staff, and the agency are all good people. Of course, there are times when we clash while working, but looking back, I feel grateful to have worked with good people. In fact, when I visited (Park) Jinyoung to discuss whether I could stay here, he kindly said, 'Thank you for staying so long,' which moved me.' He continued, 'When I joined, there were only three staff members left from that time. Now, the number of employees has reached 700. I've seen many situations where we clashed while the company was growing and organizing its systems. The people who built this up, including Jinyoung and the executives, are wonderful, but I was truly impressed to see the employees proud to work at this agency. This is not an easy thing. Witnessing this, I felt the company is steadily growing, and at the same time, I hope my fans can be proud of me. I continue to learn about this every day.' Since 2PM's debut, many junior idol groups have advanced globally and achieved good results. He said, 'Rather than us paving the way, I think our seniors laid the groundwork. Everyone is working hard, and I think it has become even more global, but my biggest concern is what I felt while watching those working in this field. We are inevitably in a profession exposed to people's judgments, so we have a strong sense of responsibility, but the anxiety about mental health is also significant. I have been tossed around and sometimes felt mentally exhausted, but I think we should have at least one way to care for this.' Jun. K also experienced insomnia but now uses his routine as a weapon. He said, 'I became interested in my health and started to stabilize my mental state through a routine. I think the juniors are going back and forth too much. Feeling emptiness when suddenly alone in a crowded place can lead to psychological instability, but I hope they can find a way to overcome it. I also want them to take good care of their health.' 2PM, which debuted in 2008, is now in its 18th year. He mentioned about group activities, 'Nothing has been decided yet,' but added, 'Recently, I met with the members and talked about what we should do and how to succeed. We are filled with the desire to meet as soon as possible.' Regarding the members currently moving to multiple agencies and working as actors and solo artists, he expressed, 'I think it's each person's choice, and I respect that. We have been working for a long time, and I understand that they haven't abandoned 2PM, so I respect their challenges and choices in their lives.' When asked about the secret to 2PM's longevity, he said, 'It's a bit embarrassing to express it as long-running since it's been a while since we stopped activities. First, the members are very kind and good people. I think they are wonderful as humans. Our activities as 2PM are not pursued as a business. If we had acted as a business, we might have been able to do more, but we purely think about what we can do for 2PM and the fans. Everyone has that feeling, and when I talked with the members recently, I felt their generosity and greatness again. We promise to prepare so that we can meet the fans as soon as possible.' As a solo artist in Korea, he is also celebrating his 10th year this year. He said, 'The works I release are things that will remain, so I don't want to have regrets, and I worked hard to do my best. I think I need to pour all my strength into it and face the work calmly, ensuring it reaches a level without regrets. Listening to the 2016 album again, there are certainly disappointing parts, but I don't feel embarrassed. I hope this album will also be something I won't feel embarrassed about when I listen to it in ten years, and of course, if more people listen to it, my gratitude will grow even more.' Finally, he said, 'Frankly, my future depends on myself, but my dream is to continue to work steadily in the place I am now with a positive mindset. I want to be someone who can continue making music in 10 or 20 years. If I can do that, there will be no greater happiness.'