Fresh and light-hearted, JUNGSOOMIN’s latest single, “Be like YOU,” only needs one listen to become the tune you hum mindlessly all day long. Released on May 2, it comes with a colorful and totally delightful music video that makes you want to know more.

JUNGSOOMIN (정수민) was born in Chicago, Illinois (USA) in 2004 and debuted on October 10, 2023, with the EP Phasis, after signing with Neuron Music (뉴런뮤직) label in June. His first digital single was released on January 16, 2023, bearing the title “song about YOU” (did you catch a pattern in the spelling?). The young artist had tried his luck already two years before when, on May 20, 2021, he was revealed as a contestant for an audition show, LOUD (SBS). However, he didn’t make it past the first round. The Korean-American singer did not lose heart and kept hanging around the Korean music scene, participating in the program Stars Awakening (Channel A, 2022) and, more recently, in Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survivor (Mnet, 2024).

Although Build Up has definitely helped in getting JUNGSOOMIN’s name out there, international fans may have already made his acquaintance thanks to his recurring guest stint in Samuel Seo’s (서사무엘) radio show Radio 'n Us (2023 - present) on Arirang Radio, the Korean radio station that broadcasts content in English for a global audience and can also be followed 24/7 via its YouTube channel (“DJ Sam”’s shows are always worth checking out!). JUNGSOOMIN appeared various times, often in the company of another recurring guest, AleXa (알렉사), and his presence always made for a lively and funny show.

“be like YOU”

“be like YOU” is JUNGSOOMIN’s second digital single, and it comes with the same upbeat and kind of laidback vibes of the previous release, the aforementioned “song about YOU”. Both songs were composed by JUNGSOOMIN, ADORA (아도라), and Donnie J (plus, only in the latest record, HYUNKI). Furthermore, in each single, we also find the fully English version of the song: both the tunes work just fine in Korean as they do in English, but when it comes especially to his latest work, we are more partial to the K-flavor, mostly because the feeling conveyed by the lyrics changes a bit.

In the Korean version, “be like YOU” seems more like a song about a story that is now over but which the boy does not want to let go of. It paints a portrait of a girl who left a strong impression on him in more than one way, so much so that now he wants to change his bad attitude and looks at her like a role model - hence the title. In the English version, however, the lyrics conjure a different image, as if the two are still together, but he needs to work on himself to ease her worries: “Baby tell me why you worry / Tell me how bad it hurts / I can try and give you comfort / But I wanna put me first / Can you show me how to / Smile like you always do?”. 

JUNGSOOMIN’s music perfectly fits the “easy listening” category. It’s the one you never get tired of listening to, and the music video aesthetic with its cheerful palette, not to mention the singer dancing and overall relaxed and bright attitude only add to that.

Give his music a listen, and tell us if JUNGSOOMIN's adorable light-heartedness rubbed off on you too. We believe he is an artist that, if you haven’t already, should be definitely put on your radar!

Edited by Rachael Lovette