Interview: JUNHEE Gets Candid About His Solo Debut and Plans

Photo Courtesy of H&P Entertainment

JUNHEE, the leader and now soloist from the K-pop boy group A.C.E, is reinventing his musical identity with a bold step in his journey. 2025 was a notable year for him as he began his solo journey and established a new label, H&P Entertainment. His solo debut album, The First Day & Night, was released on September 12, 2025. The album comprises eight tracks, each documenting an emotion experienced at a specific time of day. From releasing concept photos coinciding with the tracks, to creating three music videos, JUNHEE took a novel approach for his solo debut. 

Only a week after its release, the album and its tracks entered worldwide music charts on platforms like Apple Music and Deezer. The album debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes Dance Daily chart upon its release and also charted in Canada and Australia. Furthermore, it topped at No. 1 on Malaysia’s Apple Music Dance Daily chart and placed No. 2 on the iTunes K-Pop charts in France and the UK. Additional global achievements include ranking in the Top 5 in multiple countries, including Germany, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as entry into the iTunes Top 10 in more than 15 countries, including Belgium, Malta, Portugal, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. It ranked sixth on Deezer’s Global Dance Daily chart, making JUNHEE’s impact undeniable in European and Latin American countries like Mexico, Brazil, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Photo Courtesy of H&P Entertainment

The album was first teased with the single “Supernova (00:00),” released a month before the album’s official release. The song reached No. 1 on iTunes charts in seven countries shortly after. Overall, JUNHEE has entered iTunes, Apple Music, and Deezer charts in over 40 countries, securing No. 1 in 11 countries and Top 5 in more than 20.

Speaking to Mido Media about the start of his solo career and his journey so far, JUNHEE shared deep insights into his artistry, what makes his solo journey different, and his plans for the future. Looking at this conversation, JUNHEE’s journey is surely the start of something special!

Q: The concept for “Umbrella (10:00)” is interesting; it is a different take on the mellow and sadder emotions attached to the rainfall. How did you come up with this metaphor?

JUNHEE: I literally thought of an umbrella on a rainy day and just being there alone holding that umbrella. I think I got inspired by that kind of loneliness, like when you’re holding an umbrella on a rainy day, waiting for someone, but no one shows up.

Q: There is a gap of a few hours between each track, like “Supernova (00:00),” “Umbrella (10:00),” and “Too Bad (15:00).” What is happening in between these hours? Why did you pick those times specifically?

JUNHEE: I thought that in between those hours, everyone would be living their own daily lives. Someone might be sleeping, someone having breakfast, someone on the bus to work, someone at school or at the office, and then going home—all kinds of daily moments happening at the same time. And the times I set were just my own way of matching the songs to the feelings they give. I feel like listening to each song at that time really maximizes the impact of the emotions.

Q: In the album, the protagonist takes one day to process his feelings. Do you, JUNHEE, process your feelings quickly, too, or is that more of a metaphor?

JUNHEE: Actually, I think it’s more of a metaphor. I’m human too, so I can handle simple feelings pretty quickly but anything beyond that doesn’t always get processed like I want it to. That’s why I think the human heart is really fascinating; it feels so different from moment to moment.

Watch JUNHEE’s “Umbrella (10:00)” Music Video here:

Q: Why did you choose to create music videos for “Umbrella (10:00),” “Supernova (00:00),” and “Too Bad (15:00)” from your album? Was there a specific narrative for each that you wanted to portray? 

JUNHEE: All three songs were tracks I had thought of as triple title tracks even before the album was released. So I definitely wanted to shoot videos for them. Actually, this is the first time I’m saying this, but originally I planned to make a music video for every song on the album, even if they were just simple. Some would be like visualizers, some would be moving lyric videos, some would be self-cam or one-take styles. I already had all those ideas in my head. But because of the schedule and other issues, I could only make the “Tattoo (12:30)” live clip in addition to the three music videos. Even now, I still feel really regretful about that. The reason I wanted to make visual content for every track was that I think a good song definitely gains more life when it has a video to go with it.

Q: To anyone discovering your music for the first time, what would you like them to take away from the tracks? Give us a couple of sentences. 

JUNHEE: 1. Just listen to it. 2. Tell me your day story!

Q: How do you balance being the CEO of H&P Entertainment and starting your solo career?

JUNHEE: Separation and focus. Since my recent promotions have wrapped, I’m diving back into the next album and working on new music. So I try to move forward as regularly as possible. When I’m working on music, I make an effort not to look at my phone. That way, I can prepare everything I need to as an artist within the time I have. And the rest of my schedule is filled with mostly work-related messages and company tasks, almost up until I go to bed haha. I’ve gotten used to this kind of life now. Definitely, how you manage your time is really important.

Watch JUNHEE’s “Supernova (00:00)” Music Video here:

Q: How do you find breaks to recenter and manage stress?

JUNHEE: Breaks are a must. I think rest is just as important as work. Of course, there are definitely times when you want to rest but can’t, but once that period passes, I think you need to get enough rest so you can go full speed again. Whether it’s traveling or just taking complete downtime at home, I think you need at least a little time to separate yourself from work in some way.

Q: You collaborated with A.C.E. members (Lee Jiham, BK, KANG YUCHAN and WoW) for the track “Tattoo (12:30).” How was your experience working with them?

JUNHEE: Everything was perfect. All the members had been waiting for this moment, and we worked together with so much joy, thinking about finally sharing “Tattoo” with the fans. I divided up the parts in the song, and as expected, everyone performed their parts perfectly. I had especially high hopes for BK at the intro of the song, and he did an amazing job. I’m really satisfied.

Q: Tell us something you learned about yourself since embarking on your solo journey.

JUNHEE: I realized that I get lonelier than I expected, but I’m also stronger in tough situations than I thought. Honestly, every day is fun, and I get excited wondering what new things might happen tomorrow. The only thing is that I handle almost everything myself, so if things don’t go according to plan, I end up getting really stressed about that too.

Q: How are you preparing for your solo concert next year? Please give us a sneak peek!

JUNHEE: I’m planning a small tour, but there’s still a lot to prepare, so I can’t say too much yet, haha. But I do plan to show you a lot of things on stage that you haven’t seen before!

Q: What message do you have for your fans?

JUNHEE: To all my beloved fans, thank you so much for always caring for me. Please don’t forget that I also always care for and love you all a lot. I can’t wait to see you at the concert stages! I love you! See you soon! 

What do you think of JUNHEE’s solo debut album The First Day & Night? Tell us in the comments or connect with us over X and Instagram.

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Edited by Michelle Leung