Exclusive Interview: Baekjin Tells All – Stepping Away From K-Pop
- lewishooper1
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
We garnered an exclusive interview with former b-boy Baekjin on why he is stepping away from K-pop and looking for a new life in Australia.
The Weight of Responsibility and New Beginnings
From the high-energy stages of the K-pop industry to the quiet classrooms of language study, Baekjin’s journey is one of profound transformation. Once a K-pop idol and dancer who wore many hats—producer, manager, and visual artist—he is now stepping into a new chapter that trades the limelight for a more personal kind of freedom.
In this exclusive sit-down, Lewis Hooper speaks with Baekjin about the financial realities of creative independence, the emotional closure of his final performance, and why he’s choosing to start over in a new country.
The Multi-Hyphenate Artist
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers and listeners?
Baekjin: Hi, my name is Baekjin, and I’m from South Korea. I started my career as a K-pop idol and dancer, and over time, that expanded into rap, music production, and visual art. Thank you so much for inviting me today. I’m really glad to have this opportunity to share my story and talk about K-pop, my journey, and the creative process I experienced during that intense time.
Since you started in the music industry, what have been the primary challenges you've faced as an artist?
To be honest, my main goal after leaving idol life wasn’t fame or success for myself. It was to take responsibility for the people who supported me and worked alongside me. I wanted to create an environment where we could do what we loved without constant financial anxiety.
In reality, that was extremely difficult—especially in the art and entertainment industry. A lack of funding was the biggest challenge. While we did receive some small investments early on, it was never enough to cover both creative production and the basic livelihood of the people involved. At a certain point, I used my own personal savings to keep things going. There were so many challenges that it’s hard to explain them all, but it taught me how fragile creative work can be without a stable structure behind it.
Within the group or creative collective you worked with, what was your primary role? Was it songwriter, producer, conceptual leader, or something else entirely?
That’s actually a difficult question for me, because I was involved in almost every part of the process, even the smallest details. During that time, I worked across management, attracting investment, marketing, and sales, as well as producing music and videos. I was also deeply involved on stage. Because I took responsibility from so many perspectives, I feel proud of that period. I genuinely did my best in every role, and looking back, I don’t have any regrets.
Closure and Connection
To date, what have been the absolute highlights of your career?
I’ve had many meaningful moments, but one that stands out happened during my final solo tour performance in Vietnam. At that time, I already felt that it might be the last time I would ever stand on stage as a singer. Because of that, I decided to change the setlist at the last moment. I performed the title track from an unreleased album. A week later, I released that album without a music video. I wanted that song to live only through the memory of that performance—through the audience and the atmosphere. That night wasn’t about promotion; it was about closure and saying goodbye in my own way.
With a substantial following of over 200,000, what is the key message or sense of community you try to cultivate through your platform?
When I started my own company, I honestly believed that social media would be one of my strongest tools. I thought having a large following would naturally lead to results. But the reality was very different. Looking back, I can admit that I was naïve and somewhat arrogant. I learned that followers don’t automatically translate into meaningful outcomes. I realized too late that I should have paid more attention to what people actually connected with. Even so, I don’t regret it. Ultimately, the purpose of my work was my own happiness and honest expression.
The Creative Cycle
What does a typical day look like for you when you are in the middle of preparing for a comeback, photo shoot, or new release?
That period always felt very fast, repetitive, and emotionally overwhelming. The days blended under a constant sense of pressure. Most of that stress came from the gap between the quality I wanted to achieve and the realistic results I could produce within my circumstances. Because I was involved in every aspect, I rarely had time to rest. I was constantly moving—making decisions, adjusting plans, and pushing forward without pause. It was an intense and exhausting cycle.
How do you navigate the balance between your individual aspirations as Baekjin and your commitment to collaborative projects?
That’s a really meaningful question. Even from my trainee days, I believed that during group activities, you have to put yourself aside and fully align with the team. I genuinely tried to live by that principle. I always thought that personal ambition and individual expression should come after group activities ended, through solo work. Many K-pop artists follow that path, and I felt the same way at the time.
A New Horizon
What was the single most formative piece of advice you received during your training phase that you still rely on today?
I started as a b-boy when I was a teenager, and a senior member of my crew once told me, “If you want to do what you truly love, you first have to endure what you don’t like.” At the time, it sounded simple, but over the years, I realized how true it was. No matter what you choose to do, the beginning is always difficult. Learning to endure that phase became something I carried with me throughout my career.
Finally, what can we expect from you in the future?
Recently, I began thinking seriously about immigration and started studying English. It’s actually the first time in my life that I’ve studied like this, and I’ve been really enjoying it. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to relocate to Sydney, and starting in 2026, I expect to live there, studying, learning, and settling into a more ordinary daily life.
Being recognized isn’t always something I feel comfortable with; visibility can feel like a burden. That’s why I’m looking forward to starting again in a new environment, at my own pace, and seeing where that leads.
Do you have a question for Baekjin about his K-pop journey, his transition to life in Sydney, or his creative process? Drop your questions in the comments below!