TXT’s Yeonjun Blows the Industry Away with “GGUM”

Pun intended, of course. 

These days, K-pop idol group members embarking on solo chapters is no longer a novelty. These projects are planned ahead of time, often nestled in between comebacks or, in the case of male artists, around the military conscription period. Regardless of the timing, solo journeys have proven to be eye-opening experiences for both the idols and the fans. The idol gains an opportunity to identify his or her unique vocal—and choreographic, should it apply—color and explore a sense of self outside of the group dynamics, while the fans get to see a different side of their idol, and possibly develop a better understanding of who he or she is as an artist and and individual. 

Five years into their career, the members of TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT) are finally given the chance to discover their identities as individual artists. The eldest member,  inimitable all-rounder, and '4th Generation It Boy' Choi Yeonjun, gets the first crack at the solo spotlight—and the song, choreography, and MV has fans, critics, and even detractors reacting with fervor. 

Blessed with unrivaled charisma and a charm that can make stone monuments crumble, Yeonjun was, since his pre-debut days, a performer to watch out for. Dubbed the legendary BigHit trainee, he would often rank highest in the vocal, rap, and dance categories. Although many believe that TXT has had everything handed to them on a silver platter by affiliation alone—they were, after all, seen by the industry as BTS’ baby brothers—Yeonjun is proud of the fact that they have worked tirelessly day in and day out to deserve everything they have at present. A known perfectionist and meticulous to a T, Yeonjun’s determination, ambitious nature, and love for his members and their fans, affectionately referred to as MOA, are the main driving forces behind his art.

When news of his first solo endeavor dropped—with promotions scheduled towards the tail end of the Chuseok holidays and ending just in time for the final legs of the group’s ACT: PROMISE tour—the industry and the K-pop community at large were on high alert. Yeonjun’s reputation precedes him; expectations were, needless to say, sky high. Save for a few covers, everything that Yeonjun had released to date was part and parcel of a group effort. Would he come out of the woodworks with something similar to what TXT had done before? Would his mixtape be oriented more towards his vocal ability or his dance prowess? 

Would Choi Yeonjun the solo artist be a far cry from Yeonjun of TXT?

"I was actually chewing on gum when I was in the car, and it just came to me all of a sudden," he told USA Today in an interview. The 25-year-old enjoys being seen as a cool person, and the swagger and confidence that can be associated with strolling down the streets with a piece of gum in your mouth encapsulated what he wanted to achieve. “GGUM” is certainly a spitfire of a track. It’s fun, it’s fresh, it’s kitschy, and it’s catchy—think a clever electro/hip-hop thought experiment come to life. The beat is addictive, the flow is smooth, and the refrain-to-chorus, while simplistic to an extreme, will be reverberating in your eardrums for days on end. The music video embodies the song’s energy, with Yeonjun tearing into a late night talk show studio-esque set-up, putting his feet up on the desk and stealing the microphone from the host, causing a ruckus so monumental that security has to drag him out, struggling to contain him as he fights back with all his might. 

Perhaps the most tantalizing—and polarizing—element of “GGUM” is its choreography. Masterminded by the incredible Sienna Lalau, who has previously worked with JLo, Missy Elliott, and yes, BTS, with heavy inputs from Yeonjun himself, it has quickly gained traction among professional dancers and K-pop dance challenge enthusiasts alike. It is no walk in the park; the amount of control required to hold it all together in conjunction with the speedy footwork and dynamic hand gestures is a lot to stomach. There are several iterations of the choreography, which Yeonjun performs with each of his members and other K-pop idols in TikTok shorts. Fellow TXT member Beomgyu, who had temporarily sat out on several dance performances due to a hairline fracture on his foot, successfully pulls off the version with the heart attack-inducing drop to half-split move. 

(P.S .j-hope of BTS, can we please get you on the “GGUM” challenge at a later date?) 

To sum it all up, “GGUM” is but a glimpse of what Yeonjun can bring to the table as a solo artist. Some critics have said that there seems to be too little Yeonjun on the surface. “GGUM”, for all intents and purposes, sits lofty in its perch as a performance piece that ably showcases the artist’s confidence and his abilities as an all-rounder. The behind the scenes footage easily contests that argument; we see Yeonjun powering through long days and sleepless nights, rehearsing the choreography, filming the MV, doing live stages at Music Bank and Inkigayo, among other required promotional work. There’s so much of Yeonjun underneath it all, and regardless of how one might feel about “GGUM” as a total package, a single listen is all it takes to have it stuck in your head. Stream “GGUM” by Yeonjun on Spotify, iTunes, or wherever you choose to listen to music.

The physical mixtape is due for release on 29 October 2024.