YESUNG reduces photo card count to 31 for 10th anniversary album

Singer YESUNG revealed during a live broadcast that he reduced the photo card count for his 2nd solo album, "Where We Are," from 100 to 31 to lessen the economic burden on fans. The new total combines digits representing his 10th solo anniversary and Super Junior's 21st anniversary.

Ahead of the release of his 2nd full-length album "Where We Are," celebrating his 10th anniversary since his solo debut, singer YESUNG communicated directly with fans to share the behind-the-scenes details of the album's production. During a live broadcast conducted against the backdrop of his studio, YESUNG revealed that this album is not merely a product, but a crystallization of intense deliberation over the past two years and consideration for his fans.

"From 100 photo cards to 31"... A production method considering fan burden

The most notable aspect of the preparation process for this album is the change in production methods. YESUNG stated that while preparing the album for nearly two years, he felt the need for a dedicated team that could fully implement his musical color rather than receiving team-based support, leading him to restructure his production environment. He noted, "Beyond just suggesting ideas, I did my best by personally organizing everything down to each piece of paper."

Regarding the photo card configuration, which could have been a hot topic, he expressed deep consideration for his fans. YESUNG originally planned to include 100 photo cards to commemorate his 10th solo anniversary, but he significantly revised this to account for the economic burden and fatigue fans might face during collection. "I did not want fans to spend money recklessly," he explained, stating that he finalized the composition at a total of 31 cards, including gold cards. This number was decided by combining digits symbolizing his 10th solo anniversary and Super Junior's 21st anniversary, a decision rooted in his consideration for fans.

"Gratitude rather than celebration"... The artist's attitude toward his 10th anniversary

For YESUNG, this 10th anniversary holds a meaning beyond a simple milestone. Mentioning T-shirt goods linked to the album's theme, he emphasized that the 10th anniversary is not an achievement achieved alone. "The 10th anniversary is not something for me to be celebrated for, but something to be grateful for," he said. "It was because of the fans that I could reach this place and become someone capable of releasing an album."

This philosophy was also reflected in the visual work of the album. YESUNG was directly involved in the storytelling and detailed direction during the album producing process. He suggested that he worked to increase the album's completeness by moving away from conventional, limited methods and attempting various spaces and styles, stating, "As someone who loves taking photos, I wanted to expose as many photos as possible."

A record between daily inspiration and stage tension

The working method revealed through the live broadcast was thoroughly rooted in daily life. Instead of working in a separate studio, he worked at home, a process that involved noting down emotions and thoughts felt while moving and connecting them to the album's lyrics or composition. He added, "Since I tend to enjoy time spent thinking, fragments of daily life often serve the album well."

Meanwhile, YESUNG also shared his honest feelings regarding the tension felt on stage. Mentioning that he has recently experienced difficulties due to the monitoring environment on stage, he shared an anecdote with a mix of laughter, revealing that while he focused on exercising to deliver perfect performances, his disc symptoms actually worsened, leading to surgery.

Source: YESUNG (YouTube)