Kim Hee-jae on new single 'Ireon Nal Gidaryeonnayo': Jang Yun-jeong wrote, directed choreo and costumes

Kim Hee-jae stopped by MBC FM4U 손태진의 트로트 라디오 on July 16 to unpack the story behind 이런 날 기다렸나요, his digital single that dropped June 26.

Jang Yun-jeong produced the entire track. Kim described it as carrying on the feel of his earlier song 돌리도. Jang wrote the lyrics, composed the music, arranged the chorus, choreographed it, and designed the costumes. "She directly directed not only songwriting, composition, and chorus but also choreography and costumes," he said, calling it "a very meaningful song to me." There's a layer to this: Kim is a former member of Jang Yun-jeong's fan club, so the collaboration hits differently. Even now, he said, "when exercising or meeting privately, I still feel like I'm seeing a celebrity."

Asked whether ballad or dance suits him better, he picked a third lane: "I think it's dance-trot." He also shared his pre-stage ritual. He tells himself "I'm cool, I'm confident" before walking out, then admits he turns shy the moment he steps off.

On the radio stage he performed 바랑 first. The show noted his precise expressiveness and depth of tone. Mid-performance, his microphone cable came unplugged. He kept going without missing a beat. He followed with 이런 날 기다렸나요, bringing a noticeably brighter, more upbeat energy to the second set. (The mic incident honestly might have been the best advertisement for his stage composure.)

"Thank you for supporting me hard," he told listeners before signing off.