Choi Jung-hoon: The reason behind breakup rumors with Han Ji-min is his deep agony over 'what music is'

Jannabi's Choi Jung-hoon, who was swept up in breakup rumors with actress Han Ji-min, has revealed his daily life of staying away from his smartphone for several weeks. From small habits like starting each day with yoga and eating food from a dish featuring his favorite musician David Bowie, to serious contemplations regarding music, he spoke candidly. Amidst busy performances and music production, he appears to have taken time to distance himself from digital devices and reflect on himself.

On the 3rd, Choi Jung-hoon posted several photos on his personal account along with the text, "I haven't used my smartphone much for a few weeks." The posts, which included selfies and various scenes captured in his daily life, fully reflected his recent life and thoughts. Sharing his recent status of reduced smartphone usage, he wrote, "Yoga practice again every morning." He showed that he is spending time moving his body and focusing on himself, stepping away for a moment from a daily life where notifications and information pour in constantly.

Even in his eating habits, Choi Jung-hoon's personal taste was distinct. Stating, "I've been eating quite a lot lately," he introduced an anecdote about recently purchasing a dish with a drawing of David Bowie. He explained that since it would be a waste to just leave a dish he liked, he intentionally uses it to eat food, saying, "I like it so much that I make sure to put something in it. I intentionally put the bread on the edge so that Bowie can be seen." This small story of placing bread at the edge so as not to cover the face of his favorite musician offered a glimpse into his everyday side.

Unlike the records of an ordinary day, his writings regarding music were filled with deep contemplation. Choi Jung-hoon revealed, "It is a period where I ask myself many questions like, 'What is music? Is this music?'" He is constantly questioning whether the sounds he creates are indeed music. Although he is a musician who has been active for a long time making music his profession, it is interpreted as him reconsidering the essence of the music he pursues rather than settling for repeating familiar work.

However, it was not as if he was merely wavering without finding an answer. Choi Jung-hoon added, "When I look at the instruments and performers surrounding me, that is indeed music." This is a confession that beyond his solitary contemplation, he gains certainty that what he does is music by looking at the people playing together with the instruments around him. Rather than seeking the meaning of music only in his head, he is confirming it through relationships with people who actually make and play sounds.

He also expressed affection for the colleagues he works with. Choi Jung-hoon shared his thoughts on the musicians surrounding him, saying, "I think people who know the virtue of sincerity are gathering and gathering around us." This seems to emphasize that what ultimately completes the music behind the glamorous stage is the effort of people performing their roles silently in their respective positions. It was noteworthy that even during a period when his questions about music are deepening, he is discovering meaning in the process of building things together with his colleagues.

Regarding his current life, he expressed honestly, "I am living really hectically. Living is fun, and sometimes it is not." This means that joy and complex emotions coexist within his busy schedule. At the same time, he revealed, "Making a performance is as fun as making an album," conveying that he still feels great reward in the process of preparing for the stage. His life away from the smartphone does not stop at simple rest but has become a time to retrace his work and emotions.

The background of why Choi Jung-hoon's recent status is drawing attention includes his public relationship with actress Han Ji-min. The two admitted to their relationship in August 2024, and breakup rumors also surfaced last July after Choi Jung-hoon shed tears on a university festival stage. At that time, a music industry official reported that the two were still continuing their relationship, and the breakup rumors were settled as a happening. In this post, Choi Jung-hoon conveyed his daily life and musical contemplations without any separate mention of his romantic relationship. Rather than speculating on changes in his relationship status based solely on the posted text, it is worth focusing on the fact that he is reflecting on his favorite music and life while distancing himself from digital devices.

Read the original (Korean)