Seven years as a K-pop idol, a near-debut on a survival show, and now — a solo album that’s entirely, unapologetically him. VERIVERY’s youngest member, Yoo Kangmin, released his debut solo single album Free Falling on March 26, 2026, and in an exclusive chat, he opened up about the journey, the music, and yes — whether he’d go back on BOYS II PLANET.
Kangmin Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Yoo Kangmin |
| Age | 23 |
| Group | VERIVERY (debuted 2019) |
| Agency | Jellyfish Entertainment |
| Solo Debut | March 26, 2026 |
| Debut Single Album | Free Falling |
| Title Track | Free Falling |
| BOYS II PLANET Rank | 9th (missed debut lineup by one spot) |
The Solo That Was Always Meant to Happen
Kangmin didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go solo. The idea had been quietly building for a while. His stint on BOYS II PLANET, his Lost and Found album, solo and group fan meetings — all of it helped him crystallize the exact message he wanted to share with the world.
He described his title track as a song best suited for deep thought rather than just hype, its dreamy atmosphere capturing a very specific emotional space — the uncertain stretch between boyhood and adulthood. As he put it, the song matched themes of uneasiness and that blurry line of growing up, which made it the natural centerpiece of the album.
From VERIVERY, he carries forward one core habit above everything else: always questioning himself and searching for room to improve. That self-critical, growth-oriented mindset isn’t going anywhere.
Boys Planet 2, Friendships, and the What-Ifs
Landing 9th on BOYS II PLANET — just one spot outside the debut lineup — could have stung badly. But Kangmin’s perspective on it is surprisingly warm. He said he gained so much confidence in himself and his fans through the experience that he’d sign up again without hesitation, wanting to repay the love he received.
The friendships, though, are more complicated. Some bonds forged on the show faded after filming ended, and he admitted, with refreshing honesty, that he isn’t even sure what he’d say to some of those people if they crossed paths again. It’s that kind of genuine self-awareness that makes Kangmin easy to root for.
K-pop survival shows like Boys Planet have long been known for launching careers and creating lasting fan connections — and Kangmin is proof that even placing just outside the debut lineup can open its own doors.
A Dream He’s Still Chasing
One thing on Kangmin’s solo bucket list? A duet with a senior artist he looks up to. He sees it as something genuinely different from collaborating with VERIVERY members — a new dynamic, a new kind of creative stretch.
Seven years in, he still talks about wanting to be a more honest artist — not more famous, not more successful, but more honest. That’s a rare thing to hear, and it lands differently coming from someone who has been in the industry since his mid-teens.
For more exclusive K-pop interviews and the latest Korean entertainment news, head over to our TechnoSports Entertainment section and catch all the latest K-pop updates here.
