Taemin Wants to Tell His Story Honestly as the 19-Year Artist Takes On a New Challenge

Taemin of SHINee has opened up about the questions he faces as an artist and the new direction he hopes to pursue. Appearing on KBS's The Seasons S9, Taemin spoke candidly about the experiences he has accumulated throughout his career and the musical path he wants to follow next.

“I want to tell my story honestly”: The questions facing a 19-year artist

During the broadcast, Taemin discussed the sense of responsibility he has developed and the changes he has experienced over nearly two decades since his debut. “Now, I want to express more of my own story honestly and build a connection with people,” he said. “If I talk about the experiences I have had and the pain I have gone through, I think I will be able to form a closer bond with the public.”

His words reflected a desire to move beyond being a “player” who simply performs an assigned role. Instead, Taemin wants to bring his own inner life into his music, allowing listeners to encounter his personal experiences and emotions through his work.

Taemin also revealed that he had spent the past year thinking deeply about the road ahead. “Now, I want to express more of my own story honestly,” he said before an omitted portion of his remarks. He continued, “At this point, I have firmly made up my mind, and I am working hard to take on that challenge.” His comments conveyed that he is still going through the process of discovering and establishing a musical identity that is distinctly his own.

Having debuted at the age of 14 and now looking toward his 29th year, Taemin said that his changing position within the music industry has given him a stronger sense of responsibility. “I can see both my seniors and juniors now, and that feeling also gives me a sense of responsibility,” he said. Reflecting on the dream of becoming a singer that he had pursued for so long, he added, “When I thought about where the ultimate destination of this dream of becoming the singer I had always imagined might be, I realized that I now want to tell more of my own story honestly.”

His concert outfit beside Michael Jackson's: The moment he became a successful fan

Taemin shared a special story involving Michael Jackson, an artist he deeply admires, and described the experience as proof that he had become a “seongdeok,” a Korean expression for a fan who has achieved a cherished fan dream. “I have enormous respect for Michael Jackson, and I receive a great deal of inspiration from him,” Taemin said.

He explained that one of his own concert outfits had been displayed immediately beside an outfit Michael Jackson wore while touring at the Grammy Museum. For Taemin, seeing his costume placed next to that of an artist he has long respected made the exhibition especially meaningful.

“I told people that my outfit was on display and asked them to come and see it, but at the exhibition, I ended up seeing much more of ‘my oppa,’ Michael Jackson,” Taemin said, using the affectionate expression as he recalled how thrilled and nervous he felt at the time.

Taemin also openly declared himself a fan of singer Sung Si-kyung and showed the depth of his affection for the artist's music. He said he frequently watches Sung's Killing Voice video and has listened to it so often that he has memorized far more than the songs alone.

“I have memorized all the lyrics from senior Sung Si-kyung's Killing Voice, and I have listened to it so many times that I can even imitate the little comments he casually makes,” Taemin said, drawing laughter from those present. In keeping with that admiration, Taemin chose to perform Sung Si-kyung's song “The Road to Me” on the program. Sung responded to Taemin's performance by joking, “I should have bleached my hair before singing it.”

From Coachella to a world tour: An expanding musical spectrum

Taemin also reflected on his recent international activities. Speaking about his experience of appearing at the Coachella festival as a male solo singer, he said the atmosphere created a powerful sense of sharing the occasion with the people gathered there. “It felt like we were enjoying it together at the venue and doing something together, so it was a very good experience, and it was fun,” he said.

He estimated that the audience numbered about 10,000. Rather than performing only for his existing fans, Taemin found himself onstage before people from a wide range of generations, including many who did not know him. He recalled that the experience made him feel as though he had been placed in an entirely different world.

That setting brought back memories of a performance he had given at a shopping mall in Japan. Taemin remembered approaching that stage with determination and the belief that a strong performance could win over new listeners. “I went onstage with a fighting spirit, thinking that if I did well there, someone might come to like me more,” he said.

Taemin also discussed his recently released mini-album and outlined his plans for the activities ahead. He revealed that he had personally participated in nine of the album's 11 tracks, underscoring how extensively he was involved in shaping the release.

“This album carries more of my own imprint than any of the albums I have made so far,” Taemin said. The statement emphasized how closely the new record reflects the personal artistic direction he has been seeking and the musical identity he wants to present.

Alongside music-show promotions beginning this week, Taemin is set to continue his journey as a solo artist through a world tour that will start in Seoul on September 18. During the program, he also delivered a powerful performance of his new song “GUI,” offering viewers a direct look at the latest stage of his evolving artistry.