The year of 2025 feels like a fresh start for Shin Soo-hyun. This year marks his first major step as a solo artist, leaving behind U-Kiss, the group he has been with for more than half his life.

"For 17 years, I performed as 'Soohyun' with U-Kiss, but now that I’ve decided to go solo, I’m using my full name, 'Shin Soo-hyun,'” Shin said at a group interview in Gangnam, southern Seoul, Tuesday.

The new album, “I Am,” was released Tuesday, which also happens to be Shin’s birthday — a deliberate decision to symbolize his artistic rebirth.

As the main vocalist of U-Kiss, Shin has showcased his powerful vocal skills throughout his career. He previously released a solo album, “Count on Me,” in 2022, and has other solo tracks on U-Kiss albums. However, he considers the new album his "true" solo debut.

"When I was with U-Kiss, my solo songs mostly followed the direction set by the company. But this time, as Shin Soo-hyun, I had the opportunity to actively shape the music in the way I wanted," he explained.

Having debuted with U-Kiss in 2008, Shin is the only original member to stay with the group from its formation to the present, across multiple lineup changes over the years. Although U-Kiss released its 13th mini album, “Let’s Get Started,” last year, the group has temporarily halted activities since the group's contract ended on Dec. 31.

"The members had a lot of discussions, and we ultimately decided to focus on our individual paths for now. It was nerve-wracking, but fortunately, I found a new company that allowed me to make a fresh start," Shin shared, expressing his deep affection for his team and noting that he and U-Kiss will come together again if circumstances allow.

Shin's new album consists of three songs, including rock-inspired main track “Ridiculous Love.” While he has confidence in performing various genres, he is particularly eager to explore different facets of rock music.

"Rock can be sorrowful, powerful or refreshing. I want to showcase all of those different colors one by one," he said.

The next track, “Another Beginning,” is a reinterpretation of a song originally performed by Seo Ji-won, a beloved K-pop singer who died in 1996 at the age of 19. Shin personally suggested including it on the album.

"I’ve always loved Seo Ji-won’s songs, and when I read the lyrics of ‘Another Beginning,’ it felt like they reflected my current situation. The composer wanted to preserve the essence of the original song, so I worked on it with deep respect for the late artist," said Shin.

Following the album release, Shin is set to hold his first solo concert on Saturday at Wonderlock Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, followed by concerts on April 11 and 12 in Japan.

As soon as the concerts were confirmed, Shin personally began curating the set list and has been intensely preparing.

"I have an insatiable thirst for performing. Whether the stage is big or small, my long-term goal is to perform as much as possible," he said. "I want people to recognize me as a singer who excels in live performances."

Looking ahead, Shin is determined to show the world who he is as an artist and plans to actively engage with fans.

"With this album, I want to introduce myself — who I am and what kind of music I create. Moving forward, I plan to release more songs, appear on TV shows, perform in musicals and connect with my fans as much as possible."