U-KNOW Yunho (39) of TVXQ leaned into his meme-magnet status with easy confidence.
At a press conference held at a Seoul hotel on Nov. 5 to mark the release of his first full-length solo album, "I-KNOW," Yunho addressed the surprise resurgence of "Thank U" four years after it dropped: "It ended up getting so much more love than I expected," he said. "It may have started as a meme to tease me, but I thought the key was to keep it light and have fun with it."
He added, "The 'Thank U' music video was shot like a film, with a serious, philosophical message. But once it got meme-ified, even my grade-school nephew started calling me 'Thank U Uncle' and 'Lesson Uncle.' I heard a YouTuber called 'LookSam' kicked it off, and I'm grateful to him," he said with a laugh.
"Thank U"―the title track from his 2021 mini album "NOIR"―has been rediscovered across social media and short-form platforms as the "lesson" meme, turning into a shorthand for Yunho’s signature positive energy.
With "I-KNOW," Yunho delivers his first full-length solo album 22 years into his career. "It carries both stories: U-KNOW Yunho, the bright, high-energy performer, and Jung Yunho, who wrestles with things offstage," he shared. "I feel like I’m finally at a point where I can own both sides."
The set packs 10 tracks, including double title tracks "Stretch" and "Body Language." Framed under a "fake & documentary" concept, the two songs tackle a single theme from contrasting angles, channeling Yunho’s storytelling flair.
Yunho also reflected on receiving a presidential commendation for his contributions to the K-pop industry: "As a group, we’ve lived through every phase―from cassettes and CDs to the data and streaming era―so it felt especially meaningful," he said. "I’m grateful I can still be active on the front lines." He added, "I’ve thought about why so many juniors call us 'good seniors.' In the end, it comes down to attitude―and consistency."
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)