Kim Hyun Joong, who recently made a Korean comeback after 2 years, opened up about his growth as an artist in an interview with Focus Newspaper.

Kim Hyun Joong shared, "I am 28 years old now, so I probably shouldn't be called an idol anymore. I want to show my maturity whether it's through my outgoing personality or music... I learned how to relax on stage. This album also contains different genres of music."

"My hoobaes don't have to follow in my footsteps. I want to do things that I want to try right now. I took on powerful choreography for 'Unbreakable', and I wondered if I could still perform this dance 3 years later."

SEE ALSO: South Korea's Pride: Major TV news channels praise BTS's V (Kim Taehyung) for elevating national prestige

Concerning his transformation from a 'pretty boy' to a more charismatic image, the singer recalled, "During my 'Boys Over Flowers' days, I wanted to show a manly image. But I leaned more towards a young, pretty boy image. But now I really became a 'man'." 

When asked about his secret to longevity as an artist, Kim Hyun Joong answered, "I really don't know. I just kept doing the things I wanted to do, and I came to this day somehow... Whenever I perform at a concert, I always try to get closer with the audience and I normally try to treat my fans well. I am well aware that I was able to come this far because of my fans. I want to give my fans a 'free fan meeting' when I hit my 10th anniversary."