After a long hiatus, DEAN, one of South Korea’s most popular R&B artists, has the music scene buzzing with anticipation. The artist, who has been absent since his last single dropped in 2019, has fans eagerly speculating about his return to the spotlight.
DEAN‘s rise to fame was meteoric after his 2016 debut with the 130 Mood: TRBLE EP, thanks to his unique voice and well-crafted songs. His biggest hit, “Instagram,” released in 2018, dominated South Korean streaming platforms and remains a defining track in the local scene. He released a few more singles after that, including “Dayfly” and “Howlin’ 404.” The latter was his last solo release before his musical silence.
DEAN – instagram
The four-year gap since “Howlin’ 404” has had fans concerned, with some attributing the break to DEAN‘s perfectionist approach to music production. Others speculated that he had enlisted in the South Korean military or retired from music altogether. But over the years, he has hinted at a new album. In September 2021, he teased his Instagram followers with a series of posts suggesting the title 130 Mood: RVNG.
In a heartfelt statement on SNS, he addressed his fans’ patience: “My team and I have built, destroyed, built again, only to destroy again. We rode this out so many times and went through so much trial and error since 2019. Dear fans, please hang in there just a little longer. Love you all. Let me show you how I’m different. I’m just a workaholic,” he shared.
DEAN is seamingly teasing his comeback as fans began sharing photos of 'missing' posters of the singer hung up in Seoul.
The poster encourages those who read the sign to contact @/jaahlink on Instagram or call the number (+82) 70-8979-0229. When called, a mysterious audio… pic.twitter.com/JAIwHmZ0eE
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) November 5, 2023
Could DEAN be coming back?
The wait for updates stretched on until October this year, when DEAN‘s personal stylist posted Instagram stories alluding to the singer’s new album. The buzz intensified this month when DEAN updated his profile picture on the Korean streaming site MelOn, a move that fans interpreted as a sign of his return.
On November 4 KST, the anticipation reached new heights as fans in Seoul found ‘missing’ posters featuring DEAN‘s face. The posters, which encourage finders to contact @jaahlink or call a given number that plays a mysterious audio snippet when you do.
As fans hold their breath for more news, the hope is that an official comeback announcement is on the horizon, ending the long wait for DEAN‘s return. – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: DEAN’s comeback has been a long time coming. Source: HERO.