[Exclusive] Jay Park Doesn't Want to Be LNGSHOT's Fifth Member, Wants Them to Stand on Their Own

Singer and rapper Jay Park doesn't want to keep LNGSHOT to rely on him forever. The MORE VISION founder said his goal is to help the rookie boy group build careers that can eventually stand on their own.

Since introducing the members before their debut and taking them on his "Serenades & Body Rolls" world tour, Jay Park has earned the nickname "LNGfather" among fans. But he said every opportunity he creates is meant to prepare the members for the day they no longer need his guidance.

Speaking with K-POPIT during an interview on June 30 at MORE VISION's headquarters in Seoul, Jay Park discussed LNGSHOT's rapid growth, his approach to developing artists and why experience is the biggest lesson he hopes to pass on.

Jay Park's close involvement with LNGSHOT has become a topic among fans. Since introducing the members before debut, appearing with them at festivals and bringing them on his world tour, some have questioned whether he has become too involved in the group's activities. Jay Park, however, said that perception doesn't reflect how the group actually operates.

"It's not that I'm following them around," he said. "They have their own schedules, and I have mine. When we're booked together and it benefits both sides, we'll do it. If it doesn't make sense, then we each do our own thing."

As an example, Jay Park pointed to the group's recent overseas schedule. While LNGSHOT was in Singapore for the NBA Rising Stars Invitational at OCBC Arena, he was in Korea for a separate commitment.

"What people see online doesn't always reflect how we actually work," he said.

According to Jay Park, bringing LNGSHOT on tour has never been about keeping the spotlight on himself. Instead, he sees it as a chance to give the members an experience they may never have again.

"The plan actually goes back to before their debut," he said. "At the time, I thought it would take much longer for them to reach this point."

Instead, the group reached that point much sooner than expected.

"They've grown much faster than I expected," he said. "Now they could probably do their own tour. This will probably be the first and last time we'll be able to do something like this together."

Experience is what Jay Park believes he can offer the members more than anything else. Training teaches the basics, he said, but nothing replaces learning alongside someone who's spent more than 20 years onstage.

"If something unexpected happens, they can see how I respond, how I communicate with the audience and how I handle the moment," he said. "Later, when they're on their own, they'll have a much better understanding of how to make decisions."

The lessons extend beyond performing. Jay Park said learning how to interact with fans is just as important as mastering choreography or vocals.

"When you're singing and dancing, you're a rock star," he said. "But when you talk to the audience, you need humility. I want them to have humble confidence."

The same philosophy also shapes how Jay Park develops artists at MORE VISION. Although LNGSHOT is a K-POP group, he said he has never wanted the members to become performers who simply follow instructions.

"I don't want them to be machines," he said. "I want them to have their own individuality and their own flavor because that's what makes music interesting."

He also encourages the group to think beyond trends. Rather than chasing what's popular, Jay Park hopes the members create moments people will remember years from now, pointing to Michael Jackson's moonwalk as the kind of lasting impact he admires.

"I hope they become artists who create performances people still remember years later," he said.

The same principle applies to the way he approaches his work as a producer.

"We have our own standards," he said. "Just because something might make more money doesn't mean we're going to do it. To me, music is ultimately about authenticity."

Even while mentoring LNGSHOT, Jay Park has no plans to slow down his own career. He said balancing life as both a producer and performer remains important to him.

"I'm still very active," he said. "I don't go on tour very often. This is my first U.S. and Europe tour in seven years."

His own schedule has remained busy alongside the group's activities. On June 30, Jay Park released "YOU DON'T HAVE TO," a collaborative single with global beer brand Tuborg. The following day, he featured on rapper BIG Naughty's pre-release single "To You Whose Name Starts With J."

Asked what younger K-POP artists need to succeed globally, Jay Park said social media has become unavoidable, but he doesn't believe it's enough on its own.

"It's like a commercial," he said. "People might discover you through a short video, but if you want them to stay, your music and your performances have to back it up."

That philosophy has remained unchanged since LNGSHOT's earliest days.

"I want them to build careers that last," he said. "Everyone starts because they love music. My goal is to help them reach the point where they can keep doing it on their own."