[Exclusive] LNGSHOT Looks to Build Its Own Identity Beyond Jay Park

Rookie hip-hop group LNGSHOT has expressed its ambition to present a new musical direction alongside Jay Park, the head of their agency who has guided the group's journey.

LNGSHOT sat down with K-POPIT on June 30 at the MORE VISION offices in Seoul's Gangnam district for the outlet's launch interview, joined by Jay Park. Member Woojin was absent. He recently had surgery after a torn ligament in his right shoulder, caused by recurring dislocations.

The group first shared their thoughts on joining Jay Park's "JAY PARK 2026 WORLD TOUR SERENADES & BODY ROLLS" as special guests. "It's my first time doing a full tour," Ryul said. "Getting to do it with our CEO feels like a huge opportunity. I heard we're going through a lot of cities. Performing for fans all over the world, I'm really excited."

Ryul added that the group is finishing an album at the same time. "We're preparing a new release. I do worry about balancing it with the tour, but our mindset is that nothing is impossible. We're giving it everything. The plan is to have it all done before we leave for the tour."

Ohyul framed the new project as a clean statement of who LNGSHOT is. "In May we put out a joint mixtape with our CEO, but this time it's going to be entirely LNGSHOT's music," he said. "Before May and after, we've always been making and performing our own music on our own terms."

Ohyul said the group recently adopted a new motto. "It's 'let's just decide we've already made it,'" he said. "That's how we set our minds and get to work. We always give our all, so there's nothing to worry about." Ryul jumped in and said, "Getting it done. That's LNGSHOT."

Six months after debut, the members say the change has been steep. "I'm 21 now, and this has been the longest six months of my life," Ohyul said. "I went from being a student and a trainee straight into this. It's been a huge shift." He said the growth has been personal as much as professional. "I keep running into things you don't easily experience, and it's shaping me as a person. I'm figuring out how to live in this industry, how to take care of my mental health, and what kind of good music I want to make with the members."

Louis said the last few months have opened a new world. "My life has changed for the better. I'm learning so much, and I've picked up a lot just from meeting other artists and talking with them," he said. "When we were trainees, nobody knew us. Now fans actually look our way. I try to stay as humble as I can. It's not a small thing for people to notice you."

Ryul said he was still a minor when the group started building, and it shows in how much has changed. "I didn't know how the industry worked or how any of the systems ran, and on top of that I was underage, so my thinking was much younger than it is now," he said. "After about half a year of activity, I feel like I've grown as a person. I'm not uncomfortable expressing myself anymore. Studying how to look cool on stage has actually made me better at what I do."

He also said he tries not to relax. "I don't want to slip up. If you're not focused, situations can happen that you don't fully understand. So I try to stay sharp all the time."

Ohyul said he has a personal rule of his own, and it surprised the room: "I want to be a good son." He explained, "Since debut, I've been so busy that I barely make it home, and I often can't even make phone calls. But protecting the people I love is what keeps me going. That's something I learned from Jay Park."

Louis echoed the sentiment. "I'm still young, but I try to think like an adult. My goal is to not worry my family and to do right by the people I love." He added, "Even if we get big, I want us to keep making good music and stay around for a long time. I try to hold the same feeling for our fans in every moment."

The members also talked about the global stages they want to reach. "You should aim big, so the Grammy Awards," Ohyul said. He also pointed to a childhood dream. "I wanted to be a soccer player when I was younger, so I'd love to perform inside a soccer stadium. Slowly checking off the dreams I had as a kid is the most exciting part of this. I want to hit all of them with no regrets."

Ryul kept it closer to home. "I want to do our own solo concert," he said. "How many fans would come? I want to do a show that's just us."

Louis went the other direction. "A stadium show would be great, but I also want to play a tiny club with maybe 300 people. Everyone crammed together, going wild in one small room while we're on stage. That would be a rush."

Ryul agreed. "I've watched close rapper friends do shows like that, so I've felt it secondhand. I've seen fans go off right in front of the stage. When the music hits in a small space, everyone really does pack in and lose it together."