10 Years, 16 Songs and a Lot of Struggles: INFINITE's Nam Woohyun Tells His Story

Ten years into his solo career, INFINITE's Nam Woohyun has plenty to celebrate. But getting here hasn't always been easy. Between health problems, the pressure he puts on himself and the challenges of working alone, the singer says the past decade has been far more difficult than fans might realize. His second full-length album, "2X8," brings those experiences together in 16 songs, marking both his 10th solo anniversary and INFINITE's 16th year.

"I've lived the past 10 years very intensely, and they've been tough," Nam told K-POPIT during a recent interview in Seoul. "There were many times when I felt lonely or struggled, but I think I was able to release this second full-length album because I made it through those years."

For Nam, "2X8" is a record he has wanted to make for some time. He spent roughly a year preparing it and was determined to include all 16 tracks, even if that meant taking on more work than usual.

"I was a little stubborn because it's my 10th anniversary," he said. "I wanted to give fans more songs and show people how much I can do."

The album's title was his idea, too. Adding two and eight gives 10, while multiplying them gives 16, a reference to both INFINITE's anniversary and the number of tracks. February 8 also happens to be his birthday.

Musically, the album covers everything from ballads and rock to R&B and dance music. Nam said he wanted it to reflect the different sides of himself that fans have come to know over the years, rather than focus on just one style.

"Some fans love my ballads, but others like seeing me sing and dance," he said. "I couldn't give up either side. So I thought, why not do ballads, dance music and rock? That's what I've been doing for the past 10 years."

The title track, "DEVIL," is one example of that approach. The song explores the good and evil within a person, with a music video that draws on imagery from the Garden of Eden. An apple tree burns as Nam transforms into a devil, reflecting the song's darker concept.

"Everyone has good and evil within them," he explained. "Both sides are part of who you are. I hope people can live according to their own beliefs and love themselves a little more."

Interestingly, "DEVIL" wasn't his original choice for the title track. "View" and "Code Name" were also considered before "DEVIL" received overwhelming support from his agency and fellow INFINITE members.

Nam was closely involved in the album's production, overseeing vocal recordings, revising lyrics and participating in choreography. He admitted that his perfectionism sometimes meant recording the same song several times.

"I'm very strict with myself," he said. "There were songs I recorded three or four times. I kept working until I was satisfied."

That determination goes back to his early days as an idol. Nam recalled being a poor dancer when he was a trainee and getting scolded because he struggled to keep up. Now, he helps develop choreography and thinks carefully about how each performance should look.

"I used to be a terrible dancer," he said. "But now I participate in choreography. It took a long time, but I learned that if you keep working at something, you can improve."

His persistence has also been tested outside music. In 2023, Nam underwent surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a rare form of cancer. He later developed an intestinal obstruction that left him unable to eat properly for around three months. At one point, his weight dropped to 54 kilograms.

"It was really difficult. I was under so much stress that I even experienced hair loss," he recalled. "But those experiences eventually became music. Songs came out of going through difficult times and overcoming them."

Nam said there were also periods when he struggled with loneliness and depression. Looking back, he believes those experiences helped him write music that feels more personal. He now exercises regularly, including running several times a week, to take better care of his health.

One of the album's most meaningful tracks is "Boy and Girl," which features his fellow INFINITE members. Nam personally asked them to participate, wanting to make a song that reflected the years they have shared with each other and their fans.

"My boyhood was INFINITE itself," he said. "When I look at our fans, they still have the same look in their eyes that they had when they were students. They seem like young girls again, and I feel like a boy again. That's why I wrote the song."

He said he had already cried while imagining what it would be like to perform the song with the members and hear fans singing along.

"I haven't even performed it at a concert yet, but it makes me emotional just imagining that moment," he said. "I can't imagine how happy I'll be when it actually happens."

The album closes with "Tree," another personal song that Nam wrote with both his fans and himself in mind. Rather than simply offering comfort to others, he admitted that he also needed a song he could turn to during difficult times.

"It's about becoming a tree that people can lean on whenever they need shade," he said. "I have difficult and sad moments too. I wanted to be comforted by this song myself."

He added that he hopes the song will continue to mean something to listeners long after he is gone. "Some trees live longer than people. I hope this song outlives me and continues to comfort people many years from now."

Nam will mark his anniversary with three solo concerts at Seoul's KBS Arena from November 6 to 8, followed by planned shows in Busan, Daegu and other Asian cities. He hopes to eventually perform at the larger KSPO Dome, a venue he has long wanted to headline as a solo artist.

"I want to move into a bigger place with my fans," he joked, comparing his career to moving from a small room into an apartment. "Performing at KSPO Dome as a solo artist is my dream."

He also hopes to continue performing with INFINITE. Although nothing has been confirmed, Nam suggested the group could return with new activities sometime next year.

"The members are family to me now," he said. "I enjoy working alone, but sometimes it gets lonely. When we're together, it's really fun."

As for what comes after "2X8," Nam already has more music in mind, including a ballad album and a remake project. He would naturally welcome strong sales, but said he doesn't want the album's performance to overshadow the work he put into it.

"Of course I'd be happy if the album does well," he said. "But just because it doesn't sell as much as the previous one doesn't mean it's a worse album."

After 10 years, what matters most to him is still being able to make music that feels like his own.

"Even if the album doesn't receive a lot of love, I hope people can at least recognize that this is the kind of music Nam Woohyun wants to make and the messages he wants to share," he said. "That alone would mean a lot to me."