Boy band 2AM to release remake of Jo Jang-hyuk's 'Even If You Leave'

Boy band 2AM [ILGAN SPORTS]

Boy band 2AM is releasing a remake of the 1994 hit song “Even If You Leave” by Jo Jang-hyuk.

The hit is considered one of Korea's top ballad songs and is still enjoyed by many. It was not popular at the time of its release, but became a massive hit after it was used as part of a soundtrack for the 1997 drama “Star in My Heart,” starring Ahn Jae-wook, Cha In-pyo and late actor Choi Jin-sil.

After 28 years, 2AM will be reinterpreting the music and creating its own version of the song. The existing strength of the song will be maintained while the 2AM members will deepen the sadness and storytelling with stronger acoustics, the band's labels JYP and Big Hit said in a statement.

The upcoming remake is a part of the “Re:born project,” where artists remake forgotten masterpieces and soundtracks used in old films, drama series and webtoons, under the slogan “Unite, weave and meet again,” so that the songs become more appealing to the listeners of today. 2AM’s remake of Jo’s 1994 song will be the 13th song of the project.

The remake drops today at 6 p.m.

As one of the few ballad boy bands, 2AM debuted in 2008 and has released hit songs such as “This Song” (2008), “Never Let You Go” (2010) and “I Was Wrong” (2010).

The band has four members — Jinwoon, Jo Kwon, Seulong and Changmin. 2AM is also known as the “brother group” of boy band 2PM. The band was set to have a two-day concert “2AM Concert 22 S/S” last month, which would have been its first concert in nine years, but it was canceled after Jo Kwon tested positive for Covid-19.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]