It’s only March, but singer, rapper and entrepreneur Jay Park has already had a busy year.

Park, whose real name is Park Jay Bum, started a new label called More Vision earlier this month, following his decision to step down from the CEO positions at hip-hop labels AOMG and H1ghr Music, both of which he founded.

At the time, he said that he would “remain as an adviser to both labels.”

While not much information had been revealed regarding Park’s new label, he said in a YouTube video from its official channel on March 3 that being happy together with the people he is working with was one of the things that he values most.

Finally, on Monday, Park announced he would release new music on Friday — a digital single titled “Ganadara” in collaboration with singer-songwriter IU. It marks the first time the pair have worked together on a song. “Ganadara” refers to the first four most basic sounds of the Korean alphabet.

But Park is not settling for a music empire. He is also the CEO of a distilled soju brand called Won Spirits, which he launched last month. Park said he was heavily involved in choosing the flavor and creating the brand based on ideas he had since 2018.

Won Spirits said earlier this month that it sold all 20,000 bottles of its first distilled soju made of Korean rice, called Won Soju, a week after launching. The bottles were sold through a temporary pop-up store at The Hyundai Seoul located in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul.

Park has come a long way since debuting as the leader of boy band 2PM in 2008.

The boy band has a hip-hop and dance-centered musical style in contrast to its brother band 2AM, which focuses on ballad music. Both bands were under JYP Entertainment and collectively called “One Day.”

Park went solo after leaving 2PM the following year. He made his solo debut with the EP “Count On Me” in July 2010, which is a remake of American rapper B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ On You” after Park's cover of the song previously went viral on YouTube.

Since then, he has been active as a musician, especially in the hip-hop scene. He became one of Korea’s most influential hip-hop artists after establishing his own hip-hop labels, AOMG in 2013 and H1ghr Music in 2017. AOMG represents big artists like Simon Dominic, Loco, Gray and Lee Hi, while H1ghr Music is home to artists like Sik-K, pH-1 and Haon.

Some of Park’s hit songs include “JOAH” (2013), “Mommae” (2013) and “Drive” (2016).

Park was also a cast member for seasons four to six of tvN’s “Saturday Night Live Korea” from 2013 to 2015. He also featured as a judge or producer for Mnet’s long-running hip-hop audition franchise “Show Me The Money” (2012-) and its high school counterpart “High School Rapper” (2017-).

Park was named Artist of the Year three times at the Korean Hiphop Awards in 2017, 2018 and 2021.

Jay Park (Park Jay Bum)


Date of birth: April 25, 1987
Zodiac sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington
Debut: September 2008 as a member of boy band 2PM
Agency: More Vision

Jay Park debuted in 2008 as the leader of boy band 2PM under JYP Entertainment. The band debuted with the digital single “10 Out of 10” (2008). Park left the band in 2009 and temporarily returned to his hometown Seattle. He came back to Korea to make his solo debut with the EP “Count On Me” in July 2010. Park founded hip-hop labels AOMG in 2013 and H1ghr Music in 2017, but stepped down from the position of CEO at both companies in late 2021. He established a new label More Vision earlier this month. Park is also known for his appearances on Mnet’s long-running hip-hop audition franchise “Show Me The Money” (2012-). In 2017, he signed with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s label, for his activities in the U.S.

This information was confirmed by More Vision on March 7, 2022.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]