JOOHONEY, member of MONSTA X, has started the countdown for his solo comeback.
On December 18, STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT surprised fans by posting, via MONSTA X’s official SNS, a “coming soon” video along with a concept spoiler illustration for JOOHONEY’s second mini-album “光 (INSANITY)”, officially announcing his return.
The coming soon video, revealed first, immediately captures attention with an intense red background enhanced by a raw-textured noise effect, signaling the powerful and resolutely hip-hop atmosphere of the new album. At the center of the video appears the logo symbolizing the Chinese character “光” (light), the album title, imposing a strong presence, while the release date, January 5, 2026, is shown at the bottom, heightening fan anticipation.
The concept spoiler illustration released simultaneously also drew all eyes. Presented in comic form, it offers a glimpse into the album’s narrative. In black and white, the image depicts a dynamic scene in a building corridor: a bee symbolizing JOOHONEY, the silhouette of a man running forward, and various posters on the wall, filled with details that provide clues about the project’s universe and intensify curiosity.
This comeback marks JOOHONEY’s return approximately 2 years and 8 months after his first solo album “LIGHTS” in May 2023. At that time, he showcased his all-rounder capabilities by writing, composing, and producing all the tracks. With this second mini-album “光 (INSANITY)”, he is expected to reveal even greater musical depth and a unique concept, generating high anticipation for the music he will present this time.
Even before his official solo debut, JOOHONEY had already demonstrated his global influence through his mixtapes. In 2018, “DWTD (Do What They Do)” topped the Billboard World Albums and iTunes charts. In 2020, “PSYCHE” ranked among the top iTunes Top K-pop Albums in 30 countries, reaching 2nd place on the Worldwide Albums Chart.
His producer talents are also clearly reflected in MONSTA X’s activities. Recently, the track “Do what I want”, which he co-wrote and co-composed, was highlighted in several year-end international media charts. The British magazine DAZED selected it among the best K-pop tracks of 2025, while Teen Vogue named it one of the best music videos of 2025, praising JOOHONEY’s artistic sense and his ability to convey MONSTA X’s energy.
Meanwhile, MONSTA X, celebrating its 10th anniversary, continues strong activities. The group recently won two awards, “AAA History of K-pop” and “AAA Best Artist”, at the 10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025, and is currently captivating international fans during a four-city U.S. tour with the “2025 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour”.
Starting with the release of his second mini-album “光 (INSANITY)” on January 5, JOOHONEY will officially begin his solo activities, before continuing with group activities during MONSTA X’s new world tour “THE X : NEXUS”, which will start on January 30 at the KSPO DOME in Seoul, setting a particularly intense schedule for the first half of 2026.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS MONSTA X
