VERIVERY's Kangmin Breaks Out on His Own With Solo Debut "Free Falling"

Seven years is a long time to build toward a moment. For Kangmin, the youngest member of K-pop boy group VERIVERY, that moment finally arrived on March 26, 2026, when he released his debut solo single "Free Falling" — the first time any member of VERIVERY has stepped forward as a solo artist. For a group that debuted in 2019 under Jellyfish Entertainment and has spent years earning a devoted international fanbase, this marks a significant new chapter.

The release dropped at 6 p.m. KST across all major streaming platforms, and the same evening, Kangmin debuted the live stage at Mnet's M Countdown (Episode 921), bringing "Free Falling" to a global television audience for the first time. The performance marked a clear line between who Kangmin was as a group member and who he is choosing to become on his own.

A Song Built on Uncertainty and Forward Motion

"Free Falling" is a contemporary R&B-pop track that does not pretend the solo journey is easy. Its sonic architecture — dynamic rhythms, guitar riffs, and ensemble sounds — holds a deliberate tension between restraint and release. The lo-fi, subdued verses give way to a dreamy, ethereal chorus that feels like stepping off solid ground and discovering you can float.

The themes match the production. "Free Falling" captures what Kangmin describes as the uncertainty, anxiety, and wavering that come with moving forward without a fully mapped-out future. For a performer making his first independent step after spending his entire professional life as part of a group, the subject matter is deeply personal — and the song was written with that intimacy in mind. Kangmin co-wrote the lyrics himself, giving the track a weight and specificity that pure craftsmanship alone cannot manufacture.

The music video was first teased with an atmospheric clip showing Kangmin with wet hair, standing in the rain, gazing downward before blinking slowly. It was a deliberate contrast to the polished group performance aesthetic that defines much of VERIVERY's public presence — quieter, more interior, and unmistakably personal. The final video expands on that mood with a production that leans into visual poetry over spectacle.

Building to This Moment: Fan Meetings, Acting, and Boyz 2 Planet

The road to "Free Falling" was not a simple or inevitable one. Kangmin grew up training in Seoul on weekends while attending middle school in Busan — a grind that tested his commitment even before his career had officially started. There were moments during those early training years when he seriously considered quitting. His parents pushed him to stay, framing it as a matter of responsibility and follow-through rather than just ambition.

That persistence eventually led to VERIVERY's debut, and then to a series of solo milestones that quietly laid the groundwork for this moment. Before releasing any music, Kangmin had already toured as a solo act — holding fan meetings in Seoul, Hong Kong, Osaka, Yokohama, and Taipei, connecting directly with fans and testing the waters of what it felt like to be the name at the top of the bill, not part of an ensemble.

He also branched into acting, appearing in the premium short-form drama "Jump Boy LIVE" on KITS, taking on the role of Kim Ieon. The experience gave him a different lens for storytelling and performance — one that would feed back into his approach to solo music.

Most significantly, Kangmin's participation in the Mnet survival program Boyz 2 Planet became the catalyst for the solo debut. The competition gave him a rare opportunity to see himself outside the structure of VERIVERY, to identify what he wanted to say artistically, and to find the courage to say it. "There are so many things I want to talk about," he told his company's CEO after wrapping the show — and that conversation became the foundation for "Free Falling."

What It Means to Step Forward First

For fans of VERIVERY, Kangmin's debut carries significance beyond the single itself. He is the first member of a group that has spent years building a loyal fanbase to take the leap into solo territory. Within the K-pop ecosystem, that role — the first to go solo — is one that shapes how a group's next chapter is perceived. It is an act of artistic courage and a signal of confidence, not just from the artist, but from his label.

Jellyfish Entertainment is clearly invested in this launch. The promotional campaign for "Free Falling" included a fan event where 276 winners would be selected through a raffle to spend time with Kangmin as part of debut celebrations — a hands-on engagement strategy that speaks to the intimacy the solo project is designed to create between Kangmin and his audience.

"I feel a lot of responsibility both as a member and as an individual," Kangmin has said of his dual position. "I want to show you that you are not lacking alone." It is the kind of statement that lands differently when the person saying it is willing to back it up by going first.

A Live Debut That Delivered

His M Countdown performance of "Free Falling" on March 26 delivered on the promise of the recorded track. The staging leaned into the song's introspective quality while letting Kangmin's performance instincts fill the space — a close-up of his expression in the opening moments captured the quiet intensity he has been building toward for years. For fans who have followed him since VERIVERY's earliest days, it was a reminder that the youngest member of the group had been carrying considerable artistic potential that was finally finding its own outlet.

"I don't think I've always lived like a beginner," Kangmin has reflected. "While preparing for my solo debut, I felt that mindset once again." Seven years in, and still finding new ways to start fresh. The debut marks not just a personal milestone but a moment that will shape how VERIVERY's artistic identity expands going forward, as each member now has a clearer path to expressing themselves outside the group framework.

"Free Falling" is available now on all major streaming platforms. Kangmin's music show promotional schedule continues in the days following the M Countdown premiere, with additional appearances planned across Korean broadcast channels.