It’s not uncommon to see K-pop idols who have risen to fame suddenly decide to leave the entertainment industry. In most cases, they usually update their fans about their unexpected retirement and continue to interact with them from time to time.
But not for Jung Jaewon (정제원), also known as ONE, a former rapper under YG Entertainment. Recently, he has become quite a topic on Twitter as fans have been expressing concern and curiosity about his whereabouts, with his last update dating back to 2019.
ONE began his career as part of the duo 1Punch (원펀치) alongside Samuel Kim (사무엘), debuting in 2015 under Brave Entertainment. However, the duo eventually disbanded when ONE signed a new contract with YG Entertainment. Both artists later re-debuted as solo artists in 2017, each pursuing their own musical paths.
Following his debut as a solo artist under a new entertainment agency, ONE released a single album titled “One Day” in July 2017, featuring self-written lead singles “Gettin’ By” and “Heyahe.” In addition to his music career, the rapper also ventured into acting, appearing in supporting roles in several well-known K-dramas, including “Her Private Life” and “A Korean Odyssey.”
A Korean fan recently shared photos of ONE, along with a tweet that read, “Does anyone know what this oppa is up to these days? He appeared as a panellist on ‘Heart Signal 1’. His Instagram disappeared, and it seems like he erased all traces of himself, vanishing after 2019.” The post quickly sparked a flurry of discussions, with others buzzing with questions about his updates and current activities.
The replies under the tweet unexpectedly provided an update, revealing that the former rapper was last spotted by a fan in June of this year. It’s speculated that he deactivated his personal Instagram account in 2022 and has since left the spotlight, distancing himself from his past in the entertainment industry.
Some people are glad that he chose to leave the idol life, believing that as long as he’s happy and healthy, it’s the right decision, especially considering that the entertainment industry is not all rainbows and sunshine. On the other hand, there are still fans eagerly waiting for his return to the stardom life, holding out hope for at least an update from One himself.
Whether he continues to stay out of the public eye or eventually makes a comeback, his fans remain supportive of whatever path he decides to take.
Alia contributed to this article.
