When male idols begin their mandatory military service, they are often concerned about losing popularity. However, singer WOODZ (우즈) found more success during his military enlistment, thanks to his song, “Drowning”.
The singer recently appeared on “Radio Star”, making his first appearance since completing his military service. During the show, WOODZ, whose real name is Cho Seungyoun (조승연), was asked about the unexpected success of his song, “Drowning”. The rock track was released in 2023, before the singer enlisted in the military. However, it only began charting on South Korean music charts in 2024. The song eventually received a music show win earlier this year.
On the show, WOODZ was asked how the song could climb music charts while he was in the military. The singer explained, “During my military service, I performed for an Armed Forces Day special episode of ‘Immortal Song’. That video went viral on YouTube, but actually, I wasn’t in my best form that day. I performed around 9pm, which is around the time that soldiers prepare for bed, so my throat had closed up. I had to force my voice out.”
WOODZ said the performance may have gotten attention because he looked angry on stage, which left many to resonate with the song. He also shared his thoughts about not being able to celebrate the song’s sudden success. The singer said, “Actually, a lot of people expressed pity for me because of that. But for me, it was the first time in my career that I received this kind of attention. It was the best thing ever.”
Additionally, the 29-year-old said he will do his best again now that he has completed his military service. WOODZ will make his comeback later this month, his first since completing his military service. He has also shared teasers for the new project, which will be released on 24th September 2025 (Wednesday). It’s unknown whether the project is an album or a single. Nevertheless, the public has voiced excitement about the upcoming release.
We’re sure WOODZ has a lot of things planned now that he’s active again. While we wait for his upcoming projects, check out his appearance on “Radio Star” and the viral performance of “Drowning”:
Source: YouTube
