The entire premise of YEONJUN’s NO LABELS project rests on a one quiet, subversive notion: None of the categories assigned to him tells the complete story. With PART 02, his newest album, and its lead single “Ice Cream,” he proves how far he’s willing to push that premise, from a Billboard No. 1 debut that granted him the freedom to explore further, to a romantic metaphor that has evolved into almost 50 choreography movements, to a creative identity distilled into a single word: his name. As a member of TOMORROW X TOGETHER, YEONJUN further elaborates on that concept with more specificity than ever.

“Ice Cream” kicks off PART 02 with a metaphor as precise as an emotional diagram, likening a romantic relationship to something prone to melting if treated carelessly and that punishes impulsive rushes. For YEONJUN, it became the springboard for everything else that followed. “Comparing a ‘romantic relationship that feels sweet but needs a certain distance’ to an ‘ice cream that melts if it gets too hot, and gives you brain freeze if you rush it’ felt like a fascinating approach,” he says. “So when I worked on the choreography, I focused on how to express that in a way that doesn’t feel too obvious. I came up with nearly 50 different moves and built the final version from there. There are small details throughout, like melting, scooping, or that sharp brain freeze feeling, so I hope people catch those and have fun with it.”

That deep-dive in his process has its roots in the reception to PART 01. After the album topped Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and charted on the Billboard 200, YEONJUN was afforded a firm solo footing and the ensuing pressure that came with it. “There was definitely some pressure, but I felt a lot more comfortable compared to my first album,” he reveals. “I remember how nervous I was before the PART 01 listening party, but seeing MOA’s reactions really stayed with me and helped me relax. That experience made me want to enjoy the process more this time. Because of that, I was able to explore different styles more freely and push myself to try things I hadn’t done before.” What emanates from that statement is not just the relief of a strong chart performance, but the change it fostered in him-an artist stepping into PART 02 with something to build upon rather than something to prove.

All those experiments are contained within the overarching structure of the NO LABELS series, the project hinged on the assertion that the labels we default to — K-pop, idol, member of a group, brand ambassador — fail to fully encapsulate a person. YEONJUN was forthright about what he intended for the project and just as straightforward about what he found: “Through NO LABELS, I wanted to express myself as someone who is still evolving. I’m truly grateful for all the labels people have given me, but with this project, I wanted to focus more on showing who I am right now. After PART 01, I was happy to see people talk about a new side of me in their own way.”

When asked if he sees one particular label sticking with him in the long term, his answer was decisive, “So if I have to pick just one label, it would be “YEONJUN.” The reason I titled my newly released film as ‘CHOI YEONJUN’ is because I want people to see everything as it is, without trying to define it too quickly. I think I’ll keep exploring different sides of myself rather than trying to fit into one label.”

That statement is simultaneously a creative credo and a lifelong promise. Instead of striving to attain a static identity, YEONJUN seems more inclined to leave the question perpetually open, utilizing each release as another data point in an ongoing inquiry rather than a definitive answer.

YEONJUN’s NO LABELS: PART 02 is now available on Apple Music and Spotify.