Gwang (INSANITY)
MONSTA X’s Jooheon Sets January Return with New Solo Album
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MONSTA X’s Jooheon is officially opening 2026 with new solo music. On January 5, he will release his second mini album, Gwang (INSANITY), marking his first solo comeback in nearly three years.
On December 18, Starship Entertainment surprised fans by unveiling a coming-soon video and concept spoiler illustration through MONSTA X’s official social media channels. The short teaser immediately set the tone for the release, featuring a bold red background layered with rough noise textures that hinted at an intense and hip atmosphere. At the center of the video was the album’s logo, inspired by the Chinese character for light, 光, while the release date, January 5, 2026, appeared at the bottom, confirming the long-awaited return.
Alongside the video, a black-and-white concept illustration drew attention with its comic-style storytelling. Set in an apartment hallway, the image featured detailed elements such as a bee symbol associated with Jooheon, a man running forward, and posters lining the walls. The visual suggested movement, tension, and narrative depth, offering subtle clues about the story behind the album.
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Gwang (INSANITY) arrives approximately two years and eight months after Jooheon’s first solo album, Lights, released in May 2023. That debut project saw him take full control as a producer and creator, earning recognition as an all-rounder artist. With this second mini album, expectations are high for an even deeper musical identity and a stronger conceptual vision.
Even before his official solo debut, Jooheon proved his global reach through mixtapes. His 2018 release DWTD (Do What They Do) charted on Billboard’s World Albums and ranked high on iTunes. In 2020, Psyche entered the top tier of iTunes Top K-pop Album charts in 30 countries and reached No. 2 on the Worldwide Album Chart.
His producing strength continues to stand out in MONSTA X’s group work as well. Recently, Do What I Want, a track he co-wrote and co-composed, gained international recognition. British magazine DAZED named it one of the Best K-pop Tracks of 2025, while Teen Vogue selected it as one of the Best Music Videos of the year.
Meanwhile, MONSTA X are celebrating their 10th anniversary with ongoing global activities. The group recently won two awards at the 10th Anniversary AAA 2025, taking home AAA History of K-pop and AAA Best Artist. They are also meeting fans across four US cities as part of the 2025 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour.
Jooheon’s January 5 solo release will be followed by group activities when MONSTA X launch their new world tour, THE X : NEXUS, starting January 30 at Seoul’s KSPO Dome. With solo and group projects lined up back to back, Jooheon is set to begin 2026 at full speed.
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