Lee Juno Discusses His Connection with Seo Taiji and Boys, Plus Insights on Seo Taiji and Yang Hyun-suk

Insights from Lee Juno and Park Chul-woo on Joining Seo Taiji and Boys

Recently, Lee Juno and Park Chul-woo of R.ef made a special appearance on the “RCool Holic Show,”a YouTube channel hosted by Kim Sung-soo from Cool and Sung Dae-hyun from R.ef. The conversation garnered significant attention as the duo reflected on their early careers and notable collaborations.

Path to Joining Seo Taiji and Boys

During the show, Dae-hyun inquired about Lee Juno’s introduction to Seo Taiji and Boys, prompting Lee to recount their beginnings. He shared, “Chul-woo and I were dancers when Park Nam-jung invited us to provide backup for his new single. We decided to bring two younger dancers into the mix, forming a four-member backup team for his track ‘Can See Far,’ one of whom was Yang Hyun-suk.”

Seo Taiji and Boys Lee Joon and R.ef Park Chul-woo

From Backup to Breakthrough

Following their successful stint with Nam-jung, which culminated in a first-place win on ‘Top 10 Songs,’ Lee and Chul-woo decided to step back and let the younger dancers carry on. “At that point, Nam-jung began performing in nightclubs, including prominent venues like the Itaewon Capital Hotel. It was here that Taiji, the bassist from the performing band Mugunghwa, appreciated Nam-jung’s act and envisioned forming a group inspired by what he saw. This idea eventually led him to approach Hyun-suk,” added Lee Juno.

Relationship with Yang Hyun-suk

In discussing the perceived tensions with Yang Hyun-suk, Lee clarified, “It wasn’t so much a lack of rapport; we merely had different perspectives. From Hyun-suk’s view, it could have felt strange to include me in the lineup. However, I believe he ultimately chose to collaborate with me to enhance the team’s dynamic.”

First Impressions of Seo Taiji’s Music

Lee Juno also recounted his initial reaction upon hearing Seo Taiji’s demo: “The music was striking, and I felt it was an opportunity worth pursuing. At that time, Seo Taiji was relatively unknown in the broader music scene. Given my reputation as a leading dancer, it seemed surprising to back a newcomer. Despite my reservations, the quality of the music compelled me to take the leap, and I’m thankful to both Seo Taiji and Yang Hyun-suk for that chance. I often wonder if ‘Lee Juno’ would have gained recognition without their support.”

Attempts to Connect with Seo Taiji

When playfully asked by Kim Sung-soo if he could contact Seo Taiji, Lee responded humorously, “Taiji tends to avoid phone calls.” He elaborated, “After Taiji returned to Korea and began his solo journey, our families became quite close. We often visited each other, yet reaching him on the phone remained a challenge because he rarely carries it.”

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