Known to fans of GreatGuys (now RE:GUYS) as the group’s main rapper, D.I (Dong In/Lee Young Jun) is stepping into a new chapter of his artistry with Unlocking. Released on June 23, 2026, the five-track EP marks his first solo project and gives him room to explore a broader range of sounds while also taking on the roles of songwriter, composer, and producer. Unlocking traces the uneasy movement from feeling trapped toward the choice to move forward, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. D.I spoke with us about Unlocking and his creative process in a recent interview.
Q: The album begins with “Locked Inside,” but it ends with “Unlocking,” rather than “Unlocked.” Why was it important for the story to end in motion instead of at a finished destination? What are you still in the process of unlocking within yourself?
D.I: I used the keyword “unlocking” because this album represents my intention to keep making music and continuing to move forward and grow as an artist.
Q: The album description suggests that people sometimes remain behind a locked door because they are frightened of the emotions they might encounter after opening it. Did making this album bring you face-to-face with an emotion or memory you had previously avoided?
D.I: When I thought about my memories from the past and my circumstances at the time, I often felt frustrated and trapped. I did a lot of thinking after I enlisted in the military, and that was when I realized that, after completing my service, I could move forward as long as I worked hard and took responsibility for doing it myself. I actually began making this album while I was on leave from the military.
Q: “Open the Sky” describes hope not as something that simply arrives, but as a decision to trust yourself and begin moving again. In your own experience, what was the first small decision that made the sky begin to open?
D.I: This is similar to my answer to the second question. Rather than waiting for the sky to open on its own and for something to appear, while I was in the military I made a promise to myself that I would take action, open the sky myself, and create a new path forward.
Q: In “Moonlight Dance,” solitude gradually becomes a place of freedom, where the character can release anxiety and exist fully as himself. When you imagine that dance, is it an escape, a confrontation, an act of self-acceptance, or some combination of all three?
D.I: This was actually the first song I made for the album. I created it while imagining a complicated and chaotic state of mind, and I approached it as a temporary escape from reality. The idea was simply to forget everything, dance, and enjoy the present moment, even if only for that brief period of time.
Q: Dance has been part of your identity throughout your career. When words and thoughts become tangled, what can your body understand or communicate before your mind catches up?
D.I: I’ve been dancing for a long time, so I think my body naturally learns and absorbs choreography before I even have to think about it. Repeated practice is the most important part.
Q: In “Shooting Star,” the star represents both the person you hope to become and something that shines back upon you. Does your future self feel like someone you are chasing, someone accompanying you, or someone who already exists inside you?
D.I: I made the song while thinking about looking at a shooting star and making a wish that, someday, I could become a shining star myself. I also wanted to become like a shooting star that could give hope to someone else.
Q: “Open the Sky” and “Shooting Star” are both title tracks, but they seem to portray slightly different kinds of hope: one created through determination, and one discovered unexpectedly in the darkness. What made you feel that the album needed both?
D.I: I think everyone has both a bright side and a dark side within themselves, so I wanted to comfort and reassure both of those sides. I’m the same way, and I also wanted to find comfort for myself through the songs I created.
Q: Night appears throughout the EP as a time of loneliness, anxiety, freedom, and possibility. What does nighttime allow you to feel or create that daylight does not? Are there truths that become easier for you to hear when the rest of the world is quiet?
D.I: Honestly, I can concentrate better and organize my thoughts more clearly when it’s quiet at night, so I did a lot of work on the album late at night and into the early morning. And although I know it isn’t a particularly good habit, I enjoy drinking, and I often find new inspiration when I work while having a drink.
Q: The album lets us hear you moving among rap, sing-rap, and smoother melodic vocals. Did working as a soloist reveal a vocal color or way of performing that you had not previously had enough room to explore? Which part of your own voice surprised you most?
D.I: I’m really proud and happy that I was able to show listeners so many different sides of my voice. The thing that surprised me most, though, wasn’t necessarily something positive. While recording, I realized that I still have a lot of room to improve. So I plan to keep studying and working hard to strengthen the areas where I’m still lacking.
Q: You were involved throughout the album as a composer, lyricist, and producer, while also collaborating with artists and producers including Kipple, JJ, ZIV, Yoo Junho, and HOZE. Which collaborator challenged one of your first instincts and ultimately helped you see a song differently?
D.I: I’m grateful to all of the artists I worked with, and I consider every one of them an important collaborator. Whenever I asked for their help, they readily reached out and worked with me, and I’m very thankful that their support allowed everything to come together according to the plan I had envisioned.
Q: Creative independence gives an artist tremendous freedom, but it also removes some of the people who might normally make decisions for you. During this project, which decision felt most liberating to make yourself, and which one made you doubt yourself the most?
D.I: Since this was my first time creating a solo EP, honestly, every decision was difficult and I doubted myself a lot. But thanks to the artists I worked with, I was able to make good choices and feel more confident in my decisions.
Q: RE:GUYS has described its return as a chance to present yourselves more honestly, including performing under your real names rather than hiding behind constructed characters. What did you personally have to unlearn about how an idol is “supposed” to sound, look, or protect himself before you could make an album like Unlocking?
D.I: There wasn’t really anything in particular that I felt I had to discard or rethink. Instead, I made a commitment to continue valuing our group activities while also consistently creating solo albums of my own.
Q: You are building a solo identity while also beginning a new chapter with RE:GUYS. What has being part of a group taught you about standing alone, and what has making this album taught you that you now want to bring back to the group?
D.I: Even in the past, while promoting as part of a group, I performed a lot of solo stages during our concerts, and those experiences helped me tremendously. I want to continue developing my abilities and growing as an artist so that my own improvement can also have a positive impact on the group and help strengthen us as performers.
Q: The album invites listeners to approach an unknown future with curiosity instead of fear. What uncertainty in your life feels exciting to you now that might once have frightened you?
D.I: Because of the nature of my profession, having an unpredictable schedule is probably what makes me the most anxious. But I’m looking forward to all of the exciting things that may happen in the future, and I’m continuing to work hard and do my best.
Q: What question did Unlocking answer for you, and what new question did it leave behind?
D.I: This album gave me the courage to tell myself, “I can do this,” at a time when I felt anxious and lacked confidence in myself. At the same time, I keep asking myself positive questions like, “What kind of music should I use to tell my stories to my fans next?” and continuing to work toward those answers. I’ll keep doing my best to become an artist who can share many different things with my fans and have a positive influence on them. Thank you.
For D.I, Unlocking is less a declaration of arrival than a record of movement. Its story began during his military service, where he decided to trust his own effort and create a new path, and that sense of determination runs throughout the EP. And even as he discovers areas in which he still wants to grow as an artist, he continues to open those doors — one song at a time.
Follow D.I:
Stream Unlocking
Instagram: @di_zerojjun
YouTube: @official_disland
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