U-KNOW Yunho of TVXQ released his first single album, “Time’s Tickin’,” on Monday, July 20 at 6 p.m. KST (5 a.m. ET) across global streaming platforms, according to SM Entertainment. The two-track release lands just one day after the 23-year veteran closed out “U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE1,” the first solo concert of his career, at Seoul’s Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium — where the new title track got its live stage premiere before the studio version was even out.
A Two-Track Single Built on Contrast
Despite the compact format — this is Yunho’s first release in the single-album format since his solo debut — “Time’s Tickin’” is designed to show two distinct sides of the performer. The title track leans into the rhythmic, performance-driven energy that has defined his solo work, while the B-side takes a sharp turn in the opposite direction.
That B-side, “An Ordinary Story” (보통의 이야기), is a ballad built on a calm piano melody and lyrical strings, with Yunho delivering an understated, restrained vocal about quietly accepting the moment of a farewell. For an artist best known as one of K-pop’s most intense live performers, the ballad is the single’s clearest statement that he wants to be heard as a vocalist, too.
Physical editions — including a photobook version and a music card (smart album) version — have been available for pre-order at online and offline retailers since June 29, when a teaser video styled like a video-game opening screen first went up on TVXQ’s official social channels. A music video teaser followed through official channels ahead of release day.
An Eight-Month Turnaround From ‘I-KNOW’
The new single arrives roughly eight months after “I-KNOW,” Yunho’s first full-length solo album, released in November 2025. It is a quick turnaround by his standards: his solo catalog, which began in 2019, had previously been spaced out between TVXQ group activities, acting roles, and variety appearances.
The pace appears deliberate. Yunho has described his recent solo projects as chapters of one connected storyline, and “Time’s Tickin’” — a title that reads as a statement of urgency from a performer 23 years into his career — extends that arc.
The First Solo Concert, 23 Years In
The release is inseparable from the weekend that preceded it. From July 17 to 19, Yunho headlined “U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE1” at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul — remarkably, his first solo concert since debuting with TVXQ in 2003.
“Debuting 23 years ago, I finally get to hold my first solo concert — the thrill of a ‘first’ is immense,” Yunho said, according to Korean outlet Edaily, adding that he had been sketching out the concept for a solo show since his military service and waited until he could “tell my story properly.”
The concert doubled as a launchpad: attendees heard “Time’s Tickin’” performed live before its streaming release, a sequencing choice that turned the Monday drop into the closing beat of the concert weekend rather than a standalone event.
FAQ
Where can I listen to “Time’s Tickin’”?
The single is available on global streaming platforms — including Melon, Spotify, and Apple Music — as of July 20, 6 p.m. KST (5 a.m. ET). Physical photobook and music card editions are sold through major K-pop retailers.
How many songs are on the single album?
Two: the title track “Time’s Tickin’” and the ballad B-side “An Ordinary Story” (보통의 이야기).
Has U-KNOW performed the new song live yet?
Yes — the title track premiered on stage during his first solo concert, “U-KNOW PROJECT 26: SCENE1,” held July 17–19 at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul. Music-show promotions have not yet been detailed by SM Entertainment.
Sources: SM Entertainment announcements via TVXQ official channels; Herald Muse; Munhwa Ilbo; eToday; Edaily.
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