Taemin is ready to push boundaries.
While a Bruno Mars-produced single is exciting enough for the K-pop world, SHINee's youngest member is proving that he's anything but juvenile with the latest teaser image featuring two pictures of Taemin on the verge of a major liplock.
The homoerotic image is the first of its kind among mainstream K-pop and is set to shake up Taemin's career in a relatively traditional music market as he gets set to release his "Press It" album.
The teaser image, one of several released on Tuesday, features two different personas of Taemin with a sexy and mature side contrasting with a more innocent, romantic version. The new pictures contrast with the initial teaser image SM Entertainment released earlier this week, which featured Taemin as a haunted artist, ruffled white button down and all.
But while Taemin is garnering attention for his photos, all ears are anticipating his new song, "Press Your Number."
Produced by Bruno Mars and The Stereotypes, who have written songs like Super Junior's "Devil" and Danity Kane's "Damaged," with lyrics written by Taemin, the star power of "Press Your Number" is raising expectations.
In Korea's flooded music market, provocative images and star-production power are likely to make a hit that ensures Taemin's continued success as a solo artist. His debut solo EP "Ace" was released in 2014 and peaked in the number one position on the South Korean Gaon chart.
Each song on the album will reportedly portray a different musical style, allowing from for Taemin's further development as a solo artist.
Taemin debuted as a member of SHINee in 2008.
The music video for "Press Your Number" will drop on Feb. 23, while the album "Press It" will be released the following day.
Correction: The article erroniously said that SHINee debuted in 2009, while the group debuted in 2008. The mistake has been edited.
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Tamar Herman is a multi-media journalist and the co-founder of KultScene. She is a freelance writer and copy editor, and has written for MTV Iggy, Noisey and Paste Magazine.
