Yoo Jae-hwan relaunches as mixed-gender band Rose under new stage name

Singer-songwriter Yoo Jae-hwan is making a fresh start, forming a mixed-gender band called Rose under the new stage name Jeong-gyeong.

Rose released its debut single, "Padoboda Ppalli" ("Faster Than the Waves"), on June 12.

The track blends bright melodies and an upbeat rhythm to capture the excitement of summer and a sense of free-spirited energy.

The debut has drawn attention as a comeback for Yoo, who has faced a series of controversies in recent years. Yoo first gained public recognition through the MBC variety show "Infinite Challenge" in 2015 and built his profile through entertainment programs before coming under investigation on charges of composition-fee fraud and indecent assault. The fraud charge was dropped at the investigation stage, while a court fined him 5 million won ($3,250) on the indecent assault charge at trial.

Yoo subsequently changed his stage name from UL to Jeong-gyeong and, in February, formed Rose by signing Yoon Ji-yu — a graduate of the postmodern music studies master's program at Kyung Hee University — as the band's first rookie artist.

Yoo is currently appealing his indecent assault conviction. At a recent hearing, he denied the charges and said the situation had made it difficult to find work, leaving him struggling financially, adding that he was reluctant to go outside for fear of being recognized.