Move over, K-pop giants—there’s a fresh name making waves in the industry! ZO ZAZZ, a 40-year-old rookie singer, has turned the Korean music scene upside down with his debut single, “Do You Not Know?”. Released on January 7, 2025, this soulful remake of Davichi’s 2013 ballad has climbed to No. 2 on Melon’s daily and weekly charts, sitting just below G-Dragon’s “TOO BAD” and ahead of Jennie’s “Like Jennie”. Here’s everything you need to know about this breakout star and his unstoppable rise.
From Unknown to Unstoppable: Who Is ZO ZAZZ?
Born Jo Hong-jun, ZO ZAZZ isn’t your typical K-pop idol. At 40, he’s a late bloomer in an industry dominated by younger talents. Before his big break, he was known as Wang Jun, a contestant on TV Chosun’s “Mr. Trot 2” in 2022-2023. Back then, he didn’t make a huge splash. But everything changed when he dropped “Do You Not Know?”, a track produced by Rocoberry, the duo behind the original Davichi version.
He’s not new to chasing his dreams, though. A jazz and soul fan, ZO ZAZZ started his own company, ZO ZAZZ Studio, seven years ago. Later, he opened a live music bar where he could perform. That’s where he caught the ear of Ahn Young-min, a lyricist from Rocoberry. Ahn heard him sing “Do You Not Know?” and knew instantly they had to record it.
“People who were with me clutched their chests while listening. Even after an hour, the emotion lingered. That’s when I knew we had to make a record,” Ahn said.
The result? A debut that’s rewriting the rules of K-pop success.
The Viral Power of Do You Not Know?
“Do You Not Know?” didn’t just drop—it exploded. Within a week, the music video racked up nearly 1 million views across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. Fast forward to today, and it’s crossed 13 million views on YouTube alone since its January 7, 2025, release.
The song’s charm lies in its simplicity and depth. ZO ZAZZ’s rich, emotional vocals breathe new life into the 2013 classic. The music video, with its hazy, vintage vibe, shows him pouring his heart out. Fans can’t stop talking about it.
“Sorry to Davichi, but this doesn’t even feel like their song anymore,” one listener wrote online.
“It’s like watching 16 drama episodes in one track,” another added.
The numbers back up the hype. By early April, the song hit No. 2 on Melon’s daily and weekly charts for the week ending April 6, 2025. It even snagged the top spot on TJ Media’s karaoke chart on March 13. On April 5 at 10 a.m., it briefly climbed to No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100, nudging out G-Dragon before settling back at No. 2.
TV Spotlight Fuels the Fire
ZO ZAZZ didn’t stop at streaming success. On March 22, 2025, he appeared on KBS 2TV’s “Immortal Songs”. The episode honored songwriter Yoon Myung-sun, and ZO ZAZZ performed Lee Seung-chul’s “Western Sky”. His powerful voice and raw emotion won him first place on his very first try.
Viewers were hooked. Social media lit up with praise for his live skills. Overnight, he went from a trot hopeful to a household name. That TV boost only made “Do You Not Know?” climb higher.
Facing the Critics: Chart Drama Explained
With such a fast rise, not everyone believed it was organic. Rumors of sajaegi—chart manipulation—started swirling. On April 3, Brotherhood Entertainment, his agency, shut it down hard.
“Let us be clear—chart manipulation is illegal and a crime. Our company has never and will never engage in such behavior,” they stated.
The proof’s in the performance. “Do You Not Know?” has held strong without big agency backing or fan campaigns. Its growth came from pure word-of-mouth buzz, especially on social media. The brief No. 1 spot on April 5 showed its real power—enough to challenge G-Dragon and outpace Jennie.
What’s Next for the Breakout Star?
ZO ZAZZ isn’t slowing down. At 40, he’s just getting started. He’s already working on his next release with Ahn, aiming to build on this momentum. He’s got big dreams, too.
“I want to become a singer like Choi Baek-ho,” he said, name-dropping the legendary ballad and folk artist.
Will it be another remake? An original song? Maybe a collab? Whatever’s coming, the industry’s watching. G-Dragon still holds No. 1 with “TOO BAD”, but ZO ZAZZ is breathing down his neck. Jennie’s “Like Jennie” sits at No. 3, already passed by this rookie’s rocket ride.
One song turned ZO ZAZZ from a nobody into a contender. His soulful voice, vintage style, and underdog story have fans hooked. The K-pop throne’s getting crowded—better watch out, G-Dragon.
