With his chiseled jawline and defined pecs very much on display in the recently released music video for "Oxygen," it’s not a stretch to assume Jackson Wang is in the midst of a strict fitness and diet regimen. As it turns out, that’s not exactly true. In fact, of late, the singer is significantly more interested in munching on convenience-store ramen than he is downing a protein shake. After more than five years as a member of the arena-filling K-pop boy band GOT7—in addition to his pursuits as a solo artist—the 25-year-old Hong Kong–born star says he's finally found a more balanced approach to his fitness routine. That means relaxing on the incessant carb-cutting and gym time, and instead pinpointing how to address other health-related matters.
As Wang prepares his debut solo album Journey to the West, slated for an early 2020 release, the singer-rapper-producer says he's increasingly comfortable showing a sometimes unpolished side of himself. That’s a stark difference from the glowing skin, striking hair colors, and perfectly coordinated designer clothes that he and his K-pop band mates showed off in GOT7's "Look" music video last year. Wang’s growing fanbase doesn’t seem to mind: He’s racking up millions of views (his trap-heavy, Gucci Mane collaboration "Different Game" currently boasts nearly 13 million hits on YouTube) while pushing an honest attitude that's refreshing to more than just the (massive) K-pop market.
On a rare day off in China, Wang spoke to GQ about how he maintains some semblance of a diet and exercise program, even while the whole world is watching his every move.
GQ: What's the difference in how you prepare for your solo releases versus a GOT7 release?
Jackson Wang: I’ve started thinking about how I should do my solo things a little more unpolished—but in a good way. I've decided to shoot things like video interviews and appearances without makeup, and I’m not shaving my beard as often. What am I hiding? I want to be myself.
I used to cut out carbs because I would diet, but then I realized, why can't I eat carbs? I started eating rice, Cup Noodles, whatever I want. Of course, I still need to be in shape. I was in shape and had better physical results before, but I felt like I wasn't as healthy emotionally. I think it's because I wasn't eating right and I wasn't sleeping right. Every day, I was calculating this and that—I can't eat that, I have to work out this area. It was like math to me. But why not take it slow? At the end of the day, I’m still me.
So changing your eating habits helped you emotionally?
Yeah, I'm just feeling more free. In terms of self-control, it's not like I don't care and I'm going to eat whatever I want to an unhealthy point. I'll be within the boundaries, but I'm going to lower the line of expectation a little bit.
What's a regular day for you right now?
I spend a lot of time recording. I'll go eat, and then I'll have a massage—like a therapeutic massage. The reason why I know I need massages is because after days of shooting a music video or something, my neck and shoulders get so tired and overworked that my glands get blocked. The blood couldn't properly circulate through my neck and shoulders—that's why my face was always swollen before. It was probably from being so tired.
How do you plan on maintaining your health in the future, whether it's on your own or with GOT7?
The best solution is when I'm here in China, I do what I want, and when I'm in Korea, I do whatever makes the team [GOT7] better. I'm in character when I’m back with the team. I have to fit in and get rid of all the unnecessary stuff. It's more like The Avengers.
Which Avenger are you?
It's funny, but I'm Iron Man. In my life, I have my own story and my own drama. But when Iron Man is with The Avengers, he accomplishes missions, he listens, he participates, he's a part of the whole. It's that kind of feeling.
What else do you make sure to incorporate into your daily fitness?
Remembering to take vitamins. I use Vitamin C and Omega 3. When taking vitamins or supplements, you’ve got to remember to take them for a week, and then rest for a week. That's how your liver is going to rest too. If you use supplements 365 days a year, your liver is going to be damaged. Where do you think all the supplements go? The liver is absorbing all of the nutrients.
Where did you learn that?
Your liver helps you to detox. That's why people say if you drink too much, your liver is going to get screwed up. People say don't drink too much water before you sleep, or don't eat before you sleep, because your body is still working when you’re asleep. That's why I try not eat or drink two or three hours before bed, because I want to give the body a rest too. My grandpa [Zhou Yongchang] was a doctor and he taught me this stuff. He was one of the founders of the ultrasound in China. He passed away two years ago, at 98, but even when he was 97, he was helping patients and doing surgeries. That was his vision: “Helping one more man is an honor to me,” that's what he said to me.
You're one of the few stars in the K-pop scene who we've seen share secrets from the gym with livestreams from hotel gyms and such. What's your relationship with the gym today?
I don't really head to the gym these days. I don't have time and I'm too tired. I'll have to go back, but right now it's more about the music.
How many hours are you sleeping?
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About four to five.
Is that enough for you?
It's like this: If you're used to four to five hours of sleep and then all of sudden you changed that, your body is not going to react well. You're changing the system. That's been my schedule—four to five hours—and If I'm really lucky, six to seven. But throughout the year, if you're sleeping four to five hours, and then you sleep longer, your body will wake itself up.
When can we expect Journey to the West?
I don't know about this year, but we're trying to release it ASAP. The timing is not the best—I’ve got to go back to the K-pop group, and we have touring, that kind of stuff. Things are just tight with other schedules. I’m not as free and it takes a lot of work to set up the production for Journey to the West. I don't want to release wack stuff. It has to be deep and it has to be a concept. I want to release a short film combining three or four songs, like a play or a musical. I'm trying to express the whole album, something like La La Land, you know? If the timing and everything is right, I can hopefully go on a world tour.
Final question: Are you happy right now?
I am. I haven't said this on an international platform yet, but I have five goals in my life. The first one is to get into the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the Top 50 even. Second is to perform my own solo concert at the "Bird's Nest" Beijing National Stadium, where they held the 2008 Olympics. The third one, which I achieved, is to have my wax figure in the Madame Tussauds museum—that's going to be released in June. The fourth is for my label and brand, Team Wang, to be exactly like JYP [Ed. Note: JYP Entertainment is the Korean agency that houses GOT7 and other popular K-pop acts like Twice, Stray Kids and ITZY.] I want to make Team Wang iconic in China so when I finish my music career, I can still invest in and find a lot of different kids with great talent. I want to help train them to become artists and bring them aboard to keep promoting Chinese culture. The fifth is just to help all my employees and family have a stable, happy life.
I'm on my way—I actually want to retire before I'm 35. I want to make this thing work and I'm trying hard every day.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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