EL CAPITXN: From K-Pop Hitmaker to Center Stage

The producer behind some of Korean pop’s biggest sounds steps into the spotlight with his first world tour, WHO KILLED EL?

In the K-pop industry, many artists begin their careers on stage. Some, however, eventually discover that their true voice lies behind it. That is the case of EL CAPITXN, the producer, DJ, and songwriter whose work has helped shape some of the most recognizable sounds in contemporary Korean pop.

Before establishing himself as a producer, Jang Yi-jeong began his career as an idol in the group HISTORY, active during the 2010s. Over time, however, his creative interests increasingly shifted toward songwriting and music production—an area where he ultimately found his true artistic identity. After making this transition, he began collaborating with several producers within the K-pop scene and eventually joined the creative team at HYBE, contributing to songs for some of the industry’s most influential artists, including BTS and Tomorrow X Together.

His style blends EDM, hip-hop, and pop, balancing club-driven energy with the melodic sensibility that characterizes Korean music production.

Through the EL CAPITXN project, Yi-jeong has also developed his identity as a DJ and performer, bringing his music to international stages and connecting directly with audiences through high-energy sets. His current tour, WHO KILLED EL? EL World Tour, marks a new chapter in his career. For the first time, he is presenting a live project centered on his own songs—offering a preview of the album he plans to release later this year.

Known within the industry as a “hitmaker,” EL CAPITXN has written music for numerous K-pop artists. However, this new project represents a different challenge: writing for himself and telling his own story. The creative process, as he has explained, involved revisiting moments from his past—both joyful and painful—and confronting those emotions directly in order to transform them into music.

Even his stage name reflects that philosophy. The name EL CAPITXN stems from his interest in the idea of leading and forging a path forward—but not from a place of perfection. The spelling “CAPITXN,” instead of “Captain,” intentionally highlights cracks and imperfections, representing someone who has stumbled, faltered, and still chooses to move forward in a new direction.

That vulnerability is also reflected in his relationship with his fandom, ELdorphin—a name that combines “EL” and “endorphin.” For the artist, fans are not simply an audience but the energy that drives him to keep creating and moving forward.

During his performance at Foro 28 in Mexico City on March 5, that connection with the audience became evident. His musical project does not exist in isolation; it is built through the relationship with those who listen to his music.

Min Yoongi—better known as Suga of BTS—has been a major influence in his life. In fact, Yi-jeong has shared that it was because of him that he found the strength to rise again as an artist. I must also confess that it was through Suga that I first discovered EL CAPITXN, when I saw him perform during Agust D’s D-Day Tour in Los Angeles.

In this conversation, EL CAPITXN reflects on his artistic journey, the challenges of reinventing himself, and what lies ahead as he steps fully into the spotlight.

Interview

You previously performed during Agust D’s tour in 2022. How do you remember that experience, and what did it mean to you at that stage of your career?

EL CAPITXN:
“That stage was a very significant turning point for me. Standing on such a massive stage is something to be proud of, but it’s also a very sobering moment. As the size of the audience grows, my own existence feels more clearly validated. That was the first time I thought, ‘One day, I want to handle a stage of this scale under my own name.’ That experience was an honor, but at the same time, it was a pressure that pushed me toward the next step.”

How would you describe your artistic identity today compared to when you first started?

EL CAPITXN:
“At the beginning, I simply wanted to look good. Now, however, I believe it’s okay to falter. I used to try to present a finished image, but now I no longer hide the process or the conflicts. I haven’t become a safer person—I’ve become a more dangerous one. Instead of trying to control myself, I simply stand on top of that tension.”

What has been the most challenging part of your journey as an artist so far?

EL CAPITXN:
“The battle with myself has been the hardest part. More than external competition, the time I spent doubting myself was longer. The most difficult thing was having to keep moving forward even in a state of uncertainty. However, through that process I learned that having doubts doesn’t mean you have to stop.”

Mexico has very passionate fans. How does it feel to finally perform here?

EL CAPITXN:
“I’m already familiar with the energy of the Mexican audience, and I’ve heard how intense their passion is. Now I want to face it directly. When I’m on stage, I don’t calculate. The emotions of that day come out exactly as they are, and I’m going there to see what kind of scene unfolds when those energies collide.”

How do you take care of your creativity and mental balance while working in such a demanding industry?

EL CAPITXN:
“There is no such thing as perfect balance. Rather than trying to control myself, I try to face my condition as it is. On bad days, I accept how I feel and don’t force myself to hide it. For me, creating is not an escape—it’s a way of confronting pressure directly.”

What message would you like to share with your fans in Latin America?

EL CAPITXN:
“Thank you for waiting. I will step onto the stage in my most honest state—not as a processed image, but as I am now. I know your energy is immense. I will respond with that same intensity.”

What can we expect from CAPITXN in the near future?

EL CAPITXN:
“You can expect bigger stages, a clearer direction, and bolder decisions. I don’t choose the safe path, nor even a completely certain one—but I don’t stop. I’m not in a finished state; I’m in a constant process of falling, rising, breaking, and evolving.”

I had the opportunity to attend his performance at Foro 28 in Mexico City, and it was there that everything EL CAPITXN had described during our conversation came into focus.

WHO KILLED EL? is not simply a concert built around a setlist—it is a narrative structure. From the very beginning to the final moment, the show unfolds around a single question: Who Killed EL? Each segment adds a new layer to the story. In that process, the audience is not just watching the show—they become part of it.

The tour is currently closing its North American leg before continuing on to Europe. Launched in 2025, the tour marks the beginning of EL CAPITXN’s first world tour, a journey that has already taken him to several cities across the globe and signals a new chapter in his career as an artist and performer.

For more information about the tour and upcoming concerts, visit:
https://elcapitxnworldtour.com/

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank EL CAPITXN’s team for all the support provided in making this interview possible, and especially EL CAPITXN himself for his openness and generosity during our conversation.