KB News Desk
Idols are pursuing solo careers to define artistic identities beyond their groups
As K-pop’s summer release season continues, another trend has emerged alongside the industry’s biggest group releases: more established group members are stepping back into the spotlight as solo artists.
From Apink’s Jung Eun-ji, Day6’s Young K and Oh My Girl’s Mimi, as well as Shinee’s Taemin and Minho and Exo’s D.O., a growing number of established idols are using solo projects to showcase artistic identities that differ from the images they have cultivated within their groups.
Among such artists, some are taking greater creative control by writing and producing their own music. A strong example of this is Jung, who returned Tuesday with her fifth EP, “Summer, I,” nearly four years after her previous solo release.
She participated in writing the lyrics for six of its seven songs while composing five and overseeing the album’s production. During a listening session held ahead of the album’s release, Jung said that producing the album gave her greater confidence as a singer-songwriter.
“I’ve gradually become more confident in songwriting, thanks to this album,” she said. “I’ve already achieved many of the dreams I had as a child, and now I’m realizing my dream of becoming a singer-songwriter as well. This album brings me so much joy because of that.”
Day6’s Young K has taken an equally hands-on approach.
His second LP “Youngest,” released in late July, credits the singer with writing, composing and producing all 15 tracks, spanning rock, pop, jazz, country, house and ballad influences. It is his first solo LP in nearly three years.
Speaking in a behind-the-scenes documentary released on YouTube, Young K said that he “wanted listeners to be surprised by the breadth of genres explored throughout the album.”
Oh My Girl’s Mimi is also preparing to make her solo debut after more than a decade with the group.
She produced her upcoming single, “Bish Bash Bosh,” scheduled for release on Aug. 20, and participated in writing and composing the music. According to DSP Media, the project is intended to introduce “the real Mimi” by reflecting a musical identity that stretches beyond what she created as an Oh My Girl’s member.
Not every solo comeback, however, is centered on songwriting.
Shinee’s Taemin is set to open a new chapter in his solo career with “Phase 1: Soft Violence,” due Aug. 21. The album introduces an entirely new narrative universe through surreal visual storytelling and will be followed by his upcoming world tour, “Liminal.”
Exo’s D.O. is also preparing his first solo release in about a year, slated for August, while Shinee’s Minho is likewise expected to return with his second EP in early September.
For many idols, solo projects have become an opportunity to reveal artistic sides that may not fit within their group’s established musical identity.
“Many idols inevitably adapt themselves to a group’s musical framework,” music critic Lim Hee-yun told The Korea Herald. “Solo activities give them an opportunity to step outside that framework and express styles or stories that couldn’t easily be shown through the group.”
Lim added that idols who write, compose and produce their own music “not only showcase a broader musical spectrum but also establish themselves as creators rather than mere performers.”
“Fans enjoy discovering what the artists themselves want to express through music, and that often creates a deeper emotional connection,” Lim said. “Sometimes self-written songs reveal fresh perspectives that even experienced producers wouldn’t have imagined, making this a very welcomed trend in K-pop.”
