(I-dle) SOYEON's first solo in 5 years and 2 months... "I took courage with the mindset of quitting my job"

(I-dle)'s SOYEON has returned with a solo album after 5 years and 2 months, conveying her musical contemplations and honest feelings.

Appearing on KBS 'The Seasons S9' broadcast on October 2, 2026, SOYEON spoke about her solo album 'An Amazing Life' and revealed what this work means to her. SOYEON demonstrated her capabilities as an artist by participating in the lyric writing and composition of all 8 tracks in this album.

"Wanted to capture the nuance of Seoul"... Musical direction reflected in the title track 'I'm Quitting'

SOYEON mentioned how the title track 'I'm Quitting' became a hot topic by creating empathy among office workers. She stated that while preparing this song, she focused on implementing a Korean band sound. SOYEON explained, "I have done a lot of Japanese or United States band music, but I wanted to express Korean band music." She added, "I wanted to bring the texture of band music that was popular in South Korea between 2007 and 2010 and the unique way of speaking, like the Seoul dialect."

In particular, this song is characterized by its homage to the group EXID's song 'Please Take Good Care of Me'. SOYEON shared, "I got the idea because the beginning of the senior members' EXID song was impressive," and "I contacted the seniors directly to say I wanted to write the feeling, and I am grateful they readily accepted."

Solo after 5 years and 2 months, "I endured thanks to the members' strength, and times when I was afraid being alone"

SOYEON, entering her 9th year since debut, confessed that this solo activity was by no means easy. She said, "The members have been doing solo activities continuously, but I felt scared because it seemed like I was the only one returning late." She continued, "While I have received love by writing and composing (I-dle)'s songs, I think the strength of the members is truly great." She added, "There was a burden that it might not go well when I sing the songs I made myself. I was afraid because if I do it alone, I have to take all the responsibility, but this time, I was able to take courage and shout out with a 'mindset of quitting my job'."

The album title 'An Amazing Life' contains the worries felt by her current age of 29. SOYEON stated, "Many of the worries I had up until age 29 are written in it." She revealed, "I have a tendency to name things in English and the company also recommended it, but I thought the title that fits me is the Korean 'An Amazing Life'."

"Music should be Young, people should be deep"... The attitude of an artist facing her 30s

SOYEON, who will enter her 10th year since debut and her 30s next year, shared her philosophy regarding future activities. She expressed her wish, "Rather than suddenly becoming mature and making new songs just because I became in my 30s, I want to be a person who can make fun music like now." She continued, defining the attitude she wants to maintain as an artist, "I want the music to stay Young, and the person to keep becoming deep."

On the stage that day, SOYEON proved her musical spectrum by presenting a special stage reinterpreting Seo In-young's 'Cinderella' to the beat of her own song 'Star'.

Source: KBS WORLD TV (YouTube)