Singer Choi Yena is one of a handful of popular female soloists in K-pop, an industry where solo female singers have traditionally struggled to gain a fan base or see much commercial success.

 

Last year, the former member of girl group IZ*ONE (2018-21) established a solid career on her own, debuting with the song “Smiley” which peaked at No. 5 on the Melon Top 100 chart and sold over 110,000 physical copies.

 

Her two following EPs also sold well over 110,000 copies each, so it was expected she would be back with another hit when she released more music on June 27.  

Yena’s new EP “Hate XX” quickly became the talk of the town — not because of the singer’s talented performance nor the pastel high-teen aesthetic, but because it was instantly slammed with accusations that the lead track’s entire concept was to disrespectful American pop star Olivia Rodrigo.

Homage or disrespectful? Choi Yena’s ‘Hate Rodrigo’ has divided fans

With frilly dresses and youthful school uniforms, singer Yena brought her signature girlish charm — so-called “Yena-core” aesthetics — up a notch in her latest and fourth EP “Blooming Wings,” drawing listeners into a whimsical world of romance manga.

신하늬

Yena back with 'Yena-core' aesthetics for 'Blooming Wings' EP 

Singer Yena is set to release the EP “Blooming Wings” on July 29, agency Yue Hua Entertainment said Wednesday. 

신민희

Yena to release new EP 'Blooming Wings' on July 29

Singer Kwon Eun-bi will release her new single, "Sabotage," on June 18, according to her agency Woollim Entertainment on Tuesday.

김민영

Kwon Eun-bi to release new single, 'Sabotage,' on June 18

Singer Lee Chaeyeon will hold her first meet-and-greet on Jan. 13, her agency WM Entertainment said Wednesday.

이채민

Lee Chaeyeon to hold first meet-and-greet with fans in January

Lee Chaeyeon is done knocking on the doors of multiple audition programs and is ready to soar as a solo artist in her first single "The Move: Street."

조용준

Lee Chaeyeon releases first solo single, dance challenges to follow

Singer and dancer Lee Chae-yeon will return with new music in September, her agency WM Entertainment said Friday. 

Lee Chae-yeon to release new music in September

Singer Kwon Eun-bi will return with her first single “The Flash” on Aug. 2. A teaser released on Thursday showed a magazine-looking cover with Kwon Eun-bi posing in the middle. The teaser also revealed that her next release, set to drop at 6 p.m. ...

Kwon Eun-bi drops teaser for upcoming single 'The Flash'

Celebrities featured on the new entertainment show "HyeMiLeeYeChaePa" set to air Sunday on cable network ENA pose for photos at a press conference held Thursday at the ...

'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa'

Singer-turned-actor Kim Min-ju, former member of project girl group IZ*ONE, signed a contract with actor management agency Management Soop. “The agency signed with Kim,” Management Soop said Thursday. “We are happy to support Kim’s beginning...

이재림

Kim Min-ju of IZ*ONE signs with acting agency Management Soop

Jo Yu-ri, a former member of girl group IZ*ONE, is set to release her first solo EP "Op.22 Y-Waltz : in Major" in early June, according to Wakeone Entertainment on Tuesday. Jo posted a teaser image for the upcoming EP on her Instagram page on...

이지안

IZ*ONE's Jo Yu-ri to release first solo EP next month

Second time’s a charm and third time’s a wonder for Miyawaki Sakura of LE SSERAFIM. Sakura made her third idol debut on May 2 as a member of Source Music’s girl group LE SSERAFIM. Dubbed “HYBE’s first girl group,” the debut was one of the most ...

양현주

[CELEB] Miyawaki Sakura doesn't need three chances 

HYBE and Source Music announced the name of its upcoming girl group, Le Sserafim, on Monday. Source Music is a label under HYBE which produced the now-disbanded girl group GFriend. The agency opened official YouTube and social media accounts of ...

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