WJSN is marking its 10th anniversary by releasing a special single “Bloom Hour” on Wednesday evening as a heartfelt gift to fans.

The release reflects on the decade the group has spent growing side by side with its fan club, Ujung, capturing both the "bright memories" and the "quieter moments of self-reflection," according to girl group’s agency Starship Entertainment. The single centers on the time WJSN and Ujung have spent “blooming” together, and the moments the members faced themselves along the way.


“We prepared it like a gift for Ujung to celebrate our 10th anniversary,” said member Bona in a press release Wednesday. “I’m so grateful to Ujung for being with us for such a long time, and I’m happy that we get to celebrate this milestone together.”

The title track “Bloom Hour” revolves around a bond that grows “by staying close, not by pulling one another along,” according to the agency. Looking back on how WJSN’s journey began with fans, it frames 10 years not as time gone by, but as a present that is still in full bloom.

WJSN debuted in 2016 with the EP “Would You Like?” and won several major rookie awards that year, including the Rising Star award at the Asia Artist Awards and the Discovery Award at the Seoul Music Awards.

Leader Exy adds meaning to the release by taking part in writing the lyrics.

“‘Bloom Hour’ means the shining moment before a flower blooms at its most beautiful,” said Exy. “All of WJSN’s time and our beginning start from the light called Ujung, and I wanted to capture the time we’ve built by trusting and relying on one another, and the time we’ll continue to share.”

The B-side “Mirror” delivers a message from the group members as they are now, after 10 years, to their past selves. It looks back on the time they endured while imagining what lies ahead, moving forward with comfort and conviction.

“What mattered most was making sure our sincerity reached Ujung, who waited for us,” said Eunseo. “Since it’s been a while since we’ve shared a WJSN song, we tried hard to bring out our own color, and I hope Ujung loves both tracks.”

The new single is the first to come from WJSN in four years, with the girl group releasing "Sequence" in 2022.

“Being together again after a long time brought back so many memories,” said Soobin. “It was especially cold the day we filmed the music video, and my hair got singed a bit while we were huddled near a heater, but seeing how we worried and then immediately laughed together helped us power through and finish the shoot well.”

“Just as Ujung is someone I can’t live without, I’ll work hard to be someone who can have a good influence on you, too,” said Seola. “I hope we stay together just like we are now. Thank you always, and I love you.”

The 10-member group — Exy, Seola, Bona, Soobin, Eunseo, Yeoreum, Dayoung, Luda, Yeonjung and Dawon — is known for hits such as “As You Wish” (2019), “Butterfly” (2020) and “Unnatural” (2021).

“Bloom Hour” will be released at 6 p.m. Wednesday on major online music platforms.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]