Soyeon (소연), leader of popular South Korean girl group (G)I-DLE, is known for her songwriting talent and exacting musical standards. She recently appeared on Kian84's YouTube channel, where she candidly discussed the harsh realities of the Korean music industry. She admitted that it's incredibly difficult for singers to break into the music charts, stating, "Effort doesn't guarantee success; the probability of failure is as high as 90%." Her remarks reportedly shocked Kian84. Soyeon also revealed that she spent five years preparing for her solo album, a revelation that underscores her deep dedication to music.
On October 9, Kian84's YouTube channel, "Life84," uploaded a new video titled "With Soyeon," featuring Soyeon as a guest. When discussing the profession of a singer, she confessed, "Being a singer is truly difficult; it's extremely hard to get onto the music charts." She disclosed that she poured almost all her energy into preparing for her solo debut, and her staff members were equally exhausted alongside her.
Soyeon further explained that in a world where one must exert maximum effort to achieve even a small result, she believes it's unacceptable to release just any song. Instead, she feels compelled to earnestly create new works. For her, music isn't merely about releasing tracks; it requires a significant investment of heart and soul to allow listeners to perceive its value.
One of Soyeon's statements, "This isn't even a matter of success through effort; the probability of failure is 90%," particularly surprised Kian84. She unhesitatingly highlighted the fierce competition within the music industry, emphasizing that even 100% effort doesn't guarantee a return.
Furthermore, Soyeon disclosed that she prepared for her solo album for a full five years, prompting Kian84 to ask in surprise, "You prepared for five years?" She clarified that she wasn't actively producing the album for all five years, but rather had always wanted to pursue solo activities yet never truly released any work.
Soyeon admitted that at the time, she was unsure if her solo activities would succeed and didn't know where to begin, leading to a long period of contemplation and hesitation. It wasn't until recently that she finally found a song she believed had the potential to perform well, which solidified her decision to officially release solo work.
When discussing her future solo plans, Soyeon also confessed that she doesn't yet know when her next solo release will be. Her sharing clearly illustrates that even as a core member of a popular girl group, establishing oneself as a solo artist still entails immense pressure and uncertainty.
These frank statements once again highlight the intense competition within the Korean music industry. For Soyeon, releasing music is never about rushing; it's about waiting until she genuinely feels confident and believes the work is worthy of her fans before officially unveiling it.
Notably, Soyeon previously topped the Melon music charts with her song "I'm Leaving My Job," which expressed the desire of office workers to escape work constraints, resign gracefully, and rediscover a free life. However, after its release, the lyrics sparked polarized discussions among Korean netizens.
Some netizens questioned why an idol with a substantial income would create such a song, even criticizing the lyrics as overly childish and difficult to resonate with. Comments included harsh remarks like: "You can tell from the lyrics that she hasn't experienced real social life," "The lyrics have no resonance at all, I can't listen to it, it feels too out of touch with reality, I don't want to listen," "Even 20-year-olds can't just quit their jobs now," "Quitting a job can lead to big problems, there are credit card bills to pay," "The reality is, even if you have time after quitting, you don't have the luxury to meet people or travel," "If you quit, you'll just end up doing delivery work." Another person lamented, "Listening to it when you're older, it really has no resonance at all, lol, I don't understand why this song was popular."
From the years-long journey of preparing her solo album to the online controversies sparked by past works, Soyeon's sharing reveals that even as a well-known idol, creative and musical output must still face market scrutiny. Striking a balance between artistic vision and audience resonance remains a constant challenge for musicians.
