(G)I-DLE's Soyeon's New Song 'I'm Leaving the Company' Angers Korean Netizens: 'Why Is a Rich Idol Singing About Office Workers?'

(G)I-DLE leader Jeon Soyeon (전소연) has long produced the group's music, solidifying their position in the music scene with hit songs like "TOMBOY," "Nxde," and "Queencard." As the group's core producer, she previously bore immense pressure regarding her work's performance and public reception. Now, in her ninth year since debut, she has temporarily shed the burden of "needing to succeed," releasing a work more true to herself and showcasing an unprecedented sense of freedom.

On the 7th at 6 p.m. KST, Jeon Soyeon released her first full-length solo album, *An Amazing Life* (Korean title: *끝내주는 인생*), marking her return as a solo artist after approximately five years and two months. The album features eight tracks, including the lead single "I'm Leaving the Company" (Korean title: "퇴사할게여"). From the musical style to the lyrics, her noticeably relaxed creative state is evident throughout.

Compared to her previous works, *An Amazing Life* is arguably Jeon Soyeon's most authentic album to date. This time, she didn't solely pursue mass appeal, instead prioritizing the joy of creation. She even directly incorporated the desire to "quit the company" into her lyrics, without deliberately refining even more colloquial or blunt expressions.

The album's musical styles are equally diverse, ranging from band music and children's songs to 1990s electronic pop and hyperpop, without adhering to a uniform style. This approach may lead to polarized reviews. However, for Jeon Soyeon, this release isn't about pleasing everyone, but rather about making the music she truly wants to create and sharing her joyful creations with fans.

The lead single, "I'm Leaving the Company," directly expresses the feelings of a "salaryman," depicting the desire of office workers to escape their jobs, make a bold exit, and reclaim a free life. The song's refreshing band sound, coupled with its lyrics, resonates particularly strongly with office workers in their 20s and 30s.

Interestingly, while Jeon Soyeon repeatedly sings "I'm leaving the company" in the song, she hasn't actually resigned in real life. This mirrors many office workers who constantly talk about quitting but ultimately persevere, unexpectedly adding a layer of humor.

However, after the lyrics for "I'm Leaving the Company" were revealed, they sparked both positive and negative discussions online in Korea. Some netizens questioned, "Why would a wealthy idol write a song like this?" and even deemed the lyrics too childish to be relatable.

Conversely, another group of netizens defended Jeon Soyeon, arguing that despite being an idol, she is also the group's music producer and, as such, must go to the company and face workplace pressure. Some, after reading the album's introduction, felt they could sense the thought she put into the creation, finding the lyrics deeply moving, with some even stating, "I felt comforted after listening."

Korean netizens also voiced their support, commenting, "It's just those people who never want to see artists struggle and only complain about them being rich," "While I don't strongly relate, I don't understand why people are criticizing; if you don't like it, just don't listen," and "Those malicious commenters surely haven't worked as hard as Jeon Soyeon."

Others retorted, "Can't they just say 'I see'ㅋㅋㅋㅋ? She didn't do anything wrong. If you don't like it, don't listen. Why do they have to criticize? Too many people are taking their anger out on artists now." Some netizens also suggested that if a male idol had released the same song, it might have been praised instead: "If it were a male idol, they'd definitely be complimented. These haters are truly malicious." Some even directly called on her agency, CUBE Entertainment, to "Please sue them!"

Beyond the lyrical controversy, the use of elements from the classic song by the band EX at the beginning of "I'm Leaving the Company" also drew discussion among some netizens. After the song's release, some on X (formerly Twitter) questioned whether it constituted plagiarism. Subsequently, netizens uncovered the song's source, revealing that Jeon Soyeon had clearly credited the sample from EX's work in the official song credits, with the band's name also listed in the production team.

Consequently, some netizens argued that since the song clearly stated its sample source, it should not be directly accused of "plagiarism," making the related controversy a renewed focal point of discussion on Korean online forums.