South Korean solo artist Kwon Eun-bi (권은비) skyrocketed to fame in 2023 following her performance at the Waterbomb festival. Her song "Underwater" also gained unexpected attention through fan-shot videos, leading to a surge in popularity and earning her the nickname "Waterbomb Goddess." Her newfound fame brought a flood of endorsement deals, university festival invitations, and variety show appearances. She previously shared that the period after her Waterbomb breakthrough was when she earned her "highest income." In March 2024, she purchased a building in Seoul's Seongdong District for approximately 2.4 billion Korean won (about 50 million New Taiwan dollars), marking a significant turning point in both her career and finances.
However, this unexpected surge in popularity seems to have brought complex emotions for Kwon. She recently appeared on a YouTube program, where she discussed how her signature song "Underwater" found renewed success after Waterbomb. She admitted that the song initially had a lukewarm reception upon its release, and she never expected it to gain so much attention through the Waterbomb stage, leading her to even feel a sense of regret.
In the program video released on the 25th, Kwon recalled the process of "Underwater" regaining attention, confessing, "Initially, the results weren't good. Then, it became very popular because of Waterbomb, so I actually regretted it a little." She further revealed that she constantly wondered, "Do I really have to do that kind of performance?" This led her to consider performing more songs that align with her personal style in the future. "I want to sing songs that are more like me," she stated.
Discussing her recently released new song "DEJAVU," Kwon also shared that while the public often associates her with a sexy and charismatic image, she hopes to use this new work to showcase a more natural and authentic side of herself.
Regarding whether she easily feels pressured by public attention, Kwon revealed that she is actually someone who "lets things go easily." She admitted that seeing malicious comments still makes her sad, and she sometimes feels an urge to argue back. However, her busy life now leaves her with little time to dwell on such matters. "Of course, seeing malicious comments feels bad, and I want to argue with them, but I don't have time to deal with these things. I'm already busy just living my own life."
Kwon also confessed that initially, dealing with the sudden surge in attention was quite difficult. "It was really hard at first, but I slowly got used to it, and people's attention towards me gradually decreased."
From the unexpected success of "Underwater" to becoming the "Waterbomb Goddess," Kwon's career has undergone a massive transformation. Now, facing the sexy label often attached to her by the public, she is beginning to explore different facets of herself through music, gradually finding her own unique identity.
