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| ITZY Yuna / Photo=Kwon Kwang-il |
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] ITZY’s Yuna is following Yeji as the group’s second member to pursue solo activities. She said she hopes her solo debut, Ice Cream, will be an album that makes people smile whenever they think of it.
On the afternoon of March 23, Yuna held a press conference in the Grand Ballroom on the first floor of the Pullman Ambassador Seoul East in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to mark the release of her solo debut album Ice Cream.
Yuna will release her first solo album Ice Cream and its title track at 6 p.m., becoming ITZY’s second soloist after Yeji. “I’m as nervous as when we debuted as ITZY,” she said. “Please give Yuna a lot of love.” Releasing her first solo work after seven years carries heavy pressure, she added, and she’s eager to do well. She credited Yeji’s successful solo run as motivation that helped her prepare.
“As a group we move like one body, so we rely on one another,” Yuna said. “This time I had to work hard to cover what five people usually do. I missed the other members.” She described her solo strength as her bright, natural energy.
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| ITZY Yuna / Photo=Kwon Kwang-il |
Asked how the members reacted, she said she played the title track for them first. “They told me it suited me perfectly and that they could already picture me performing it on stage,” she said.
She laughed as she recalled seeing Yeji: “I cried the moment I saw her. I’m so grateful she came to support me.” Yuna also said the members sent a snack truck with bungeoppang (a fish-shaped pastry) and fish cake. “I think I ate about five bungeoppang,” she joked.
Musically, Yuna said she tried to fill the album with her own colors. “Since this is my first solo, I wanted it to reflect me,” she explained. “It’s an album full of my strength: bright, natural energy.”
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| ITZY Yuna / Photo=Kwon Kwang-il |
Recognized as one of the fourth-generation visual line known as “Jang-Ka-Seol-Yu,” Yuna thanked fans for calling her a K‑pop visual icon. She said she wants to prove she has the capability to stand on her own as a solo artist.
Yuna’s solo debut song “Ice Cream” is a bouncy, infectious bubblegum-pop track. Its message—“This moment melts sweetly like ice cream; don’t miss it, enjoy it fully”—aims to inject a burst of energy into listeners.
On why she chose “Ice Cream” as the title track, Yuna said the song immediately sparked a clear image. “When I first heard it and worked through the lyrics, I could picture myself on stage performing it,” she said. “It hooked me. I could imagine the stage, the choreography, the vocals and the visuals all at once, so I felt it would showcase my charm well.”
Asked to describe the flavor of “Ice Cream,” she compared it to the beaded ice cream sold at amusement parks. “When I was a child and had that ice cream at the park, I felt like I owned the world. That childhood happiness and excitement fits this song,” she said.
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| ITZY Yuna / Photo=Kwon Kwang-il |
The lyrics of “Ice Cream” carry the message to savor the present instead of letting worries about perfection or future anxieties cause you to miss it. “I have many memories of losing moments because I hesitated and worried about whether things were perfect,” Yuna said. “I regretted those moments. I wanted to enjoy the present more, and I put that idea into the song.”
She reflected on a period of regret about not enjoying moments around her third year after debut. Preparing albums and staging performances created many precious memories, she said, but the pursuit of perfection sometimes kept her from fully enjoying them. “Even when I practiced intensely, I don’t remember laughing over snacks the way I’d hoped. If I could go back, I’d want to enjoy those times with the people beside me,” she said.
Yuna also shared a personal trick for managing herself: “Yesterday I suppressed my appetite. I love food, but I didn’t eat yesterday. I really wanted potato chips; I brushed my teeth and lay down, but I kept thinking about them. After about 30 minutes I resisted. I fell asleep thinking, ‘If I don’t eat today, I’ll look better tomorrow,’” she laughed.
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| ITZY Yuna / Photo=Kwon Kwang-il |
The record includes the title track “Ice Cream” plus songs that explore different moods: “B‑Boy,” which captures a free-spirited vibe; “Blue Maze,” a soft, dreamy take on love; and “Hyper Dream,” which layers dramatic, shimmering sounds and invites listeners into a dream world — a track list that offers variety.
Yuna said she actively contributed ideas across the project, especially on performance, aiming to shape the stage so it highlights her strengths. “Fitting four songs into a solo record wasn’t easy,” she said. “We discussed the choices a lot with the company. I hope listeners find the album easy and enjoyable.”
On why she launched solo activities, Yuna said she saw an opportunity to show different facets of her appeal. “Yeji’s impressive solo run gave me confidence,” she said. “When the solo decision came, I was a little scared and wondered if I could do it. But during preparation I discovered sides of myself I didn’t know and gained courage. Thanks to the staff and the members’ support, I was able to do it. We made the decision after thorough discussion with the company.”
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| ITZY Yuna / Photo=Kwon Kwang-il |
She acknowledged the pressure and described how she cared for her mental health: “I wrote in a journal every day to stay healthy and positive. Musically, I studied other solo artists’ songs and stages to learn and draw inspiration — I listened to Yeji’s ‘Air’ a lot. Taking on a solo album took a lot of courage. I plan to focus on activities that best reveal who I am. If given the chance, I’d like to try composing.”
Asked what the past seven years with ITZY mean to her, Yuna called them deeply meaningful and precious. “Every moment with the members over seven years comes back vividly. We tried many firsts together and experienced a lot, and I feel I grew step by step. As solo Yuna’s second act begins, I want to be remembered as an artist who brings a positive influence.”
In closing she said, “I hope this album makes people smile when they think of it. Even when you’re groggy from a bad night’s sleep, I want ‘Ice Cream’ to bring a smile. I hope to earn recognition as solo artist Yuna. Please give me lots and lots of love.”
[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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