Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Red Velvet's Wendy to release solo debut in April
K-pop group Red Velvet member Wendy will release a solo album in April. Courtesy of JTBC
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
Wendy of K-pop girl group Red Velvet, whose real name is Shon Seung-wan, is gearing up to go solo, seven years after she started her music career.
Her agency SM Entertainment announced Wednesday that “Wendy is working on a solo album, aiming to release it in April.”
The singer has taken part in collaboration songs and soundtracks for TV series, including tvN's “Start-Up,” outside of the group. But this will be her first official solo album.
The news has excited Red Velvet fans, raising expectations, as Wendy, who is the lead vocalist, will be the first member of the group to make a solo album.
Wendy shared a message on the group's social media, thanking her fans and bandmates for making it all possible.
“As this precious work will be my first solo album, I will do my best to share good music with you,” she wrote. “I thank everyone who has supported me to get me this far… I still have a lot to learn, especially without the other members, but I am going to work harder.”
Wendy debuted as a member of the five-piece group ― consisting of her, Irene, Seulgi, Joy and Yeri ― with the song “Happiness” in 2014. The group has released a string of hits, including “Dumb Dumb” (2015) and “Psycho” (2019).
Wendy is also expanding her career to other entertainment fields, such as reality shows. She is co-hosting a talk show called “Mysterious Record Shop” which started airing on Jan. 22.