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Former (G)I-DLE member returns to spotlight with solo album
A screenshot of the concept trailer of Soojin's upsoming solo album / Courtesy of BRD Entertainment
By Pyo Kyung-min
Former (G)I-DLE member Soojin / Courtesy of Cube Entertainment
Former (G)I-DLE member Soojin announced the release of her solo album, slated for Nov. 8. The return comes two years and eight months after she departed from the girl group amid school violence allegations.
On Thursday, Soojin's new agency BRD Entertainment unveiled a concept trailer video on Soojin's official YouTube channel and social media. The video provides details including the upcoming album's Korean title, which roughly translates to "The Maiden," and the release date.
Soojin initiated her return by teasing her fans on Wednesday with a video named, "BLACK FOREST" and further disclosed plans to release a series of content leading up to the album's release.
Fans expressed anticipation following the announcement, drawing parallels with "HWAA," a song she performed during her time in (G)I-DLE.
However, public opinion regarding the singer remains divided due to lingering allegations of school violence that first surfaced in February 2021.
Initially surfacing on Korea's online community, the allegations were that Soojin had engaged in school violence during her middle school years. The situation further escalated when actor Seo Shin-ae claimed to be one of her victims.
The controversy eventually led the singer to voluntarily depart from (G)I-DLE in August of the same year.
Soojin attempted to clear her name by presenting findings from a school violence deliberation committee, which had previously found her not guilty. However, when she filed defamation claims against the individuals who had accused her, the police decided not to forward the case to the prosecution citing that the claims were not false. Soojin subsequently chose not to pursue any further legal action.
Soojin later signaled a fresh start in her career, signing an exclusive contract with her current agency.
Meanwhile, (G)I-DLE continued its streak of success, delivering megahits like "TOMBOY" and "Nxde" (2022) despite the changes within the group.