ITZY’s Yuna scoops up sweet new chapter with solo debut ‘Ice Cream’

Yuna of K-pop girl group ITZY poses during a press conference commemorating her first solo album release in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Mar 23, 2026 6:02 PM KST

K-pop girl group ITZY's youngest, Yuna, is stepping into a new, solo spotlight — one that feels both familiar and entirely her own. The 22-year-old singer debuted her first individual album, “Ice Cream,” Monday, offering fans a spring-ready introduction to her solo identity.

Though still one of K-pop’s youngest breakout figures, Yuna is already entering her seventh year since debuting with ITZY. Following leader Yeji's earlier solo turn, Yuna now seeks to transform her radiant visuals that first defined her into a more personal musical narrative.

Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Seoul just hours before the album release, the singer arrived in a white mini dress that mirrored the record’s airy mood. The setting felt calm, but her emotions were anything but.

“I feel as nervous as I did when I first debuted with ITZY, but just as excited,” Yuna said. “There’s definitely pressure because it’s my first solo after seven years. I want to do well. Watching Yeji handle her solo so confidently inspired me in a positive way and pushed me to prepare even harder.”

Preparing alone, according to Yuna, meant confronting the challenge of holding an entire stage on her own.

“When we promote as a group, the five of us move like one body and support each other,” she said. “For my solo, I kept thinking I had to fill the space by myself. I missed the members a lot during the process, but it also became a chance for me to grow ... The biggest strength I want to show through this solo is my bright, natural positive energy.”

That energy is baked into “Ice Cream,” the fizzy bubblegum pop title track built on playful melodies and layered vocals that give its opening and bridge sections a fresh feel. Sonically, the single leans into lightness and accessibility, capturing the mood of early spring. Rather than aiming for a major vocal showcase, the track introduces Yuna’s solo persona as a strategic first step that hints at deeper potential.

According to the singer, the support of her bandmates remained a steady presence.

“When I first heard the title track, I played it for the members right away,” she said. “They told me it suited me so well and that they could already picture my performance. Yeji even came to the music video shoot to cheer me on. I got emotional as soon as I saw her."

The four-track release — pairing the groove-driven “B-Boy,” the dreamy love song “Blue Maze” and the cinematic closer “Hyper Dream” alongside the eponymous title track — broadens Yuna’s sonic palette.

Her solo arrival coincides with an unexpected wave of attention for ITZY as a whole.

The group's 2020 B-side, “THAT’S A NONO,” has recently surged back into the spotlight after a viral performance moment during the ongoing “ITZY 3RD WORLD TOUR ‘TUNNEL VISION,’” which kicked off in February.

Fan-captured clips from the shows quickly spread online, underscoring the group’s enduring global pull.

“I’m incredibly thankful that one of our older songs is receiving so much love right before my solo release,” Yuna said. “At the same time, I hope listeners will also show the same warmth and interest toward my solo music.”

For an idol long positioned as one of K-pop’s most recognizable visual standouts, the solo debut marks a deliberate shift in focus. Rather than rejecting that label, Yuna said she hopes to build on it.

“I’ve always been grateful to be called a visual icon of the genre,” she said. “But through this solo stage, I want people to see me as a singer and performer with real artistic ability. From now on, I want to keep showing that side of myself.”