BoA takes on feminism in comeback single 'Woman'

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Singer BoA, a pioneer of the K-pop boom in Asia, released her ninth studio album titled “Woman,” to deliver a message of women's empowerment and self-love. Making a comeback after a three-year hiatus since her eighth full-length album “Kiss My Lips,” BoA took a major role in writing six of 10 tracks on the album.

The title track “Woman” is dance-pop with bright synth and a steady beat. Its lyrics talk about self-confidence and the empowerment of women.

“I wanted to highlight the importance of staying confident. I think a woman I look up to is someone who focuses on her strengths, not weaknesses,” BoA said during a press showcase in Seoul, Wednesday.

The K-pop icon's pride in being a confident woman shines through the song. BoA explained she already explored the concept of girl power 13 years ago in her single “Girls on Top,” but there is a clear difference between her latest album and the old one. “If Girls on Top dealt with confidence in girls, Woman talks about confidence in women,” she said.

When asked if the #MeToo movement in Korea and mounting calls for gender equality influenced her to write the song “Woman,” BoA neither denied nor confirmed and her answer was ambivalent.

“I think the term woman has become a sensitive topic to talk about because people discuss it in a nuanced way, but I think humankind is able to exist because men and women are equal,” she said.

“Instead of dividing women and men, I wanted to write a generic song that raises women's self-esteem because they oftentimes lose confidence as they get older.”

BoA, who celebrated the 18th anniversary of her debut in August, shared her thoughts on her long-lasting K-pop career and the remarkable success of K-pop all over the world.

“When I first released singles that targeted the Japanese market, I was both nervous and worried because back then, the term K-pop didn't exist. When I topped the weekly Oricon charts, so many people cheered for me and congratulated me on my success as if it were their own,” BoA said.

“I'm happy for all the success K-pop has made internationally. I'd like to cheer for my fellow artists, like NCT 127 and BTS, for their global expansion.”

Debuting in Korea in 2000 at 14, BoA is one of the forerunners K-pop. Since her international debut in Japan in 2001, she has earned fame in Japan and helped hallyu or the Korean wave spread across other parts of Asia. Moreover, she was the very first Korean artist to break into Japan.

The four tracks BoA both wrote and composed on the album are “Irreversible,” “Little More,” “If” and “No Limit.” Meanwhile, she wrote the lyrics for the title track and “Encounter,” a house song with darker tones.

“I did my best to live up to my fans' expectations. I hope they love my self-written and -produced songs and listen to all 10 tracks,” the veteran singer said.