ITZY's Chaeryeong Waited 7 Years 9 Months for a Solo Debut and Cried at Its Launch

ITZY's Chaeryeong debuted as a soloist on the 9th, 7 years and 9 months after the group's debut, with the four-track mini album Lovesick arriving at 6 p.m. KST. She is the third member to go solo after Yeji and Yuna, and at her press conference in Seoul she said she never felt late: "I think now is the right time to show this side of me."

The showcase took place at the Pullman Ambassador Seoul East Pole in Gwangjin District, with broadcaster Shin Ah-young hosting. Chaeryeong introduced herself as "the solo sprout debuting today." She said the delay was a shared decision: she and the company agreed to show enough of ITZY first, and that waiting for the solo release was no problem. Compared with seven years ago, she said, she has more composure and a clearer sense of her own taste. She also admitted to nerves, saying the preparation felt like a genuine debut and brought back memories of ITZY's first days.

A solo project without compromise

The title track, also called "Lovesick," is about the flutter and sweet confusion of falling for someone unexpectedly. Chaeryeong described it as lovely and playful but "not just cute," with a dreamy mood and a touch of allure. The music video follows her losing her heart to a sudden presence.

She said the process taught her that ITZY and her solo self are less different than she expected, since the group had tried a wide range of concepts. Working alone also meant no need to gather opinions, so her own preferences shaped the song and choreography. Within ITZY, she explained, she held back her dance lines and her jjo, a Korean term for a performer's attitude and swagger, because balance among the members mattered. This time she tossed her head and swung her hair freely, and she joked that she woke up the next day with a stiff neck.

The point choreography is built to be imitated. Chaeryeong said the move of pointing at the audience one by one is meant to feel like "a pose that wins everyone over once you point." She described a feathery dance line for most of the song, with more powerful choreography in the third-verse section where the vocals open up. Unsure which section would catch on, she filmed dance challenge videos for the first, second and third verses.

The album also holds "Moonlit Club," "Scent" and "Favorite Reason." Chaeryeong is credited as a lyricist on "Favorite Reason," which she said was her way of thanking fans in more detail, with a message that they are her favorite reason for believing in love.

Advice from Yeji and Yuna, and a goal of a second chance

Chaeryeong had performed solo stages at concerts, but said facing the general public takes a different resolve. Her fellow members, she said, cheered her on more because they had gone solo first, and they warned her it would be harder than it looked. Yeji advised her to be sharp and precise now that her own solo data has accumulated, which left Chaeryeong feeling she still has a lot to learn.

Her stated goal is modest and clear: "To get a second chance, I need to be loved by many people," she said, explaining why she chose a song that sits easily with a broad audience. She wants to prove she has solo talent, to try self-producing someday, and to become an artist people look forward to hearing from again.

She said fans who call her bewitching and compare her to a nine-tailed fox make her happy, and promised to "enchant everyone again this time." Asked about ambition, she named Sunmi and Gain as senior artists she covered out of respect, then added that she doubts she can surpass J.Y. Park, since she wondered whether she could live as hard as he has. She promised to work hard anyway. Then she said, "Who am I to say that," and her eyes filled with tears.

Chaeryeong's focus on accessible, listener-friendly material suggests her first solo test is as much about broad appeal as fandom loyalty. Circle the date: the first week of streaming numbers will show how far Lovesick travels beyond ITZY's own audience.