ITZY YUNA, Solo Debut… A ‘High-Sugar’ Artist Built on 7 Years of Effort [HT Focus]

On the 23rd, ITZY’s YUNA made her solo debut. It comes seven years after her debut in February 2019 at the age of 15. YUNA, who captured attention from the moment she debuted as ITZY’s golden maknae, has spent those years diligently sharpening herself as a solo artist. From the bold youngest member who sang in her debut track ‘달라달라’ that she had no intention of growing up, to a fully-fledged solo artist filling the stage on her own after finding her own color, we look back on YUNA’s seven-year journey.

■ “I’m different from girls who are just pretty”… The arrival of a confident maknae

What drew the most attention right after ITZY’s debut in 2019 was undoubtedly YUNA’s visuals. With her unrealistically small face and big, expressive eyes, along with her bright red hair that suited her like a fairytale princess, the visual maknae instantly caught everyone’s eye. Her 170cm height and long limbs created refreshing and dynamic dance lines that matched upbeat songs perfectly. It was the moment when the bold lyric, “I’m different from girls who are just pretty and lack charm,” felt completely convincing. Her already polished skills shone on stage. Rather than being nervous in an unfamiliar environment, the seventeen-year-old freely enjoyed the stage, radiating bright and healthy energy that naturally made viewers feel happy. Even when ITZY won their first music show trophy just 10 days after debut, she showed a clear smile instead of overwhelmed tears—the arrival of ITZY’s golden maknae, ‘SHINNAYU.’

■ Step by step, 7 years of finding YUNA’s own color

In December 2022, YUNA, then in her fourth year as an idol, chose to perform a cover of Lee Hyori’s ‘U-Go-Girl’ as her first official solo performance in front of the public. Although she had previously performed Conan Gray’s ‘Maniac’ alone at ITZY’s first solo concert ‘CHECKMATE’ in August of the same year, that stage was in front of MIDZY (fandom name), who adored her unconditionally. Unlike a concert hall full of fans who would warmly accept even small mistakes, a TV stage comes with countless cameras and sharp evaluations. Tight practice schedules and even unfamiliar high heels—despite all this, YUNA did not give in to the pressure. With lively expressions and gestures, Y2K styling, and outfits that highlighted her silhouette, she generated explosive buzz.

On her 21st birthday the following year, she gifted fans with a cover of Anne-Marie’s ‘Perfect To Me.’ Unlike the ‘U-Go-Girl’ stage where she was loved for her visuals and performance, this time she held a wired microphone and focused solely on vocals without choreography. It was a choice that reflected her determination to steadily build her capabilities as a solo artist rather than chasing immediate reactions. However, she also faced harsh criticism for her cover of Jennie’s ‘You & Me’ performed in the same month. The slower, dreamy mood of the song and its full English lyrics were said to limit the expression of YUNA’s bright and lively energy. Considering how hard she had prepared, so much that her legs gave out after the performance—the criticism must have felt particularly harsh, but it was a growing pain she had to face in the process of finding her own color.

In ITZY’s 8th mini album ‘BORN TO BE,’ released in January 2024, solo tracks from all five members were included. It marked the first time YUNA had her own original song, not a cover. The repeated lyric “Not yet, but” in the chorus of her first solo track ‘Yet, but’ means “not yet, but,” yet it also sounds like “I'm pretty” in Korean pronunciation. Not fully complete yet, but a diamond that will soon shine beautifully, it was YUNA herself at that time.

Since then, YUNA has continued preparing for independence by covering songs such as Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ and IU’s ‘23.’ In February, one month ahead of her solo debut, she performed an unreleased solo track ‘Tangerine’ during ITZY’s third world tour ‘TUNNEL VISION.’ With a bright mood that suited her, stable live vocals, and performances that fully utilized her long limbs, everything was perfectly prepared, like ice cream waiting to be taken in a single bite.

■ “Not just ice cream, but ‘high-sugar’ ice cream”

And in March 2026, YUNA’s own album was released into the world. It is neither a cover of another artist’s song nor just one track within an ITZY album, but an album filled entirely with YUNA’s voice from the first track to the last, her identity as a solo artist. At the press conference held on the 23rd to commemorate her solo debut, YUNA shared the following about the title track ‘Ice Cream’:

“After first hearing ‘Ice Cream’ and organizing the lyrics, I could clearly imagine myself performing this song on stage. I knew right away that this had to be the title track. The stage, performance, song, styling, and visuals all came to mind at once, and I thought this song would best showcase my charm. I felt it suited me very well.”

The lyrics carry a positive message about not missing the present moment as it melts sweetly like ice cream, but instead enjoying it to the fullest. Lines such as “Time is like ice cream / it’s only for a moment / hesitate and it’s too late / don’t hold back, grab it tighter” perfectly match YUNA’s confident and vibrant stage presence.

“Since it’s my first solo album, I put a lot of effort into filling it with my own color. It’s an album filled with my bright and natural energy. Just challenging myself with a solo album required a lot of courage. Rather than saving something for later, like the message of the title track, I plan to give my all and focus everything on this promotion.”

The seventeen-year-old girl who once sang that she had no intention of growing up has now become a twenty-three-year-old solo artist who has found her own color. Seven years shaped YUNA, and she did not waste that time. Even when faced with harsh criticism on cover stages, she did not break, choosing instead the path of finding her own identity over immediate popularity. Those steadily accumulated seven years have now completed YUNA as a solo artist. Like high-sugar ice cream, sweet and vibrant, the beginning of solo artist YUNA has just begun.

“When I was young, eating ice cream beads at an amusement park made me feel like I had everything in the world. I think ‘Ice Cream’ is a song that matches that excitement and those happy memories. I want it to be an album that naturally brings a smile when you think of it, something that can make you smile even when you’re tired from lack of sleep. I want to be recognized as a solo artist YUNA. It’s not just ice cream, it’s ‘high-sugar’ ice cream.”