Group WJSN member Dayoung expressed gratitude for the warm love she received for "Body" along with her first solo comeback.
Dayoung of WJSN gave an interview on the 2nd at Starship Entertainment's building in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, ahead of the release of her second digital single What's a girl to do (What's a girl to do).
Debuting as a member of WJSN in February 2016, Dayoung maximized the appeal of WJSN's songs with her distinctive tone and stable vocals while showcasing her own charm across various genres by handling vocals, rap and performance with solid vocalization and a wide vocal range.
With undeniable talent, presence and tension, Dayoung, who was nicknamed the "human vitamin," transformed her image last September by releasing her solo debut digital single gonna love me, right? (gonna love me, right?). Showing confident and provocative artistic sides, Dayoung recorded a remarkable rise after release, achieving a peak of No. 9 on Melon's top 100 and entering the weekly chart's top 20 as of the second week of October thanks to overwhelming stage performances and word of mouth. She also proved her capabilities by winning a music show trophy for first place and received focused attention from outlets including NME, the U.S. business magazine Forbes, FOX 13 Seattle and various MTV channels in different countries.
After winning the best solo artist female institutional sector at the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards in November last year and receiving praise from renowned overseas media such as Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter (THR) and NME, Dayoung, who completed 2025, returned in April, when spring begins, with her second digital single What's a girl to do.
In 2026, the 10th anniversary of her debut as a member of WJSN, Dayoung is preparing for her first solo comeback in her second year since her solo debut. Dayoung said, "As WJSN we made many comebacks and could share the burden with the members, but as a solo artist I have to bear all that burden myself. Even with 'Body' I worked so hard I thought I couldn't work harder, but when preparing for a comeback I realized I could work even harder. If 'Body' was 100, What's a girl to do was prepared as 200."
Given that Dayoung received much love last year with her solo debut song "Body," expectations are high for this promotion as well. Reflecting on her "Body" promotions, Dayoung said, "There were so many processes that when they were condensed it looked like I did everything from one to ten. But I couldn't have done that work alone. As a solo album my opinions were included a lot and it did start from my thoughts. When I suggested ideas or started early work, team members helped me a lot. It's true that the basic framework, ideas and the start of conceiving the performance were mine, and because I like making PPTs I started by setting concrete plans and presenting them."
With "Body," Dayoung proved her potential as a solo artist. Achieving results such as winning first place on a music show 14 days after her solo debut, Dayoung said, "When I received the first-place trophy it was about 14 days after my solo debut. I had only been born into the world as a solo artist for 14 days, so I didn't know how to act. It wasn't even a time when performing 'Body' on stage felt comfortable; although performing was happiness, there were many things to be mindful of, so I suddenly received the first-place trophy. What flashed through my mind then was, 'I can do the next album.' The second was seeing staff members crying and feeling relieved that I could show results rather than grand compensation for their hard work. Fans were crying too, so I got emotional as well and that time passed in a blur."
The success of "Body" was a triumph because Dayoung's innate image resonated. Dayoung said, "My image transformation happened during WJSN. My current look is my original appearance — my skin is tanned and that's my natural skin color. During WJSN we used lighter foundations and pale makeup and wore outfits that looked brighter to achieve harmony with the members. While preparing for my solo I prepared with my original appearance, makeup, styling, singing and dancing, and Exy unnie said, 'You must feel so relieved. You can dance, sing and move around in your true self; you must be happy.' I wanted to do it, but I worried about being wrong more than feeling triumphant. I joined Starship Entertainment when I was 13 and I am like Starship's daughter; the executives and staff are like my mothers and fathers. When I said what I wanted to do, they admonished me like parents advise a child, but like no parent can win against their child, they eventually listened and told me to try it, and when it worked they celebrated with me. Going through this process gave me confidence in speaking up. And I work harder. Because everyone tries to trust every word I say, I study more and search data carefully so that when I'm certain I can speak."
Dayoung cited "empathy" as the secret to "Body"'s success. She said, "I think the reason so many people loved it is that I'm a relatable character. I can feel like the girl next door, and some people ask if the contestant on 'K-pop Star' was Dayoung of WJSN; I think many people who have seen me on variety shows even briefly recognize me. Seeing that kid come out with 'Body' gives a sense of 'the little kid who left for Seoul to succeed has come back and is doing so well.' These days the world is hard, and some people say they gain courage through Dayoung's stage, music and steps, so I want to act with greater responsibility and become an artist who gives good influence. I want to be a good older sister to young fans and be a good role model for girls."
Meanwhile, Dayoung will release her second digital single What's a girl to do at 6 p.m. on the 7th on various music sites and begin full-fledged comeback activities.
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