Jaehwa Bernardo

Dayoung. Photo courtesy of Starship Entertainment

Article (news)

K-pop star Dayoung is living her dream

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765953124111[다영] body 공식 이미지 5 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Dayoung. Photos courtesy of Starship Entertainment"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Dayoung. <em>Photos courtesy of Starship Entertainment</em></span></span></span></div><p>Dayoung, the South Korean singer who first captured hearts as a member of the girl group WJSN (Cosmic Girls), has had a breakout year this 2025.</p><p>In September, she debuted as a solo artist with the single album “Gonna Love Me, Right?” — a title that reflects her long-held dream of being “loved by everyone.”</p><p>If the question mark in the title hinted at any uncertainty over how loved the 26-year-old artist is, the response from listeners has been resoundingly clear.</p><p>The three-track album has been warmly received, with its lead single “Body” amassing over 14 million streams on Spotify and its music video drawing 6.7 million views to date. Another track, “Number One Rockstar,” has also surpassed 1.6 million streams on Spotify.</p><p>“Body” also earned Dayoung her first-ever music show win on “The Show,” a significant milestone for any K-pop artist, and has reportedly climbed high on South Korea’s domestic charts. The Korea Herald even <a href="https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10591627"><strong>noted</strong></a> that her solo debut demonstrates how so-called “mid-tier idols” — artists with sizable followings who have yet to reach superstar status — can seize their breakthrough moment.</p><p>Perhaps the biggest highlight of Dayoung’s year came in November, when she was named Best Solo Female Artist at the 2025 Korea Grand Music Awards. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SJpmNMWboWg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>But as the singer admitted in an interview with ABS-CBN News, she never expected her solo debut to bring such recognition. “Honestly, I couldn’t imagine [I’d get such achievements with my solo debut],” she said during a recent visit to Manila for a series of media engagements.</p><p>“But I always had a dream and then I’m always [telling] myself, ‘One day, I’ll get awards or be loved by everyone.’ I always dreamed about that, and then finally, that dream came true so I feel like I’m living in a dream now,” she added.</p><p>Even before “Body,” K-pop fans would likely have known Dayoung through WJSN, which debuted in 2016 and became known for their dreamy, synth-rich tracks, buoyed by strong vocals, including “Secret,” “As You Wish” and “Dreams Come True.” Beyond the main group, Dayoung and several of her bandmates have also tackled a quirkier, more upbeat sound with the sub-unit WJSN Chocome.</p><p>Dayoung, however, makes little distinction between her work as a solo artist and her role in WJSN. “They’re both Dayoung, but Dayoung as a solo artist gets to make more decisions, final decisions,” she said.</p><p>For Dayoung, her solo work also offered the chance to show a “more authentic” side, as she was deeply involved in the creative process and decision-making for the album. So to see a creative output so personal receive “so much love” still feels surreal for the idol.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765953239954[다영] body 공식 이미지 4 (1).jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>But it seems this is only the beginning for Dayoung, who hopes to reveal more of herself as a soloist in the future. “I have a lot of songs that I couldn’t show you guys yet,” she said.</p><p>“It could be more of a dance or pop track, so please support it and look forward to it,” she said.</p><p>Below is the rest of our interview with Dayoung. The conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Q: This has been a milestone year for you, particularly with your solo debut. If you had to describe the year in just one word, what would it be and why?</strong></div><p>It could be “love” because I got so much love from all of my fans. That was my hope, so finally, I got a lot of love from all of the fans, so I’d say the word would be “love.”</p><div><strong>Q: Looking back on this year, what was the moment that stood out to you the most and made you think, “Wow! That really happened”?</strong></div><p>Recently, I won the Best Solo Female Artist [at the Korea Grand Music Awards]. So that really means a lot and that was my forever dream.</p><div><strong>Q: How does it feel when you look back on all that you’ve accomplished this year?</strong></div><p>It feels like a dream. One day, this came to my mind, I want to be a really good model to young girls and to everyone. And then recently I saw some comments for me, saying, “I wanna be like her” or “I wanna be that eonnie.” So these days, I want to be a really good model to everyone.</p><p>(Eonnie is a Korean honorific used by a female speaker to refer to an older sister or female friend.)</p><div><strong>Q: How did you feel when you saw those comments of young girls looking up to you?</strong></div><p>I’m really thankful and honored. These days, I feel the pressure and responsibility. I’m trying to have better behavior, be more mature. I’m trying to be good at everything.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bI3IJ31zIJo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Q: You’ve mentioned in past interviews that your solo album is an expression of your true self. How does it feel to see something so personal being loved by so many people?</strong></div><p>Until today, I can’t believe it. Every morning, I go to YouTube and Spotify, and I check everything. And I say, “Oh my God! I got so much love.” I’m really thankful to everyone and I really appreciate it. Recently, I went to Singapore and now I’m here in Manila, I met a lot of my fans… so I really appreciate it. I want to give my love back to them.</p><div><strong>Q: How do you plan on repaying that love?</strong></div><p>By seeing them more often. I’m trying to be here more often. I’m planning a meet-and-greet or concert or show, something, here next year. Maybe Singapore and Philippine fans will see me more next year.</p><div><strong>Q: What do you think it is about your solo music that appeals so strongly to listeners?</strong></div><p>I think many people, my fans, watched me when I was very young so they grew up with me, so I think they relate to me. That’s the first reason. And then the second one—my song was good. That’s why they love [it]. And then my music and dance, makes them want to dance [too]. And then my personality is relatable. I’m trying to share my story with my fans, that’s why they love my song and they can relate to my song.</p><div><strong>Q: You mentioned “Body” being a good song. What do you think makes it so good?</strong></div><p>It reminds us of the 2000s. The sound feels like the 2000s. It’s very easy to listen to. We can expect, “Oh! The next part will be the chorus or the next part will be the pre-chorus.” So they can easily feel it and dance to it.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765953297035[다영] body 공식 이미지 3 (1).jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><strong>Q: Was it difficult when you went solo?</strong></div><p>Yes, it’s more difficult because I had to be the final decision-maker. That’s really hard for me. Because I’ve never gone solo before, I didn’t know which choices would be the best between [for example] A or B. So I have to always choose or decide between A or B. That makes it so hard, so difficult.</p><div><strong>Q: You recently appeared in “Game Caterers” with Exy, Bona and Yeonjung. How have you and the other WJSN members stayed connected this year?</strong></div><p>We’re always sharing our thoughts, we keep texting with one another, even though I live together with Exy and Eunseo. When I was preparing my solo album, Exy came to Los Angeles with me to cheer for me and support me. We’re really close. Same as usual.</p><div><strong>Q: They were also present when you won first place in a music show. How does it feel to have that kind of support system?</strong></div><p>It’s hard to explain, but one thing is sure—it feels like I have a really, really strong power. It’s the kind of power that feels like it could explode. I’m not scared of anything because I have these girls with me.</p><div><strong>Q: What lessons from 2025 are you taking with you into next year?</strong></div><p>Dreams can come true. I learned that, because in the past years, I always had doubts, like “Maybe it’s really hard to reach my goals or my dream,” even though I practice hard or try hard. But this year, I learned, “Oh, it could be [real]. Dreams come true.” So I got hope and courage. So I’m going to try more. Next year, I’m going to explore more.</p>

<p>South Korean singer Dayoung of WJSN has made a triumphant solo debut this 2025 with her single album 'Gonna Love Me, Right?', earning millions of streams, her first music show win and a Best Solo Female Artist award.</p>

South Korean singer Dayoung of WJSN has made a triumphant solo debut this 2025 with her single album 'Gonna Love Me, Right?', earning millions of streams, her first music show win and a Best Solo Female Artist award.