#seulo

"The Seulgi of today is not that gentle and sweet. Seulgi's very own toughness which becomes deeper and richer day by day."

On March 10, you released , a follow-up to your solo mini album <28 Reasons> after two years. What was your mindset while preparing? How did your experience with the previous album influence it?

SEULGI: I took a bit more time to choose the songs and develop the concept. I worked hard preparing for my 1st solo album too but since it was still my first, I wasn't that sure about the direction. I thought communication between the teams was important for the album to be cohesive, and as we kept talking about it, many interesting ideas came up. I enjoyed that process.

Did you feel like you have become the Captain leading everyone aboard the Seulgi Ship?

SEULGI: Not the captain, but maybe the first mate? (laughs) They are the experts, but I think I was able to contribute thanks to them respecting my opinions and giving me options.

The title track 'Baby, Not Baby' showed that you wanted to show a new side of yourself, whether it was the music or the concept.

SEULGI: When I first heard the song, I thought of a lot of associations and fun things I could try. I started with the idea of trying to create a side of the character named 'Seulgi' that has never been shown before. I think I was able to create an image that was different from Red Velvet Seulgi, so I had fun and was excited while preparing.

In the music video, there was even a scene where you destroyed a pineapple which has been your symbol since 'Red Flavor'. (laughs) It's as if your confidence has grown through trying new things.

SEULGI: I think I definitely gained confidence in terms of 'So I can do this well too, huh'. Because human being Kang Seulgi is someone who likes nature and natural things. I'm very grateful that I can try various new things and receive support while attempting new challenges. And of course, fun is a given!

How was the recording process for this album? In the recording behind videos for the B-sides of the previous album, we got a glimpse of vocalist Seulgi's diverse charms.

SEULGI: It wasn't easy. (laughs) Going from showing off our voices as a team of five and then pulling a song off all by myself, the singing method, of course, and my voice has to have more variation for the song to sound fun. Also, as we developed the visual concept, my understanding of the song became different from the feeling it had when I first received it so I had to keep revising the recordings. I had to maintain my vocal condition throughout, so it wasn't easy. There were times I had 8-hour recordings in a day.

What do you think you gained from this difficult process?

SEULGI: I think the sense of pride when I finish well and imagining people liking the result is my driving force. I learn a lot from the process itself, you know. Now I pretty much have know-how in managing myself.

Do you ever have thoughts of wanting to impress the public with your skills?

SEULGI: I think I really want to show what I have in the 10 years since my debut. Even so, I feel best when I hear that I'm as good onstage as always!!

It's an 'all-rounder' type of confidence. (laughs) Do you sometimes hear negative things when you hear good things about your skills and such?

SEULGI: I try not to hear bad things. (laughs) If many people give me good reviews, I wonder if that's because I'm rather easygoing. Of course, I get sensitive right before I go onstage, but in other situations, I try to relax so that things can run smoothly. So that I don't get consumed by anxiety. In doing so, I don't want to miss the opportunity to be able to do better.

Last year, as Red Velvet celebrated its 10th debut anniversary, you braved new challenges such as opening your personal YouTube channel 'Hi Seulgi' and your first photography exhibition. In between, you prepared for the 10th-anniversary comeback and fancon tour, and of course, your solo album too. Where do you get the energy?

SEULGI: I think it's because I tend to consistently talk about my preferences and the things I like. People saw that in a positive light and good opportunities were offered to me, so I was able to try new things. I used to doubt my own taste, but seeing reactions relating to my tastes has given me a lot of courage and conviction. Above all else, I had a lot of fun. I want to do another photography exhibition!!

Watching 'Hi Seulgi' videos keeps making me smile. Because it's cute.

SEULGI: Thank you. (laughs) Thanks to Hi Seulgi, I get to try new experiences like boxing and surfing and become closer to the appearing guests while listening to their stories.

From 2004-born IVE Rei who was a Luvie who slept with a Red Velvet pillow and later debuted, to Kim Wansun sunbae who debuted in 1986 before Seulgi was even born, your guests are quite outstanding.

SEULGI: At first, I was so anxious. I usually don't talk much, but I have to lead the conversation as the host. If there's something the audience wants to know through my channel, I have to take care of that as well. I think preliminary research is important. That way, the atmosphere becomes much more comfortable. Of course, my small talk skills in daily life have improved a lot too.

Me too, as preliminary research for today, I also watched Red Velvet's 10th-anniversary fancon movie <Red Velvet Happiness Diary> on the widescreen.

SEULGI: You watched it? It's so meaningful that a movie capturing our 10 years was released. It's a mix of performance scenes and interviews, so I wondered how the members answered the interviews. Everyone is so well-spoken. We burst into tears while talking, and complimented each other a lot. Above all else, seeing the expressions of Luvies as they watched the performances made me reflect on this profession. It made me feel 'I am so, so loved. I want to keep on doing well’.

From the age you sang 'Adults don't truly look happy' (Happiness, 2014), you've become an adult who sang 'Oh, you've grown so quickly, child. Come and play with me' (Sweet Dreams, 2024). What has changed and transformed compared to 10 years ago?

SEULGI: Ah, the lyric 'You've grown so quickly, child' is a tear button for me. I feel like I'm not just saying it to myself, but also to the members and the fans. There is so much that has changed in the past 10 years. But even so, these days. I feel like I have become an adult. In my 20s, I was emotional and expressed good and unpleasant things in an immature way. But looking back, I think it was because I was confused. I didn't have enough experience to figure out what I liked, why I was feeling bad at the time. Now, through the process of getting to know myself better, I'd like to think that there are aspects of me that have become grown up. My sense of responsibility has also grown, and I want to become an even better adult.

What is something certain that you know about yourself? Is there a particular trait of yours that doesn't change?

SEULGI: The fact that even as I get older, I think I'll remain easygoing? Expressing your emotions abundantly is a good thing too and relationships can become deeper through that process but, ultimately, the person who can completely understand my emotions, the person who can know what context this behavior is coming from, I think there's no one else but me.

I was also a little touched by the lyrics of 'Cosmic' which was released last year: 'How about you stay a little longer?' was conveyed to your fans. Is there something you would want to promise to the people who have loved Seulgi for a long time?

SEULGI: I say this a lot, but you know it isn't easy to like someone for such a long time. Some friends have liked me since they were in elementary school, and it is amazing and I am so grateful to be part of someone's precious youth and time. So that liking me can be something they can be proud of so that I can keep on hearing 'I did right by being a fan of Seulgi', I want to keep on getting better