Kwon Eun-bi eyes chart dominance with new single

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Wed, November 29, 2023 | 04:56

K-pop

Kwon Eun-bi eyes chart dominance with new single

Posted : 2023-08-03 17:53

Updated : 2023-08-03 18:32

A scene from the music video for Kwon's new single "The Flash" / Courtesy of Woollim Entertainment

By Hong Hye-min

Singer Kwon Eun-bi is in prime position to be considered the hottest solo artist in Korea with her recent comeback.

Kwon dropped her new single "The Flash" on Wednesday, eight months after the release of her third EP "Lethality" last October.

"The Flash" is a dance track featuring an upbeat tempo and a smooth melody, telling the story of Persephone, a goddess from Greek mythology being told in a modern way. Kwon's bold and energetic vocals shine through to create a complete and satisfying track.

Kwon sent fans into a frenzy with a teaser for her music video prior to its release, where she revealed some of her sizzling choreography using a ribbon.

News of the singer's comeback has been met with frenzied reaction, with the track "Underwater" from her previous EP re-entering the charts twice as Kwon continues to earn growing recognition as a successful solo artist. Her recent appearance at the Waterbomb Festival in Seoul has only added to the anticipation surrounding Kwon and her latest single.

Kwon's daring and provocative performance at the Waterbomb Festival was a hot topic among fans and may be signaling her arrival as one of K-pop's most prominent sex symbols. Kwon appears keen on riding this wave of attention to give herself an upper hand over other high-profile artists who have also announced their comebacks this month.

The publicity surrounding Kwon isn't all positive, however. Some critics say Kwon might be overly exploiting her sex appeal following her somewhat controversial stage performance at the recent festival. Kwon has undergone a bold and mature visual transformation in her latest music video making her nearly unrecognizable.

There's no arguing that establishing a clear image as an artist is important from a sales point of view. Kwon has also proven that she's not a one-dimensional artist, having demonstrated her versatility as an all-rounder with strong vocals and outstanding stage performances during her time with IZ*ONE and as a solo musician. But given her multitude of talents, entrenching herself as a sex symbol may be a limiting factor in her career in the long run.

Therefore, the most important goal for Kwon in her latest comeback is to leave open the door to explore other possibilities as an artist, which could help her further evolve. Doing so could mean the best is yet to come for this promising young singer with a burgeoning solo career.

Hong Hye-min (hhm@hankookilbo.com) is a reporter at The Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times. This article, previously published in The Hankook Ilbo, has been translated as part of a news-sharing program.