[Today’s K-pop] Jo Yuri debuts as solo artist

Jo Yuri, formerly of disbanded IZ*ONE, held an online showcase on Thursday to put out her first solo album.

“I’ve been so nervous preparing the album, but feel calm at the actual showcase,” she said admitting that she is feeling the right amount of tension and worry.

The mini album “Glassy” consists of three songs, including the main track of the same-title.

“[The title track] made me think of a fairy tale. And I tried to express the ambience both through singing and dancing,” she explained.

Having to hold her own was the most challenging factor but it also gave her an opportunity to grow.

Her 2 1/2 years as part of the group is a precious experience personally and professionally, and remains a good memory, she said, thanking her former bandmates: “We always give each other support.”

Defining her identity as “growth,” she declared that she is on her way to become an artist that shows diversity, not limited by concepts and genres.

Winner’s Kang Seungyoon, Song Mino share news of upcoming concerts

Kang Seung-yoon and Song Min-ho of Winner will hold their own solo concerts, the duo told fans in a live chat Wednesday.

This is the first time for both to host solo live shows and they proudly showed off the posters.

Kang chose the name “Passage” for the live show that is slated for Nov. 21. He will show the passage he has walked along and will project himself through music that spans across genres, as he did in his first LP, “Page.”

“Everything in this picture can be a clue,” said Kang, asking fans to guess the theme of his live show.

“It seems pretty obvious,” said Song, making Kang chuckle.

Song went for “Maniac” as the title of his concert.

“Out of many candidates, I heard that you picked it to come out strong,” Kang said teasingly. Song admitted that was the reason, but added that he also wants to channel his unique energy into music.

“I’d love the performance to be as powerful as possible at a solo gig,” he added.

IZ*ONE’s Choi Yena to debut as actor

Choi Ye-na of disbanded IZ*ONE has been cast as a female lead in a web drama, agency Yue Hua Entertainment said Thursday.

Choi has been appearing in a series of variety shows since the bandmates went their separate ways in April.

She takes on the main lead role who is a lovely yet strong 18-year-old who falls in love for the first time as she navigates changes in friendships and dreams. Choi will make her acting debut in the second season of “Girl’s World,” a web drama adaptation of the same-titled webtoon. She will appear alongside actor Yoo Seon-ho and fellow idol Jihan of Weeekly.

The web drama will start airing on Dec. 15 on Naver.

Separately, her debut as a solo musician has been pushed to the first half of 2022, according to a local media report earlier this week. Her first solo album was originally slated for the second half of this year but considering that she is already busy with her activities and that her agency is planning for a major launch of a boy band, the timeline was adjusted.

Infinite’s Nam Woohyun comes out with 4th EP

Nam Woo-hyun of Infinite will release his fourth EP, “With,” on Oct. 19, according to agency Woollim Entertainment.

This is the first new music since his second digital single “When Fall Comes” that was dropped in November 2019. His previous album was released in May 2019, titled “A New Journey.”

The performer shared the news in advance with a short trailer that was shown to the audience who tuned into the second and last day of his two-day online concert last week.

Meanwhile, five members of Infinite gathered for a group activity on Thursday for the first time in a long while, according to a local media report. L was absent as he is currently enlisted in the Marine Corp. Nam was absent from the band’s livestream to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the group’s debut in June as he was serving his alternate military duty at the time.

The bandmates are pursuing individual careers in music, acting and entertainment after some signed with other agencies when the contract expired in 2019.

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)