[Photos] ITZY’s Chaeryeong steps out on her own after seven years, tempting listeners with four tracks on solo debut ‘Lovesick’

ITZY’s main dancer, Chaeryeong, has released her first solo album, showcasing a sound entirely her own, seven years after her debut.

Chaeryeong held a media showcase on Nov. 9 at Pullman Ambassador Seoul Eastpole in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to mark the release of her first solo mini album, “Lovesick”, officially launching her solo career. “I put into it the kind of loveliness I can express best at this age,” she said at the event. “I want to make my appeal as a solo singer memorable through a range of sides that are cute, alluring and sexy.”

“I broke free from the group’s restraint and showed my whole self”… Title track adds power to her featherlight dance style

Since her 2019 debut, Chaeryeong has earned recognition for her distinctive dance lines, precise choreography and fluid performances. She is the third ITZY member to embark on a solo career, following Yeji and Yuna. She is also the younger sister of Lee Chaeyeon, a former IZ*ONE member widely regarded as one of the K-pop scene’s top performers. Chaeryeong has won over the public with her nickname, the “feather dancer.”

After adjusting the intensity of her choreography to maintain the group’s tight synchronization, Chaeryeong poured all her energy into this performance. “During group activities, I sometimes held back on my dance lines to keep things balanced. This time, I threw myself into it, tossing my hair and whipping my head around,” she said. “I prepared a powerful performance—so powerful that I woke up the next day with a crick in my neck.”

Four tracks to enchant listeners like a nine-tailed fox… She dreams of becoming a producer

The new album features four tracks, including the title track, which wittily captures an unexpected love; “Moonlit Club,” a dreamy dance beneath the moon; “Scent,” an alternative R&B song that likens her multifaceted appeal to a fragrance; and “Favorite Reason,” an emotional soft-pop track. The title track’s choreography was developed with the team behind ITZY’s popular B-side “THAT’S A NO NO,” which previously gained renewed attention through a viral challenge, adding polish to the performance.

Near the end of the showcase, Chaeryeong appeared overcome with emotion and briefly teared up. “I want to become an artist like a nine-tailed fox who captivates people with music and performances, going beyond simply being good at dancing,” she said. She also shared her long-term ambition: “I’ll use this album as a stepping stone and grow into an artist who produces her own albums.”