- 13 hours ago
Huh Yunjin from LE SSERAFIM joins Variety's Up Next with Tiana DeNicola for her very first podcast, opening up about everything from her unexpected journey into K-Pop, her upbringing, learning Taylor Swift songs on her dad's guitar, and nearly enrolling in college the day before she got the call to join LE SSERAFIM. She shares what it really means to be a Korean-American idol writing her own music, the sisterhood behind the group's iconic chemistry, and the deeply personal creative process that shaped their new album "Pureflow Pt. 1"
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00:00I ran up to her and I was like, oh my god, I am the biggest fan. I love you
00:02so much.
00:03I certainly was not a good dancer when I first started.
00:05I ran several fan accounts. I think I had like a Taylor Swift fan account.
00:09And then at one point, I had like a My Little Pony account.
00:19Hey everyone, welcome to Varieties Up Next.
00:21I'm Tiana and my guest today is Yunjin from Le Seraphim.
00:25Thank you so much for being here.
00:26Thank you for having me.
00:27It's my first podcast ever, so I'm so excited to be here.
00:31I love to yap.
00:32I'm honored.
00:33I can't wait to talk about everything in terms of your career and how you got to where you are.
00:36But first, we do have a little fishbowl sitting here with all the Google Trends from your name today.
00:41So everything people are searching about you today.
00:44Really?
00:44I'd love for you to pick one and try and make sense of why maybe people are searching this.
00:49Oh, that's so fun. Okay.
00:50Yes.
00:51Anyone.
00:52So cool. What are they searching about me?
00:55All right, here we go.
00:59Oh, Yunjin birthday.
01:02Yunjin birthday. That's very interesting because I actually, the last time I was in LA was during my birthday and
01:08I had like a little birthday party with the staff that I was here with.
01:12So that is cool.
01:13When is your birthday?
01:14It's October 8th, 2001.
01:16Libra?
01:17I'm a Libra. What are you?
01:18Me too.
01:19You're a Libra?
01:20Two Libras, yes.
01:21Oh my God. Are you an October Libra or October Libras are the best?
01:24Do you feel like a Libra? Does that feel true to who you are?
01:26I definitely, yeah.
01:28Yeah.
01:28There's a lot of Libra in my chart.
01:30I have like a Libra stellium in my chart.
01:33So there's just Libra in my chart.
01:36It's a lot, but it's like Libras are balanced, right?
01:41Balanced and indecisiveness and like very, I guess, like sensitive to, to language.
01:50Are you into astrology?
01:51Oh, I'm so into astrology. Are you into astrology?
01:53I've like entertained it. Like I believe in certain things.
01:57I follow this certain account where they like, it's like an astrology bot and whatever they say just rings so
02:05true to me.
02:05It's, it feels like they're fortune telling something. So I feel like if they, like, for example, there'd be like
02:11this one time where it said like Libra, you are doing the right thing.
02:16And then I was like, thank you.
02:19Like I am doing the right thing.
02:21And it's, it's therapeutic. It's nice.
02:24Okay. I have to get more into it then.
02:25I want to go all the way back to the beginning, basically.
02:28Where did you grow up? Where were you born?
02:31Oh my goodness.
02:32We're starting all the way at the beginning.
02:33Oh my God. My life story.
02:34Your life story.
02:35Wow. Um, uh, so I was born in South Korea.
02:40I was born in Seoul and then, um, at like eight months old, I moved to the U S and
02:47I spent my entire childhood growing up in like Wisconsin and then New York.
02:53And, um, but it was upstate New York, like near Albany.
02:57I'm not sure if you're familiar, but yeah, yeah.
02:59Upstate New York.
03:00I grew up there and I have like, I have two younger siblings and I had always been really interested
03:07in like writing, like making stories and storytelling.
03:10I remember my first, like my first work, my first work, my first work was, um, like this, the story
03:21of, uh, a vegetarian vampire at eight years old.
03:26And, um, yeah, I was just so into creative stuff and, um, that kind of bled into the career path
03:37I ultimately wanted to take.
03:38And, um, yeah, I, the medium for what I wanted to express my stories through kept changing.
03:48Like at first I wanted to be a writer and like a painter and then like an actor and the
03:53musical actor.
03:54And then, um, um, I discovered, um, like songwriting and I fell in love with that.
04:01And, um, I like bought my first guitar with all of my, uh, like savings, like piggy bank.
04:07You can play a couple of instruments as well, right?
04:10Yes.
04:10What instruments can you play?
04:12My first instrument ever was, um, violin.
04:16With the orchestra, right?
04:18Yes.
04:18School orchestra.
04:18Yeah, school orchestra, first violin and, um, and piano.
04:24And then I self-taught, uh, myself guitar and ukulele.
04:29Self-taught.
04:29That's amazing.
04:31How did you teach yourself?
04:32Like YouTube videos?
04:33Yeah.
04:33YouTube videos, YouTube videos.
04:35My first song ever was Taylor Swift's 15.
04:37And I remember specifically my sister, well, my dad likes to play guitar just as like a hobby.
04:42So he used to always have this like nylon string old classic guitar.
04:47And my sister and I would just like play on it.
04:50And then one day my sister like whipped it out and she was like strumming chords.
04:54And I was like, how did you learn that?
04:55Where on earth did you learn?
04:57Um, and she was like, I just saw it on YouTube.
05:00And she inspired me to like, oh, then I should start.
05:03And then I would like secretly steal my dad's classic guitar and, um, learn Taylor Swift songs at like 10.
05:13Would you say your family is very supportive then of your musical career or what do they think?
05:16Oh my gosh.
05:17Yeah.
05:17They're, they're my number one supporters.
05:20They're so, they're such big fans of everything that I do.
05:24So I real, I feel really, um, supported and really loved by my parents.
05:30It's, it's really nice to have that kind of support, especially when I'm pursuing it in a different cult, uh,
05:36different country than they're in.
05:39So it's, it's a lot.
05:41What does your grandmother think of your music?
05:44Cause she is a, an opera singer, right?
05:46She's not an opera singer.
05:47She, she also likes to do like, uh, singing and music as I guess like a hobby.
05:53She's been doing it for a really long time.
05:55Like she's, I'm so like, I love my grandmother so much and I'm so in awe of her because even
06:02at this age, she's like doing auditions and challenging herself to like be in different choirs in her, um, neighborhood,
06:10in her city.
06:11It's, it's, it's so cute and it's really inspirational because, um, yeah, she, she loves to sing.
06:19And I think at a young age, I got a lot of influence from my grandmother because like she would
06:26take me to her like choral rehearsals and I would go see her shows and, um, yeah.
06:33And we'd go to see musicals together whenever she was in the States.
06:36So my first musical ever was Matilda with my grandmother.
06:40Yeah.
06:41We got four seats.
06:42It was like in, I don't even remember like third grade.
06:45It was so nice.
06:46So your grandmother's your number one supporter then you're like in it all together.
06:49All together.
06:50We have like a group chat and she's always sending me links first.
06:52Like, Oh my God, when did you do this?
06:54It's, it's so cute.
06:55What were her comments on the new album?
06:57Oh, she loves it.
06:59She loves it so much.
07:00And, um, she's always super supportive of the songs that I write for the album, um, for our albums.
07:08And, um, she's always like, uh, setting those songs as her color ring.
07:15Like the ringtone.
07:16The ringtone.
07:16Wait, that's so cute.
07:18It's so cute.
07:18Okay.
07:19So you grow up in the States and at what point do you realize, I think I want to do
07:23K-pop.
07:23I want to be a K-pop idol.
07:24How do you even start once you have that realization?
07:27Well, I had always wanted to pursue music and song.
07:32Right.
07:33But, um, the point when I kind of realized that, Oh, K-pop is another like medium for that is
07:44when,
07:44um, I discovered how like conceptual and there, there's so much world building in K-pop.
07:57It's not just the music.
07:58It's, it starts with the music and then there's like choreo that goes with it.
08:03There's visuals that carry out the vision and then the members.
08:07I think a big part of why K-pop was so like, uh, I don't know.
08:14Interesting to me is because it's such a team effort.
08:18Since I was young, if I ever wrote something, I would always want to do it with my sister
08:23or like I would get the, the neighborhood Korean American kids and then be like, Oh, I wrote a play.
08:30Let's, let's like perform it for our parents at a dinner party.
08:34And, um, I just love to do collaborative things.
08:36And the fact that K-pop can be so collaborative was a big, like, I don't know, selling point for
08:44me.
08:44And, um, yeah, and I remember, uh, watching, I think it was like 2016 or 2017.
08:51I, uh, BTS won an award at the American music awards.
08:57And, um, that was really, really inspirational for me as a young Korean American kid who had been, you know,
09:04dealing with identity crises and wondering, you know, how I can share my story in my own language, um,
09:14with, you know, authenticity and, um, yeah, it was, it was really big.
09:22I hear you are a big BTS fan as well.
09:24Yeah. Oh my gosh. Who isn't?
09:25Is it true you ran a Twitter account dedicated to being a stan of BTS?
09:32Oh my God. That was like, oh my God. I think that was like middle school, middle school.
09:38As you do, you know. Yeah. Yeah. I ran several fan accounts.
09:41I think I had like a Taylor Swift fan account.
09:44And then at one point I had like a My Little Pony account.
09:48And then I had like a... Very versatile.
09:50Very versatile. And I had like a, like a My Chemical Romance account as well.
09:55I think I just ran like, you know, so many, so many like side jobs.
10:00You're like, I have to let that go now. Now I am a K-pop idol.
10:03Yeah. Yeah. I gotta step back.
10:05So when did you move back to South Korea to pursue K-pop?
10:09Cause you moved when you were about 16, is it?
10:11Yes. I, I moved alone. I think, I think it was either 15 or 16.
10:16There was like a back and forth kind of thing.
10:18I went first at 15 and then did K-pop at one label for like a month.
10:24And then went back to the States, started sophomore year.
10:28And then I think I went back to Korea at 16 and then stayed for the rest of time.
10:39And then, oh, and then there was another time where I moved back.
10:43I was like, oh, you know what?
10:45I've been doing this for, I don't know, like three, four years.
10:49Um, there were like a lot of ups and downs as you know, things are in every industry.
10:55But, um, at one point I just kind of questioned myself, is music something that I really, do I, do
11:01I really have it in me to pursue this?
11:04And at that time it was, it was no, I don't think, you know, I could be living a different
11:10life.
11:10And that life was more enticing to me at that time.
11:14So I went back to the States and in the span of like two months, I applied to as many
11:19schools as I could.
11:21Um, got into a school that I wanted to get into and I had put in my admission fee.
11:26And then the next day I got the call for La Seraphim.
11:29Um, so that was a really big moment for me because during those couple months of, you know, pursuing a
11:37completely different lifeline.
11:39Um, I kind of came to terms with the fact that, oh, I can't really let go of music.
11:47I can't let go of the storytelling, uh, dream I have in me.
11:51So that call was a huge moment and, um, it literally felt like the, the stars were telling me where
12:00to go.
12:01Felt very right at the moment.
12:02It felt so right.
12:03Did you ever, I don't want to say regret the decision not to do university, but did you ever second
12:07guess that decision of choosing music over university?
12:10Or I guess now, you know, you chose the right path.
12:12Like my favorite movie is everything everywhere all at once.
12:15And, you know, the whole multiverse, there's another, you know, parallel universe where I'm pursuing something completely different.
12:21But in the end, like they say in the movie that the life that I'm currently living now is the
12:27best version of me that there is.
12:30And I truly do believe that.
12:32I think anybody can, um, I don't know, like reminisce or just imagine what could, what things could be.
12:41But ultimately I think everything does happen for a reason.
12:44And what I'm doing now is really the best, the best thing that could ever have happened to me.
12:51It's obvious it was meant to be.
12:53It was meant to be.
12:54Especially when you start, um, so young, being so creative and being able to play instruments.
12:57I think like it was always meant to be your path.
13:00When you were training in Korea, what are the steps to becoming a K-pop idol for people that don't
13:06know?
13:06Cause you do have to train under, you know, an entertainment agency.
13:10So explain to me a little bit about what those steps are.
13:12Hmm.
13:13I think, um, it's, it can be different for each label or for each person.
13:18Um, but when, for, in my experience, I had auditioned several times.
13:25Um, I had my first audition in Korea, which I didn't make.
13:29And then I had an audition in the States, um, when labels are doing global auditions.
13:35And there were also times where I did like video auditions where I would send them in, no callbacks.
13:40Like an audition tape kind of thing?
13:41Yeah.
13:41Do you have to sing for them on camera?
13:43Yeah, sing for them, like dance for them.
13:45No pressure.
13:46Yeah.
13:47It's, it was embarrassing to look back on those videos.
13:51But, um, yeah, there's a lot of different ways to audition, but, uh, I got a call back.
13:56And then they had me come to Korea and, um, train.
14:02Uh, there would be like dance training, vocal training, language training.
14:08Like I learned, um, Japanese my first, it was like my third language at the time.
14:17Oh no.
14:17I had also learned French.
14:19Oh my goodness.
14:19Lola.
14:20I saw Lola also.
14:21She, she learned French in high school from watching the podcast.
14:24I learned that.
14:26Um, but yeah, same with me.
14:28I learned French in high school.
14:30Cannot speak it now, but, um, started learning Japanese.
14:33Thanks to our label.
14:35Are you fluent?
14:36Oh no, not at all.
14:37Not at all.
14:38You very well could be obviously speaking English.
14:41Do you speak Korean?
14:42Yeah.
14:42Japanese next.
14:43Yeah.
14:43Japanese next.
14:44I'm working on it.
14:45I'm working on it.
14:46Not, not quite there yet, but, um, yeah.
14:49Uh, there's a lot of like different intensive training that goes in.
14:53Um, and, uh, and then there's like, I guess like a vision they have for a certain team.
15:02Um, and, um, I guess their vision aligned with, or I aligned with their vision for La Seraphim, which is
15:11why I got the call back even when I was still, you know, in the States trying to do something
15:15different.
15:16Um, but yeah, sometimes, uh, you train for a number of years and, uh, ultimately don't end up being in
15:29the vision for the concept or the group.
15:31And that was what happened with me before joining this team.
15:35Like I had trained at different, several different labels, but ultimately, you know, I didn't match up with what they
15:43wanted for the group, which I respect because, you know, no matter how talented you are, I think ultimately it's,
15:50it's, you know, there's so much that goes into making a team.
15:54It's like a puzzle.
15:55Like the puzzle has to fit perfectly with the vision.
15:58Yeah.
15:58It's like not even anything personal.
15:59Yeah.
15:59It's not personal.
16:00And that's how kind of how I took it, which is why I think I could have done it for
16:03so long, even after, you know, almost making it and then not making it.
16:07I think for me, I think it was just, Oh, what is right for me will ultimately come find me.
16:12And, um, I just need to do my best in whatever situation.
16:18And truly everything happens for a reason.
16:21That mindset I think has built who I am today up until joining La Seraphim and even after debuting as
16:28La Seraphim.
16:29Um, yeah, so that's how I guess I became part of this group.
16:36Training sounds very intense.
16:37It was, it was very intense.
16:39Do you have to be a good dancer to be a part of a K-pop group?
16:42Because everyone can dance.
16:43Gosh.
16:45Oh my God.
16:45I think, well, I was not, I certainly was not a good dancer when I first started.
16:49I was actually very like, even in our fandom, it's known that my, my, uh, nickname before debuting was giraffe.
17:03No, because my first dance teacher ever, uh, gave me that nickname.
17:11And it's because she saw me dance and she was like, Oh my God, you look like you were just,
17:16you look like a newborn giraffe.
17:18No, you're like, I was like, you know what?
17:21That's kind of cute though.
17:22So I kind of like, I, I just took it in and it was, it was my nickname for a
17:27while, but now it's like, it's, it's funny because I think I've, um, I've kind of outgrown.
17:33That nickname.
17:34Yes. You can certainly dance now.
17:35I can. I, I, I try my best.
17:37I'm still working on it, but, um, yeah, I think I can enjoy dancing a lot more than I did
17:41when I was a trainee.
17:42So being a good dancer is, um, yeah, I think it just comes with a lot of training.
17:49In 2018, you competed in the reality survival show produced 48.
17:54What was that like?
17:55You obviously met Chaywon who's in your group now.
17:58What do you remember about that time?
18:00Oh my God.
18:00Uh, during that time I was, I had not trained at all.
18:07It was like two months of like really intense training.
18:11And then also it was before the years of training.
18:13Oh, before it was, it was after I, so I had auditioned and they called me to Korea.
18:18But before going to Korea, they were like, there's also this show.
18:24Would you like to be on the show or would you just like to train?
18:27And I wanted to challenge myself because I think in my head, I had always like imagined.
18:31Cause there were like previous seasons to the show.
18:33I would always imagine.
18:34Oh, if I was on that show, like, I think it would be really fun.
18:37I, I manifested it.
18:39I remember always like ruminating on it in the car, but, um, yeah.
18:44So I took on the challenge and, um, yeah, it was a really great learning experience.
18:49I think I had never been in that intense of a, um, I guess, experience ever.
18:58So, um, yeah, I learned a lot.
19:01I grew a lot.
19:02I got to meet my member, two of my members.
19:05I think really red string theory is real because who would have guessed I would be with them now.
19:14But, um, yeah, I'm, I'm, I think it made a lot of who I am today because it was,
19:21it truly was my first experience as in like in the K-pop industry.
19:25So yeah, I'm, I'm really thankful for it.
19:27How did that feel when you got eliminated from a show like that?
19:30Do you feel like it's like the be all and end all, or are you like, okay, back to training?
19:33Like, let's try something else.
19:35I think that experience was the first testament to, oh, do you truly believe that everything
19:41happens for a reason?
19:42Because at that time I was so young and I was so like, I, it was my start to this
19:49whole thing.
19:49So I was like on fire.
19:51I was so passionate with so much energy and it really, what it felt like end all be all.
19:57Um, but then, you know, with talking with other.
20:03Other trainees that I had trained with like older, more experienced, um, girls, they would
20:09tell me that like, oh, everything happens for a reason.
20:12There is, there's going to be something that's more meant for you to come.
20:16Um, let's just train together and have, have fun and just like build more skills to make
20:21sure you're ready when that time comes.
20:23And, um, that's the mindset that I took on.
20:27And, um, I remember thinking like, oh, there's going to be something that's more meant for
20:32me.
20:32That's going to come eventually.
20:33As long as I stay true to the moment and do what I can control.
20:40And I guess it's exposure as well.
20:42You're like putting yourself in front of like an audience to potentially like then go back
20:46into training and people remember you.
20:48Right, right, right.
20:48So when you go back into training, what was it that made you, um, sort of decide to go
20:52back to the States and then get that call for the Seraphim?
20:56Um, it was just, it was just really intense.
20:58And I had kept, uh, thinking about what my life could be.
21:07And I think I had such a, uh, you know, looking back on it now, hmm, I think I was
21:16just burnt
21:16out.
21:17I was just burnt out.
21:18I missed my family.
21:20I missed my friends.
21:21I missed my dog that my family adopted while I was in Korea.
21:25You're like, I must ask for my dog.
21:27Yeah.
21:28It was like a mix of a lot of emotions.
21:30But, um, and it, it does, it, it is difficult to like, you know, lose friends along the way
21:38because it's, it's like, you know, an elimination process as well.
21:42So, um, yeah, that's just kind of how the system is.
21:46But, um, yeah, I think I just missed home and then left.
21:52So I went back.
21:53I think a lot of people would feel that way.
21:55You're, you know, you're not where your family is.
21:57You're friends.
21:57It's harder to stay in touch with friends when it's long distance.
22:00So I think that makes a lot of sense.
22:02Yeah.
22:03But talk to me about the, the call that you get to join La Seraphim.
22:07What did that feel like?
22:08I mean, were you expecting a call or was it a cold call?
22:10Even after going back to the States, uh, our label was like, oh no, but we still want to
22:18do something with you.
22:19So just like stay on the line.
22:21Um, and I was just like, yeah, whatever.
22:24See you never.
22:25I was like, see you never.
22:26See you never.
22:27Whatever.
22:28Yeah.
22:28Like see me at school.
22:30But, um, and then they called me for La Seraphim and they were like explaining the team
22:36to me.
22:36And I was like, hmm, maybe I will see you in Korea.
22:40Yeah.
22:41Did you remember the names of the girls you had met in produce 48?
22:44Did that ring about?
22:45Of course.
22:46Of course.
22:46Oh my gosh.
22:47Of course.
22:48And it, it just, just like hearing the concept of the, of the group, it just felt like exactly
22:59what I wanted to do.
23:00I think, um, you know, as I mentioned before, storytelling and, uh.
23:10Like expressing my personal narrative or sharing my thoughts is a really big part of who I
23:16am and what I want to pursue.
23:19And that's ultimately why I started K-pop because I wanted to do that in the language
23:25that K-pop has.
23:28Um, and this seems like exactly the team where I could do it.
23:35Did they want you in part as well because you are a songwriter?
23:38Was that like a big sell?
23:38It doesn't happen a lot in K-pop where like the idols are also really true songwriters.
23:43Like there obviously are many idols that do that, but you are a writer.
23:47You can play instruments.
23:48Was that part of the, why they wanted you?
23:51You know what?
23:52I actually don't know.
23:53I don't know.
23:54I've always, I've always like thought about it.
23:57Like, oh, is that why they called me back?
23:58I wonder what it was that they wanted me in this group.
24:01But, um, you know, it could be, I could have been like, like that could have been one of
24:06the reasons.
24:07I'm not sure.
24:08But yeah.
24:09Yeah.
24:09So then you get that call.
24:10You're back in the States.
24:11Then do you have to go back to Korea now?
24:13Cause you have to make an album and make music.
24:16Well, I, I almost went right.
24:18I think it was like two weeks after the call that I went straight back to Korea.
24:23It was, it was a quick change.
24:27Yeah.
24:27Very quick.
24:28Yeah.
24:28Yeah.
24:28Very quick.
24:29Very, very quick.
24:30I had put in my fees and then the next day I get the call and I'm like, oh, I'm
24:33going
24:34back home or back to Korea.
24:36Yeah.
24:36Back home.
24:36I mean, it's home now.
24:38It's definitely in his home now.
24:40I feel like a lot of fans have said as well that like you guys have just some of the
24:43best
24:44chemistry, um, in terms of, of a girl group.
24:47Yeah.
24:47How did you achieve that, that chemistry?
24:49They truly are my sisters.
24:53And we have this sisterhood that I think it's, it's really hard to explain in words because
25:00it's just an accumulation of all of the experiences we've had together.
25:04And it's, a lot of it is like nonverbal too.
25:08Like it's just something that we feel because we're in the same space in the same, under the
25:14same name.
25:16Um, but I think it's just the fact that we understand how different we are from each
25:24other because we have such a unique start.
25:31Our formation as a group is, I would say very unique because normally it's, you know, you
25:37train for a number of years together and then you grow up in the same space and then come
25:43together.
25:43But for us, it's, we all, it's like five streams from different mountains that came together
25:52in like one lake.
25:54That's how it feels because like Katsaha, she was a ballerina for 15 years.
25:58She came straight from the Netherlands and then joined the group.
26:02And then she was, she's just like a new trainee that just came in and, um, she was training
26:10on her own and then joined our group.
26:13And then Sakura was in Japan.
26:15She very well could have just stayed an idol in Japan and do her own activities there.
26:20But she chose to challenge herself again and then join a third group, her third and final
26:25group.
26:25So, so much respect to that woman because that is an insane decision.
26:32And then Chaewon as well.
26:34Same thing.
26:35And then me, I was just, I was in the States completely just not thinking about K-pop.
26:42So we joined like that.
26:44And then our experience together started when we debuted.
26:48So, um, we just understood how different of a path each one of us has.
26:55And, um, yeah, I think that's what makes you unique too.
27:00Yeah.
27:00Yeah.
27:01I think each of you have your own back backstory and it's all different.
27:04Yeah.
27:04Yeah.
27:04In 2022 in your debut teaser, you said you wanted to change the K-pop industry.
27:09Do you still feel that?
27:11Do you still want to do that?
27:12And even at the time, like what, what did you envision when you had said that?
27:15That moment in that trailer was the director had just like, he had the camera on me and,
27:23you know, I haven't even debuted yet.
27:24He wanted to like capture the most pure, the most honest version of me, I think.
27:31And he just said, say whatever is on your mind.
27:35And that's, that's just what came out.
27:37Like I got something.
27:38I got something.
27:40He was like, what do you want to like, what do you want to achieve?
27:43And that's just what I had said.
27:45And yeah, I think change is something that happens with, you know, small things, just
27:55like a toss of a, of a pebble into a pond could start whatever.
28:00And yeah, I think change doesn't have to be revolutionary.
28:04It's just, you know, you are your most authentic self.
28:09You express the things that you feel.
28:13And if one person resonates with it, I think that counts as change.
28:17It doesn't have to be, you know, I don't know, like a huge wave.
28:24You know what I mean?
28:25Yeah, absolutely.
28:26In that, in that sense, I, of course, of course, everybody wants to change something.
28:32And make an impact.
28:33And make an impact.
28:34I think for me, I just want to be a source of courage for people to be honest and
28:43accepting of themselves.
28:44Talk to me about putting out that first album.
28:46Because obviously you guys just released a new album on May 22.
28:49So we'll definitely talk about that.
28:51But how did it feel to release the first album with the group and be performing those songs?
28:55Oh, my gosh.
28:55Oh, my gosh.
28:57Oh, my gosh.
28:57Our first album.
28:59Wow.
28:59That was four years ago.
29:01Oh, it feels like so long ago.
29:04But Fearless, our first album.
29:10It felt so surreal because it was something that I had dreamt of for so long.
29:20And to be able to release something with a message that I resonate with so much meant a lot to
29:31me.
29:31And I had also written for the album on a song called Blue Flame, which is still a favorite of
29:38mine.
29:39Of course.
29:40So it felt so crazy.
29:44And I wish I could, like, go back in time and just tell my younger self, like, keep struggling because
29:49it will make good songwriting material.
29:52Yeah.
29:53You're going to be thankful for how much you struggle.
29:56So keep struggling and keep, like, smiling because it's going to pay off.
30:00And now you guys have Pure Flow part one.
30:03Yes.
30:03So does that mean there's going to be a part two?
30:04God, I don't know.
30:06There has to be part one, part two.
30:07I mean, maybe.
30:08Maybe.
30:08I don't know.
30:09I can't say much.
30:10But, yeah, Pure Flow part one is our second studio album.
30:16It means a lot to us because, like, the writing process, the creative process for the album was very, like,
30:27member focused.
30:28Like, it started with us.
30:30The whole narrative started with us.
30:33And then we kind of worked around that.
30:35So it was really, really fun to make.
30:39It started with, like, one on one interviews with each other.
30:45Like, I would go interview the members and then, like, we would talk about different topics.
30:50And then we took that material and then made it into subtopics.
30:55And then it became Pure Flow.
30:58It grew from there.
31:00Yeah, it grew from there.
31:00It was really, really fun.
31:02So many of the songs have already gone viral on TikTok.
31:05I mean, you have Boompala where Cat's Eye is doing it.
31:08And now you have a song out with Cat's Eye, too.
31:10Yeah, yeah.
31:11Yeah, Cat's Eye, La Seraphim, and I, like, we are so supportive of each other that when we got to
31:16do this, it was just, it felt so, so, I don't know.
31:22It was just, like, so supportive of each other.
31:25It was just really, really fun.
31:26We had a blast shooting the music video.
31:29I feel like this single might break the internet.
31:31Like, all three of you?
31:33Like, that's crazy.
31:35Honestly, if it does, I'd be really, I'd be really hyped.
31:39Yeah, you guys seem close with the Cat's Eye girls as well.
31:42Like, you'll make TikToks together.
31:43Yeah, yeah.
31:43Who do you talk to the most out of the Cat's Eye crew?
31:46Oh, I'm closest to Sophia and Laura.
31:52I think I'm seeing them tomorrow.
31:54Oh, what are you guys doing?
31:56I don't know.
31:57We're just going to go hang out at one of their houses and get takeout.
32:01I love that.
32:01It's a quick catch up.
32:02Quick catch up.
32:03We see each other every time I'm in LA or they're in Korea.
32:07Last time we got Hot Pot.
32:09Yeah, it was Laura's first time.
32:11First time.
32:12It was really good.
32:13It's like you're writing songs while you're, like, out at these restaurants.
32:15You're like, we should make a single together.
32:17That's how it comes about.
32:18It started off as a joke.
32:20It started off as a joke and then, I don't know, it became reality.
32:25Are you excited to go on tour for the rest of this year?
32:27You're on a world tour.
32:28What's a stop that you're excited for?
32:30Like a city or a venue even?
32:32Oh, my God.
32:33Well, our first world tour last year was so fun.
32:36All of our best memories from last year, I think, stemmed from that tour.
32:41Like all our Fear Not.
32:42They're so, so energetic, especially in the States.
32:47So to be back here again is going to be really, really fun.
32:51And we have, like, new stops, like Washington, D.C., and, like, Orlando.
32:57We haven't been in Florida yet.
32:59So taking them there is going to be really fun.
33:02I really want to go to Epcot, but I don't think we're going to have time.
33:06Maybe you can, like, leave it in the schedule.
33:08Hopefully, hopefully.
33:09To my manager who's watching, hopefully we can do that.
33:12Put it in the schedule.
33:13Put it in the schedule.
33:13I want to go to Hollywood.
33:18Oh, we're also going to Europe.
33:20The last time we were in Europe, it was for the EMAs in 2024.
33:26That was really, really crazy.
33:29I met so many of the artists that I admire there.
33:33So that was really cool.
33:35We're going to be back there for our solo tour now.
33:38So that's really, it's a dream come true.
33:41Who's an artist you've met since you've now, like, come into fame
33:44that you're, you just have been a fan of for so long and then met them.
33:48And we're like, this is real.
33:49I'm in the industry.
33:51Oh, my gosh.
33:54Gosh.
33:57Well, at the EMAs, I, I think it was also, like, on live.
34:02I didn't know that the cameras are on.
34:04And I just saw Ray.
34:06She was, like, done with her interview.
34:07And I ran up to her and I was like, oh, my God, I am the biggest fan.
34:10I love you so much.
34:10And she was like, I love you, too.
34:11And, like, she knew us.
34:13And that was surreal.
34:15That was really cool.
34:16I admire her so much.
34:17I respect her so much.
34:19She's so beautiful and so, so talented.
34:21Maybe a collab with Seraphim and Ray, you know, get her on a feature or something.
34:25Yes, please.
34:25Yes, please.
34:26I feel like the past 10 years and even five years, like, K-pop has really skyrocketed
34:31to becoming mainstream in the U.S. specifically.
34:33What do you think has contributed to that?
34:35Like, have you also seen that rise in the past five to 10 years of Americans just really embracing K
34:41-pop?
34:42Yeah.
34:43Oh, my gosh.
34:44For sure.
34:45I think, like, Korean culture and Asian culture has just received a lot of love over the past few years.
34:55And it's really heartwarming and really empowering, especially thinking of how it, you know, how I grew up.
35:05I think when I was younger, I had a harder time embracing my culture than maybe I could have if
35:11I was, you know, growing up now.
35:15But I definitely think that our seniors in this industry have paved the way for younger artists like us to
35:24even be able to sit in these chairs and, like, talk to you.
35:30I'm honored.
35:31I'm honored.
35:31Yeah, no, I'm honored.
35:32I'm so, so thankful to even be able to be here and, you know, sing in my language here and
35:41have fans sing along to Korean lyrics.
35:45That was really, really cool last year.
35:48I was really shocked by how well they knew the Korean lyrics.
35:53I remember specifically performing Crazy and they would, like, sing all of the lyrics.
35:59That was insane.
36:01That's the impact of the Seraphim.
36:03Oh, my gosh.
36:04I love it.
36:05Well, thank you so much, Yoonjin, for being here.
36:08I'm so happy to have you here and everyone go stream the new album.
36:11Thank you so much.
36:12Time to celebrate.
36:14Time to celebrate, for sure.
36:15Bye.
36:21Bye.
36:23Bye.
36:25Bye.
36:25Bye.
36:25Bye.
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