선미 "원더걸스 탈퇴..후회 없다면 거짓말"

By 박한나

Published : Aug. 20, 2013 - 18:12

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첫 솔로 앨범으로 컴백을 앞두고 있는 선미(21)가 지난 2010년 돌연 원더걸스를 탈퇴했던 이유를 밝혔다.

선미는 “원더걸스로 활동하면서 사랑을 받는 것에 너무 익숙해졌다. 대중들 앞에서 즐거워야 하는데 초심이 없어졌다”며 매일 기계적으로 무대에 올랐었다고 덧붙였다. 그는 또 “그 땐 겸손하지 않았던 것 같다. 나를 돌아볼 시간이 필요했다”고 당시를 회상했다.

같은 해 선미는 동국대 연극영화과에 입학하면서 평범한 대학생의 일상을 즐겼지만 한편으론 원더걸스 멤버들을 보며 무대에 대한 갈증을 느꼈다.

그 후 선미는 JYP엔터테인먼트에서 연습생 신분으로 보컬과 댄스 수업을 받으며 새로운 도약을 꿈꿨다.

선미는 "원더걸스를 탈퇴하고 후회를 안 했다고 하면 거짓말이다. 하지만 가수로서 앞으로 보여줄 기회가 많을 거라고 생각했다"고 말했다.

20일 뮤직비디오가 공개된 선미의 첫 싱글 타이틀곡 '24시간이 모자라'는 탱고 선율 위로 감각적인 사랑에 눈 뜬 여자의 마음을 담은 댄스곡이다. 26일에는 디지털 싱글이 발매될 예정이다.

특히 JYP엔터테인먼트 박진영 대표가 직접 이 앨범의 안무와 노래 프로듀싱은 물론 의상과 뮤직비디오 제작과정까지 참여한 사실이 알려지면서, 선미의 솔로 활동에 대한 팬들의 기대감도 높아지고 있다.

<관련 영문 기사>

No regrets leaving would be a lie: Ex-Wonder Girl Sunmi

Ahead of her comeback as a solo artist, Sunmi, a former member of Wonder Girls, confessed that she had to leave the girl group after seeing herself appear on the stage mechanically, with no heart and soul.

Sunmi withdrew from the five-member band in February 2010 after the Wonder Girls finished touring 50 cities in the U.S. to promote their music. The fans were shocked by her sudden dropout and raised countless speculations behind the decision.

She said the busy schedule and losing appreciation for life were the reasons she decided to take a break from her career.

“I was so accustomed to receiving love while being in Wonder Girls. You’re supposed to be happy in front of the public, but I lost my original intentions,” she said.

“I didn‘t think I was humble at that time. I needed time to self-reflect.”

During her hiatus, the 22-year-old singer enjoyed the life of an ordinary college student as she entered Dongguk University’s theater and film department in 2010, and realized how much she loved the stage.

“It would be a lie if I said there were no regrets after I withdrew from Wonder Girls. But I tried to remember that I have many chances in the future to show myself as a singer,” she said

Sunmi voluntarily restarted her music career from the bottom as a trainee at her former group’s agency, JYP Entertainment, receiving vocal and dance lessons to refine her skills.

Sunmi unveiled the music video of her title song “24 Hours” on Tuesday, and is set to release the digital single on Aug. 26. The dance track depicts a woman who opens her eyes to love through a lively tango.

The agency showed much anticipation for Sunmi’s new album which is fully produced by Park Jin-young, JYP Entertainment’s CEO and founder.

“Park participated in and was focused through the whole process of producing the album, from choreography and stage costumes to the song and the music video,” an agency official said.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)

선미 "원더걸스 탈퇴..후회 없다면 거짓말"

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