Dayoung explains why her solo debut matters in a new phase of growth

Dayoung is looking back on the solo debut that changed her confidence — and, in her view, helped set up the next stage of her career. In interviews about her second digital single, the WJSN member said the success of her first solo release gave her a chance to keep making music and pushed her to think differently about herself as an artist.

That reflection is at the center of her latest comments about why the debut era matters so much to her. After first stepping out on her own last year, Dayoung said the response to “body” became more than a chart moment. It became proof that her solo path could continue.

A debut that changed her confidence

Dayoung debuted as a member of WJSN in 2016 and launched her solo career in September last year with the digital single gonna love me, right?, which included “body,” “number one rockstar” and “marry me.” The lead track “body” climbed to No. 9 on Melon’s Top 100 and No. 17 on the monthly chart, and it also gave her her first music show win on SBS’s The Show in September. ([koreajoongangdaily.com](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/dayoung-asks-whats-a-girl-to-do-after-debuting-last-year-with-banger-body/12587573))

Dayoung said she never expected that level of reaction. In her words, the win made her think she might actually be able to keep making music, which is something she has always wanted. She also said the success raised her self-esteem and made her start loving herself more. ([koreajoongangdaily.com](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/dayoung-asks-whats-a-girl-to-do-after-debuting-last-year-with-banger-body/12587573))

That personal shift is part of why the debut still feels important to her. In the Korea Times interview, Dayoung said her confidence had once been “basically zero,” but after “body” it had risen to 70 percent. She described the song’s reception as a defining moment rather than a brief spike in attention. ([koreatimes.co.kr](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20260407/wjsns-dayoung-brings-new-confidence-to-whats-a-girl-to-do))

Why she did not want a simple sequel

Her new single, What’s a Girl to Do, was released on April 7, 2026, and Dayoung said she did not want it to feel like a straightforward “body” part 2. She told reporters that successful follow-ups can feel underwhelming if they chase expectations too closely, so she wanted to show what she can do in other genres instead. ([koreajoongangdaily.com](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/dayoung-asks-whats-a-girl-to-do-after-debuting-last-year-with-banger-body/12587573))

The new title track leans more toward R&B, with a slower tempo and a more restrained mood than “body.” Dayoung said she chose it as a deliberate move at a time when listeners might have expected another high-energy dance-pop song. ([koreajoongangdaily.com](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/dayoung-asks-whats-a-girl-to-do-after-debuting-last-year-with-banger-body/12587573))

She also said the song reflects an emotional contradiction: when you like someone, you may not feel fully like yourself, but that version of you is still part of you. She said she wanted listeners to relate to that feeling. ([koreatimes.co.kr](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20260407/wjsns-dayoung-brings-new-confidence-to-whats-a-girl-to-do))

Creative control and a clearer identity

Dayoung said solo work lets her lean into influences that did not always fit WJSN’s team concept. She said she has long liked pop and R&B, and that after years of being seen as bright and cute, her solo material is simply a more complete expression of who she is. ([koreatimes.co.kr](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20260407/wjsns-dayoung-brings-new-confidence-to-whats-a-girl-to-do))

According to the Korea JoongAng Daily interview, she was also deeply involved in the project beyond vocals, taking part in styling and the music video process. She wanted the visuals to feel grounded, avoided CGI, and aimed for a specific signature look with smoky makeup and blonde hair. ([koreajoongangdaily.com](https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/entertainment/dayoung-asks-whats-a-girl-to-do-after-debuting-last-year-with-banger-body/12587573))

Dayoung said the experience of working in WJSN, including the subunit WJSN CHOCOME, gave her a strong foundation for the solo path. She described herself as grateful for the members and the company for giving her those opportunities, and said those years prepared her for where she is now. ([koreatimes.co.kr](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20260407/wjsns-dayoung-brings-new-confidence-to-whats-a-girl-to-do))

What comes next

For Dayoung, the immediate goal is not to repeat the past but to keep growing from it. She said she wants to keep making music for as long as circumstances allow and hopes What’s a Girl to Do will find a place at festivals and in club settings. ([koreatimes.co.kr](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20260407/wjsns-dayoung-brings-new-confidence-to-whats-a-girl-to-do))

She also said the rise in attention has not fully sunk in yet, especially since much of her solo journey has happened in controlled settings like music shows and online platforms. But if her debut established anything, it is that she is now building her solo career with more confidence than before. ([koreatimes.co.kr](https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/entertainment/k-pop/20260407/wjsns-dayoung-brings-new-confidence-to-whats-a-girl-to-do))

Sources: The Korea Times; Korea JoongAng Daily.