Tag: Seulgi

A Monumentous Day

November 3, 2026

Like any American right now, I’ve been following two things lately: the midterm elections and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I was briefly seized by the fear that the two events would fall on the same day, but it appears the highly-anticipated Zelda remake comes out on the 5th. I mean, if gamers are gonna take a day off work to roll around Hyrule field, they’re not gonna wait in line at their local polling station. Anyway, absent Zelda, this election day was nevertheless packed. First up, a new Godzilla movie?! … More A Monumentous Day

9294* Saga: Return of the Hur Sisters

February 1, 2026

Man, I’d been missing Youngji’s sister Song-yeon, as the Hur Sisters YouTube Channel seemed to be supplanted by Youngji’s own solo channel – which itself ceased updating after that fateful, never-subtitled video with Hyojung and Seulgi, from October 2024. That’s crazy. If I had a YouTube channel, I’d never stop uploading content. NEVER! That video was back when I was desperate for any ‘94 Line content. How things have changed. Anyway, it turns out that Hur Song-yeon was probably just busy, having gotten married in late 2025. It was apparently a star-studded ceremony, though I only saw it through Youngji’s eyes – Jiyoung was there, say. And despite sharing a name with one of the Kara members, Song-yeon is not an idol, but a TV announcer and MC. Ironically, I encountered her again via Oh My Girl, for her appearance with Youngji on Hyojung & Binnie’s Sweet Home. Very funny. And now she’s back, with the most recent upload being a surprisingly melancholy hangout in what I assume is their old apartment? Like, maybe Song-yeon is moving in with her husband, so they’re sending it off? Again, no subtitles. … More 9294* Saga: Return of the Hur Sisters

The ‘94 Line: War Stories

September 27, 2025

Mijoo. I have to hand it to Mijoo. Seulgi couldn’t get it done, nor Youngji or Hyojung. Well, they did so partially. As covered last time, Seulgi hosted Youngji and Mijoo on her Hi Seulgi YouTube channel, but Hyojung couldn’t make it. Since then, Youngji had Seulgi and Hyojung on her channel but no Mijoo (and no subtitles). At some point, Hyojung managed to gather everyone, but barely filmed it. Now, believe me, I understand. These are highly in-demand people, and the whole thing here is their friendship. When I hang out with my friends (let’s say I have them), I’m not gonna think to record it. Perhaps it takes a special occasion, like a birthday, and who else’s but Mijoo’s? As it turns out, she was responsible for the entire ‘94 Line to begin with. As Youngji puts it in the resulting video on Mijoo’s channel, linked above, she was too lazy to keep meeting up with everyone individually, and had them all get together as a group. And this includes Moonbyul now, as they rechristen the group: 9294*, with the asterisk a reference to “byul” which means “star.” How lovely! … More The ‘94 Line: War Stories

When Stars Align

June 6, 2025

It happened. Friend, it finally happened. For a while, I’ve been meaning to write at least two blog segments (these posts are supposed to come in threes), one about Irene & Seulgi’s new release Tilt and the other about issues facing international fans of K-pop, so this new development would’ve completed the match-three puzzle and into this world a blog post’d be born. But I’m afraid I can’t do that. This one stands alone. Last July, I’d mentioned that Gyuri of Kara opened a YouTube channel seemingly with the express purpose of one day inviting on her idol Seulgi of Red Velvet. As she’d express how much she’s been a longtime fan, I’d watch Seulgi hang out with countless other idols – including Gyuri’s own groupmate Youngji. What a traitor! I know how hard it is for such in-demand people to coordinate their schedules, but finally, the stars aligned – Seulgi has a new album to promote, and it’s Gyuri’s birthday. … More When Stars Align

New Sluggie

March 10, 2025

It’s Seulgi Day, which is typically cause for celebration around these parts. Unfortunately, her lead single “Baby, Not Baby” arrives at the conjunction of two emerging threads: one, my own gradual realization that Red Velvet members don’t really make Red Velvet music when pursuing solo work (made clear by Irene, who does), and two, the promotional build-up to Seulgi’s solo album being kind of a bummer. The very album title, Accidentally On Purpose, makes me a little nauseous. … More New Sluggie

The ’94 Line

September 28, 2024

Something’s happening in the K-pop world. Something big. Or at least, in a tiny pocket of the K-pop world. As I’ve spoken about before, one of my favorite aspects of idoldom is the relationships between idols, both inside and outside their respective groups. … More The ’94 Line

Through the Solar System

July 15, 2024

My initial reaction to Cosmic should’ve been a bellwether. I don’t know if it’s just how I respond to music generally or if it’s something about Red Velvet specifically, but upon each of their new releases, I tend to have relatively neutral feelings at first. This has led to the observation of a sociological phenomenon – localized entirely in myself – where I think, “Academically, I recognize that this song is good, but it hasn’t hit me yet,” and I know it will soon. That’s finally happened with Cosmic. I’d been able to recognize that it was solid, but now I can see it’s a 10/10. It’s the best Red Velvet album. … More Through the Solar System

Redefining What It Is to Be a Wendy

March 14, 2024

Last time we spoke of Wendy’s solo outing, it was her debut, 2021’s Like Water. That title track remains memorable, especially as a snapshot of a tumultuous time in Red Velvet history. Of course, I’m glad they went in a different direction with this one, “Wish You Hell” being more pop-punk — a soft Paramore, let’s say. Though for Mother Wenresa, that marks a stylistic departure (and a really good song). … More Redefining What It Is to Be a Wendy