Jihyo of Twice and Red Velvet’s Irene Are Fans: Singer Kwon Jin-Ah on the Power of Her Songs and Why a Healthy Mind Needs a Healthy Body

By Dong Sun-hwa

While love is one of the most universal themes in music, it is not the only subject that singer-songwriter Kwon Jin-ah addresses.

The 25-year-old, who has a thirst for self-exploration and self-improvement, crafts songs about diverse issues that reflect her own journey and growth.

For her latest release, The Flag, Kwon draws inspiration from those who chase their dreams against all odds. She lifts up listeners with her sweet-sounding voice, conveying a message of hope and encouraging them to continue on.

The EP, fronted by the lead single, “Raise up the Flag”, came out early this month.

“At first, I did not really intend to write a song that encourages people, but ‘Raise up the Flag’ naturally became an inspirational song as I worked on it,” Kwon says. “It was quite a coincidence. But for a person like me, who has a lot of things to say other than about love, The Flag is my dream album.”

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For Kwon, the aim of this EP is to show her support for people trying to live their dreams.

“I paid attention to every detail for this EP, but I particularly worked hard to deliver my message as clearly as possible,” she says.

“I thought it would be the worst if people did not get its meaning or [thought] that I was just trying to do something cool. In the case of ‘Raise up the Flag’, it is very conceptual and is quite distinctive from my previous releases that mainly revolved around our reality.

“Its lyrics include the words like ‘blood’ and ‘torture’, which are all symbolic expressions with hidden meanings. I hope people interpret them in their own ways depending on their circumstances.”

Fans are praising Kwon’s vocal brilliance and the sense of emotional connection that “Raise up the Flag” evokes. Many of them also point out that the song seems to show how strong-minded Kwon is.

Kwon herself thinks she is still fragile, but feels she is progressing in the right direction.

“As a human being, I am both strong and fragile,” she says. “But I still try to move forward, and I think this is the most important thing. I do not sidestep challenges and I pour a lot of effort into improving myself. Maybe this is why my fans think I am unshakeable.”

Kwon is also fond of “Butterfly”, a tune featured on her new EP.

“I spent the longest time penning its lyrics,” she says. “I am satisfied with its quality. It is a track that makes me contemplate my next steps.”

When asked about her own ideal life, Kwon says it requires four basic elements: eating, sleeping, playing and working.

The singer-songwriter first made her name known on the third season of popular Korean talent search show K-pop Star in 2014. After finishing third on the programme, she signed an exclusive contract with Antenna Music, home to acclaimed Korean musicians like Lucid Fall and Jukjae.

Her career reached a turning point in 2022 after she became a member of the project group WSG Wannabe. The 12-piece act – created on reality show Hangout with Yoo – is the female version of MSG Wannabe, an all-male act named after SG Wannabe. SG Wannabe was a popular group that enjoyed its heyday in the mid-2000s.

WSG Wannabe became the talk of the town following its formation, with a YouTube video featuring the performance of its song “I Missed You” garnering more than two million views.

“I could feel the power of a major broadcaster’s TV show,” Kwon recalls. “It was my first time being featured in such a programme after appearing on K-pop Star. I learned a lot of different things thanks to the programme, and I think more people recognise me these days.”

“I am not 100 per cent sure, but maybe they like that most of my songs highlight independence,” she says. “I once heard people saying that my music gives them the power to overcome sorrow despite their sad vibes.”

From March 31 to April 2, Kwon is poised to hold her largest-ever series of solo concerts titled “The Flag” at Olympic Hall in Seoul in South Korea.

“As of now, I have no specific plans to meet with my international fans, but I might go abroad and see them this year or in 2024.”