For K-pop soloists fans, January 2024 is certainly just for you. To kick-start the year, K-pop soloists are set to deliver new music to the music industry, and we are beyond excited! Get to know our top six soloists who will return and debut this month, from boy groups to girl groups, and known soloists, you can check it out here. Whether you’re a second, third, or fourth-generation stan, this ranked list would be one of the things you’ll be looking forward to.
K-pop Soloists To Expect New Music From This January 2024
Aside from contract renewal and dating rumors, the solo artists are what we expect to give their magnetic melodies, and sensational performances this first month of the year. The industry continues to captivate audiences and the spotlight shines brightly on the K-pop soloists set to make waves with comebacks and debuts in January 2024. We’re pretty sure we wouldn’t be able to cover them all here, but let us know in the comments who are you waiting for!
AKMU’s Lee Chan Hyuk and INFINITE’s leader Kim Sung Kyu dropped their track releases on New Year’s Day. On January 4, soloist Jeong Se Woon returned to the limelight to drop his sixth mini album Quiz. Here are more artists you should know!
6) SUPER JUNIOR Kyu Hyun
Everything seems to be new with the SUPER JUNIOR member for this year. To start these K-pop soloists ranked list, Kyu Hyun sets his return to the music industry with a new album and a new agency, Antenna. His album entitled Restart will be many firsts for a while from the host-musician.
This marks Kyu Hyun’s first album after a two-year break from the music scene. Restart is slated to offer six tracks, including a track with the participation of his SuJu members, Ryeo Wook and Ye Sung. Kyu Hyun’s album will be released on January 9 at 6 PM, KST. Make sure to mark your calendars, ELFs!
5) SHINee Min Ho
It may not be an album, but a song is enough for us to expect the comeback of K-pop soloist Choi Min Ho. He became the last SHINee member to debut as a soloist last December 2022, and he certainly did not disappoint. This time around, a single entitled Stay for a Night will be a belated New Year’s gift for the Shawols waiting for his return, when it drops on January 6, 2024.
Min Ho actively participated in the songwriting of the track, to best express and share his message to their fans. According to SM Entertainment, it would be an R&B track with lo-fi beats that would be a perfect combination for Min Ho’s vocals. Aside from a track, Min Ho gears up for his first-ever solo fan concert, “2024 Best Choi’s Minho Fan-Con Multi-Chase,” which is expected to happen on January 6 to 7, 2024.
4) Choi Ye Na
Choi Ye Na is back to make us smile, smile, smile away. This January 2024, we will probably see another side of K-pop soloist Ye Na with her third mini album GOOD MORNING. Despite the warm title, the concept photos are a bit darker than we expected, but we are thrilled to hear what the tracks sound like. We personally love Ye Na’s Love War and Hate XX releases, so we’re confident that this will be another on-repeat track for us!
GOOD MORNING will be out for all JIGUMIs on January 16, so make sure to clear your schedules that day to enjoy Choi Ye Na’s latest treat. There will be four tracks in the mini album, two of them with Ye Na’s participation in lyrics writing. The three concept photos exude different vibes, so this is exciting to look forward to.
3) WJSN SEOLA
After years of waiting, WJSN will finally have their first solo debut artist, and here comes SEOLA! The group had been quiet for over a year now, and in late 2023, news dropped that the eonni of WJSN would be debuting as a K-pop soloist in January. SEOLA’s first single album INSIDE OUT easily makes it as one of the anticipated releases of UJUNGs and girl group stans this January 2024.
All were being fed teasers [literal tease!], so we have yet to see SEOLA slaying the elegant and dark concept of this upcoming solo debut. The girl group member prepared three tracks for her debut, in which she shared her words and thoughts through the songwriting of all songs. INSIDE OUT releases on January 23, 2024, at 6 PM, KST, so we shouldn’t miss that out!
2) PENTAGON Hui
As we reach our last two ranks among these K-pop soloists who will grace us with new music this year, another expected solo debut will happen on January 16, 2024. PENTAGON’s Hui sets to drop his first mini album entitled WHU IS ME? and we expect nothing more than great music. After eight years, Hui will set the stage on fire with his solo debut, and fans sure are jittery about it.
The track list has been out, and we can witness how Hui was hands-on with his first mini album. He wrote and composed all of the four tracks in his album, so we’re pretty sure to have loads of fun listening and full of emotions, too. Who’s excited?!
1) IU and Kim Jae Joong
Both these K-pop soloists are what we think are the most awaited and anticipated releases for this month. Instead of picking between IU and Kim Jae Joong for the first place, we decided to put them in a tie.
IU was active in the acting industry last year, but this year seems like her year of return to the music scene. An album is set to drop this January 2024, and a rumored world tour is also circulating, after giving a hint in a vlog that she will be out of Korea in the first month of the year. A music video with BTS V also keeps fans on the edge of their seats, and we can’t wait for the album details. In the world of K-pop soloists, IU will always be one of the favorites!
Of course, when talking about K-pop soloists, we can’t miss out on the legendary. Kim Jae Joong was reported to be releasing an album in honor of his 20th anniversary in the K-pop and music industry. However, we have yet to know about the details of this as well, but for now, let’s hope that the release date will be dropped soon.
Who are your most anticipated returning and debuting K-pop soloists this January 2024? Share them with us in the comments below!