Mijoo makes her solo debut as musician with 'Movie Star'

Mijoo made her solo debut with "Movie Star," nine years after she first debuted as a member of girl group Lovelyz. "I think I'm nervous, more so than when I made my debut in 2014," Mijoo said at a media showcase ...

Singer Mijoo poses for the camera at a media showcase for her solo debut single ″Movie Star″ on Wednesday at the Shinhan pLay Square Hall in Mapo District, western Seoul [ANTENNA]

Mijoo made her solo debut with "Movie Star," nine years after she first debuted as a member of girl group Lovelyz.

"I think I'm nervous, more so than when I made my debut in 2014," Mijoo said at a media showcase in Shinhan pLay Square in Hapjeong, western Seoul, on Wednesday. "I felt so emotional backstage thinking, 'I'm really making a solo debut,'"

The two-track single "Movie Star" features a lead track of the same name and a ballad track, "Miss You."

"When I first received the lyrics [of 'Movie Star'], I realized that it was really a story that I could relate to," Mijoo said of the dance track, adding, "I, too, watched television when I was young and dreamed of appearing on big screens."

She said she wanted to differentiate Lee Mi-joo, the TV star, and Mijoo, the artist.

Singer Mijoo [ANTENNA]

"TV personality Mijoo is someone you can relate to, who communicates well and one who's lively. Mijoo, up on stage, is professional. It's her real job, someone who is challenging herself to new things,"

She plans to go by her first name, Mijoo, for her musical activities but will use her full name, Lee Mi-joo, as a TV personality.

"I plan on showing the other side of Mijoo with the solo debut," she added.

About a year after Lovelyz released its final album "Unforgettable" in September 2020, Mijoo started a second act in her career as a TV personality, appearing on an MBC variety show "Hangout with Yoo" (2019-) that Yu Jae-seok hosts.

She later signed an exclusive contract with Antenna, Yu's agency.

"Yu Jae-seok told me, 'Do whatever you want to do. I'm happy to see that you are doing something that you really wanted to do,' he also reviewed my tracks as much as I did. It really cheered me up," she said.

Singer Mijoo [ANTENNA]

"When I was with [Lovelyz] members, I think we really relied on each other a lot. To do what eight people did together, alone, was burdensome and tough. But it was also rewarding and exciting to realize that I could pull it off by myself."

"I'm also always ready," Mijoo added, hinting at future releases. "If fans are anticipating [a full-length album], I'm sure it will drop faster than you think it will."

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]