Blackpink’s Jennie met with Lee Hyori, discussing the challenges of group activities and her plans for 2024.

On the 2nd, at the first recording of KBS 2TV’s ‘The Seasons – Lee Hyori’s Red Carpet‘ (hereinafter ‘Lee Hyori’s Red Carpet’) held in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Jennie appeared as a guest, heating up the atmosphere. She performed her solo song ‘You & Me‘ and reinterpreted Lee Hyori’s hit ‘Miss Korea‘ with her unique flair.

Jennie, who is an avid fan of Lee Hyori, shared, “This is my first time on a KBS music program in seven years since my debut, and I came to see Hyori. She means so much to me that I mustered the courage to get closer to her.” Recalling a past encounter, Jennie said, “Once, after finishing her last stage performance, Hyori looked at me standing in the hallway, touched my cheek, and left. I was so heartstruck (‘simkung‘) that I couldn’t sleep that night.” Jennie also mentioned how she had matured when they later met at a clothing brand event.

Lee Hyori praised Jennie, saying, “The Jennie I saw then was different. I was just looking at her, and she had matured so much. At the event, she was the star, taking care of and embracing everyone, showing how much she had grown.”

Hyori continued, “Watching Jennie heals me. Seeing her smile purely makes my heart feel clean. That’s why I sneak peeks at her SNS. We share similar staff, so if there’s something involving Jennie, I ask them how it was. It’s an unattainable love, but I cherish her a lot in my heart,” drawing laughter with her comments.

Despite receiving worldwide love as a member of Blackpink, Jennie opened up about her own challenges during a meeting with Lee Hyori.

She started by sharing her initial apprehensions: “I wanted to share our music with people who could culturally resonate with it, but I couldn’t show them a relaxed side of me due to the nervousness. Over time, as I gained confidence, it became enjoyable. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work on such a large scale internationally, and I still feel the same way now.”

Jennie also talked about her shyness: “I’m really shy, and I want to overcome this. That’s why I love the comfortable and relaxed demeanor of my senior. Surprisingly, it feels like there’s a switch when I’m on stage.” She mentioned missing home as time passes, saying, “Initially, going abroad was exciting, and it broadened my perspective, but as time went on, I found myself missing the moments at home, playing with my dog or just lying around.”

Lee Hyori comforted Jennie, saying, “Expressing shyness so purely seems healthy. I tend to hide my shyness so I don’t appear unconfident. It’s okay to be a bit reserved when meeting so many new faces. Maybe it’s a protective mechanism to prevent Jennie’s heart from getting hurt.”

Jennie has also undergone a significant change as an artist. She recently established her own label, ‘OA (ODD ATELIER)’, for her solo activities, showing gratitude to her long-term company YG Entertainment while expressing her new resolve.

Jennie explained, “I wanted to carry out my solo activities freely and comfortably, so I mustered up the courage. Even if my path is different from others, I want to succeed. That’s why I chose the name for my agency. I learned a lot at my former agency (YG), but in the process, I started thinking about what I could do alone. I decided to challenge myself. I’ll try to do well. For now, I’m focusing on taking good care of myself.”

Regarding her solo plans, Jennie stated, “Releasing a full-length solo album filled with songs is my goal for this year. I want to come back with good music within this year. Then, I just want to perform on stage. I find the stage really fun.”

Lee Hyori’s first solo MC music show, KBS 2TV’s ‘The Seasons – Lee Hyori’s Red Carpet’, is set to premiere on the night of the 5th at 11:20 PM KST.