'Oh My Girl is Our Root and Youth… May It Grow Into a Lush Forest'

▲ A file photo of South Korean girl group Oh My Girl, provided by RBW·WM Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- "Oh My Girl is my root. We've laid down solid roots, so I hope we can bear fruit, sprout new leaves after the old ones fall, and grow into a bigger tree, a lush forest." (Hyojung)

In an interview on the 26th commemorating the release of their 10th mini-album, "Dreamy Resonance," the girl group Oh My Girl likened their team to the "root" of a tree, symbolizing its foundational importance.

Other members also expressed their deep attachment to the group, with Yubin describing Oh My Girl as her "home" and Hyojung calling it her "whole self." YooA reflected, "Oh My Girl is a perfect record of my entire twenties. My first professional experience after debuting was with our agency and Oh My Girl, and I became who I am today by watching my members."

Seunghee added, "Oh My Girl is my youth. If I were to lose that, my youth would disappear. When I look back on my twenties, I'll miss Oh My Girl as a beautiful part of my youth."

▲ A file photo of South Korean girl group Oh My Girl, provided by RBW·WM Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Debuting in 2015 with "CUPID," Oh My Girl initially gained a following for their innocent and dreamy concepts but struggled to gain widespread recognition in the early years. However, they made a breakthrough in 2018 with "Secret Garden," which earned them their first music show win. The group then rose to prominence after showcasing their talents on Mnet's girl group competition show "Queendom" the following year. Seizing this momentum, they achieved major hits with "Nonstop" and "Dolphin" in 2020 and followed up with "Dun Dun Dance" in 2021, earning the reputation of "late-blooming idols."

Marking their 10th year in the industry, the group chose "comfort" as the key theme for their new release. Despite their success with bright summer songs like "Nonstop," "Dolphin," and "Dun Dun Dance," they decided to return to their roots with the mystical and dreamy title track "Classified." This song, which tells the story of a doll protecting a loved one from bad dreams, also conveys the group's heartfelt message to their fans.

Hyojung shared, "We debated whether to go with a dreamy concept or something more upbeat while preparing this album. Ultimately, we tried to combine both and convey a message of comfort." YooA added, "As much time has passed since our debut, even though we're doing something dreamy, it won't be the same as when we were younger. Please take a look at the more mature dreaminess of Oh My Girl."

▲ A file photo of South Korean girl group Oh My Girl, provided by RBW·WM Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The concept of a comforting doll, which serves as the inspiration for the title track, was actually Yubin's idea. She explained, "I had a cherished stuffed animal shaped like a dog when I was younger, and I would share secrets with it and find comfort. I wanted our fans to feel comforted by Oh My Girl's music, and I'm grateful that my idea was chosen."

The new album also features unit songs from the members, including Mimi and Seunghee's "La La La La," Yubin and Arin's "Sway," and Hyojung and YooA's "Love Me Like You Do." The album concludes with "Heavenly," a medium-tempo ballad delivering the message that the world is beautiful because of each other's presence, even in unexpected situations.

Seunghee expressed gratitude to her fellow members, saying, "I'm so thankful that we've all come this far together over the past 10 years." Hyojung added, "I want to thank our fans who have supported us every day for the past decade."

Among the members, Mimi has recently gained popularity as a variety show star, particularly after her appearance on "Earth Arcade" in 2022. Despite being a late bloomer herself, Mimi rose to fame seven years after her debut.

Reflecting on her newfound fame, Mimi said, "I'm so grateful for the attention and love I've received since appearing on 'Earth Arcade.' I met so many wonderful people through that program, including the PD and writers. I try to live diligently every day so that I don't fall behind." She emphasized her commitment to moving forward, saying, "People naturally change as they live, and I want to grow, so I don't miss or regret who I was before. I just try to do my best every day and be sincere. I won't regret the past and will continue to do my best."

Seunghee also shared her aspirations, "I once dreamed of being a singer with a full album and hit songs by our 10th year, and I think I've achieved some of that. But I'm still chasing higher goals and dreams. I want to spread our energy around the world with a world tour or a dome tour."

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