GFRIEND's YUJU on Her "Unfinished" Bond With Members: "Sometimes I Miss Them" [Q&A]

Singer YUJU, a former member of K-pop girl group GFRIEND, is back with new solo music. She releases her fourth EP, "file. 07," on October 14 at 6 p.m. KST across major streaming platforms.

The project centers on emotions that linger without resolution. Across six tracks, YUJU explores relationships that never reached a clear ending. She participated in writing the lyrics and composing the music for every song on the EP.

The tracklist includes the title song "Mije" (meaning "unsolved case" in Korean), along with "Without Knowing How Scary the Aftermath Will Be," "Love Gamer (Feat. JUNNY)," "SOS," "Rock Bottom" and "P.S."

Ahead of the release, YUJU shared her thoughts on the album and the stories behind it in a Q&A.

Ahead of the release, YUJU shared her thoughts on the album and the stories behind it in a Q&A.

Q. How do you feel about releasing your fourth EP, "file. 07"?

Putting out new music always feels exciting and also like a weight lifting off. I hope a lot of people enjoy the album and feel what's in it.

Q. What is the meaning behind the title "file. 07"?

On this album, for the first time, I labeled the songs as "file" instead of "track." I worked on each song as if it were a cold case file. I hope the music stays with listeners the way an unsolved case does, playing in their minds for a long time.

Q. Why did you choose "unfinished" as the theme of this album?

They say the emotions that stay the longest and deepest inside a person are the unfinished ones. I thought it was a more interesting subject than closure. I wanted this album to leave a strong mark on all those relationships that never got a name.

Q. Why did you pick "Mije" as the title track, and what should listeners pay attention to?

This song is where the whole album started. It expresses the album's main emotion in the most honest way. When I played the songs for people around me, they all ended up humming this one, and that's when I was sure it should be the title track. The mood and genre were also something I'd wanted to try, and I felt the lyrics and melody were simple on the surface but carried something strong for the listener.

Q. You participated in writing the lyrics and composing the music for every song on this album. What did you focus on most during the process?

Every part matters, but I paid the most attention to writing the lyrics carefully. A melody can be shifted a little as long as it stays within a certain frame, but every single word in a lyric lands exactly as it is. I was very careful about choosing words that could carry the feeling I wanted to deliver.

Q. Any memorable behind-the-scenes moments from recording or filming?

This time, I recorded all six songs on my own, without anyone directing my vocals. It was fun to figure out which vocal approach fit each song and work through it alone. We also tried something new by shooting the album sampler video in one take. There was a perfect take that got ruined at the very end because a fly flew into frame. The one-take sampler shoot and the music video shoot both stand out in my memory.

Q. Is there an unfinished emotion that still lingers for you? If so, what kind?

There are several, but my fellow GFRIEND members feel like an unfinished emotion to me too. We've spent so many years together that even now, just making eye contact makes us laugh. But everyone is busy with their own activities now, so we don't see each other as often, and sometimes a kind of longing comes up out of nowhere. It's a special, unfinished relationship that I can't define in one word.

Q. What do you want to achieve with this album, and what kind of response do you hope for?

I hope people find the musical world I'm building compelling and emotionally rich. I hope more listeners will share that world with me, support one another through difficult times, and look forward to what I create next.

Q. A message to fans who have been waiting for your comeback?

To my LUVU, who are always my biggest source of strength, I'll be a singer who won't let you down. I love you.