<K> (sometimes stylized as 𝓚 or <𝓚>) is the first mini album by HeeJin. It was released on October 31, 2023, alongside the title track “Algorithm”.
The physical album comes in two versions: A and B. On February 6, 2025, an Objekt Music Album version was announced.[1] Pre-orders opened on February 13, and the OMA version of the album was officialy released on February 20.
Description
HeeJin, the first girl of the month to be introduced, is a symbolic figure. HeeJin, who has a full hexagon of talent that refers to her so-called perfect existence, is making a comeback with her own mini album seven years after her debut. The name of the album is <K>. Most of her Korean charms are revealed through the letter K, which represents Korea.
The title song “Algorithm” is, as is often said these days, a breakup song that keeps coming to mind even after a love that has ended, like a feed that pops up even when you don’t want to see it. In particular, the music video is set in a traditional Korean palace and depicts the story of HeeJin as a princess who is obsessed with K–pop and escaping the palace to become a K–pop star.
In addition to the title track “Algorithm”, HeeJin proves why she was the first member of LOONA through well-made songs with various tempos.[2]
이달의 소녀 첫번째로 소개된 희진은 상징적인 존재이다. 이른바 완벽한 존재를 일컫는 꽉찬 육각형의 재능을 가진 희진이 데뷔 7년만에 자신의 미니 앨범을 들고 컴백한다. 앨범의 이름은 [K]. 한국을 대표하는 단어 K를 통해 가장 한국적인 매력을 드러낸다.
타이틀 곡 ‘알고리즘’은 요즘 흔히 이야기하듯 보고 싶지 않아도 뜨는 피드처럼 끝나버린 사랑 이후에도 자꾸 떠오르는 이별 노래이다. 특히 뮤직비디오는 한국의 전통 궁을 배경으로 하여 희진이 K-POP에 빠진 공주로 등장하며 K-POP 스타가 되기 위해 궁을 탈출하는 이야기를 그려냈다.
타이틀 ‘알고리즘’ 이외에도 다양한 템포의 웰메이드 곡을 통해 왜 희진이 이달의 소녀 첫번째 멤버였는지 증명한다.
K-POP이라는 장르가 이제는 세계에서 통용되는 하나가 된 지금. K-POP다운 것, 그리고 앞으로 K-POP이 지향해야 하는 음악들을 모아 희진의 앨범 <K>에 담았다.[3]
Tracklist
- “개화 (Kehwa)” – 1:14
- “Algorithm”Title – 3:08
- “Sad Girls Club” – 3:24
- “Video Game” – 3:06
- “Nokia” – 3:14
- “Addiction” – 2:38
Background and Release
On August 3, it was reported HeeJin is preparing to release new music in October of 2023. Later that day, MODHAUS confirmed the reports and added that she would be releasing a solo album.[4]
On October 6, the first teaser for the <K> mini album was released. On October 12, a teaser for the “Algorithm” music video was released.
On October 15, the second teaser was released. On October 18, the third teaser, labeled as “Concept 2”, was released. Later that day, pre–orders for the album have opened. On October 20, the fourth teaser was released.
On October 23, the fifth teaser, “Concept 4”, was released. On October 24, a second teaser for the “Algorithm” music video was released. On October 25, a tracklist for the mini album was released.
On October 26, the sixth teaser was released. On October 28, a highlight medley for the album was released.
On October 30, a D–1 teaser for “Algorithm” was released, and later a H–18 teaser was released. On October 31, HeeJin released her first mini album <K> alongside the music video for “Algorithm”.[5]
Composition and Lyrics
The intro, “Kehwa”, expresses the process of new flowering through HeeJin’s voice and sound.[6]
Title track, “Algorithm” is a break-up song about remembrance after love that has ended, just like the unwanted feed items that pop up that we talk about nowadays. It reconstructs the sound of artists like Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Cyndi Lauper who led Western pop in the 80s, and maximizes the dynamic texture of K-pop style to immediately capture the listener’s ears.[7]
It was composed by Artronic Waves and Yi Sae-bom, who returned to work for LOONA after her last contribution to HyeJu’s (previously Olivia Hye) “Egoist” in 2018. She recently provided background vocals for “My Secret Playlist” from ODD EYE CIRCLE’s <Version Up>. The song was decided as the title track even before the lyric-writing began. The CEO, Jaden Jeong, asked HeeJin to write about “algorithm”. Due to the term being modern to her, it took a long time for HeeJin to complete writing it.[8]
“Sad Girls Club” pours the mindset of lonely and sad girls who nevertheless live on strongly into R&B music. imsuho, who crafted IU’s “Lilac”, led “Sad Girls Club” and presented it to HeeJin.[9]
“Video Game” is a song by The Kennel, who made numerous LOONA hits; it rushes ahead rhythmically as it compares love to a speedy video game.[10] HeeJin first got the demo for the song in July of 2023. When she heard it, she immediately thought of the film Wreck-It Ralph, and wrote the song quickly in just one day.[8]
“Nokia” is a reminiscence upon one’s abandoned self after love, like an old cell phone. The phone, left in a drawer as if abandoned, resembles being asleep with the power off. The track accentuates HeeJin’s sentimentality, as she interprets through her own voice without being bound to a certain tempo or mood.[11]
During the writing of “Nokia”, HeeJin learned that Nokia was “a widely used phone all around the world”. The lyrics compare Nokia and break-up: “Like a phone that’s discontinued and is no longer around, you’re not by my side”.[8] Park SoHyun, one of the song’s writers, who previously worked on ODD EYE CIRCLE’s “Je Ne Sais Quoi”, revealed she wrote her lyrics in between schedules; one instance was written during the time she was at KBS’ Music Bank.[12]
Final track “Addiction”, just like the title, sings of having become addicted before even knowing one was in love. The acid jazz track mixes sensual vocal synths and HeeJin’s voice just right, and makes the listener replay it from the top soon enough.[13] BADD and San Yoon, credited for “Je Ne Sais Quoi”, participated in the composition of “Addiction”. The song’s words were written by HeeJin as she was drinking a zero-calorie cola at 3AM, which were referenced in the lyrics.[8]
Promotion
On October 31, after the album’s release a showcase was held, where HeeJin performed “Algorithm”, “Sad Girls Club”, and “Video Game”.[14]
HeeJin performed “Algorithm” on music shows a total of ten times.
- One time: Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR, M COUNTDOWN, Show! Music Core, Show Champion, and NPOP
- Two times: Music Bank, and Inkigayo
Commercial Performance
The mini album debuted at #4 on Worldwide iTunes Album Chart,[15] and was No.1 in 4 different countries, including Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, and Chile.[16]
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Credits
Songs
Album
- Producer/Creative Director: Jaden Jeong
- Co-Producer: HeeJin
- Executive Producer: Joseph Baek
- Content Producer: Kim Jong-soo, Kim Jin-soo
- Chief Director of Management: Lee Hyo-young
- Chief Director of Business: Lee Kyu
- Chief Director of Marketing: Oh Young-ho
- Chief Director of Product: Park Jae-hyun
- Chief Financial Officer: Yang Jean
- A&R: Hong Seok-chun, Kim Sung-woo, Eguchi Mi-ki
- Content Production: Moon Yu-jin, Jeong Ye-rim, Jeong Yoo-jin, Lee Bo-young, Huh Tae-hyuk, Joung A-young, Lee Mi-hwa, Lee Yoon-ji, Choi Sung-min
- Artist Management: Kim Tae-hyuk, Choi In-hyeok, Park Kyung-ryeol, Kim Ye-lim, Kim Beom-soo, Nam Sang-hyo, Jang Hae-sol, Kim Hyun-jin
- Artist Development: Cha Kyoung-su, Choi Hyo-je, Decaro Jun, Kim Hye-lim, Woo Ye-rin, Kim Doo-a
- Business: Lee Eun-soo, Ko Yoo-jin, Oh Philip, Lee Han-seul
- Marketing: Yoo Byeol-nam, Park Jae-min, Kim Ji-an, Cha Woo-jin, Kim Yeon-ju, Sunny Lee, Cho Han-bit, Oh So-eun
- COSMO Product Team: Min Heo, Jang In-su, Park Sun-young, Hwang Jun-youp, Park Jeong-won, Nam Hyeon-sik, Jang Su-yeon, Kim Han-wool, Lee Jeong-ik
- Operation: Kwon Su-nik, Hyun Lin
- Photographer:
yonilightz - Artwork: Moon Yu-jin, Joung A-young, Kim Ji-an
- Performance Director: Choi Hyo-je
- Choreographers: HG, Jeong Mi-jeong, Song Ha-jung
- Stylists: Yu Jae-chang, Byeon Hye-bin, Go Eun-bin, Mun A-jin, Kim Min-gyeong
- Makeup Artist: Lee Ji-won from ALUU
- Hair Stylist: Kim Do-young from ALUU
- Public Relations: Major7Company
Special thanks to
- Executive Advisors: Simon Kim, Chan Lee
- Special Advisors: Ryan Kim, Ethan Kim, KM Park, GD Kim, Dan Lee, Kim Ho-jin
Music Video
- Director: Kim Sun-ung (KINGS CREATIVE LAB)
- Producer: Go Min-seog
- Production: PD Jang In-su
- Assistant Director: Park Jun-shik
- Director of Photography: Min Seong-won
- Production Designer: Park Hye-jung
- Real Lighting: Young Jeong Young-suk
- Key Grip: Kim Chang-hwa
- Editing: Kim Ryon-woo
Links
Official
- MUSIC VIDEO:
- TEASERS:
- HIGHLIGHT MEDLEY:
- DANCE VIDEOS:
- BEHIND THE SCENES:
- PERFORMANCES:
- STAGES:
- <K> Album Showcase:
“Video Game” | “Sad Girls Club” | “Algorithm” - arirangTV Simply K-Pop CON-TOUR: 231113
- Mnet M! COUNTDOWN: 231109
- KBS Music Bank: 231110 | 231117
- MBC Show! Music Core: 231104
- MBC M Show Champion: 231108
- Naver NPOP: 231115
- SBS Inkigayo: 231112 | 231119
- <K> Album Showcase:
- OTHER:
- AUDIO:
Download/Stream
Global
South Korea
Audio Preview
Embedded media: https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Aalbum%3A69pBx0bi45GYip7oXcHbzu
References
- ↑ @official_artms. “ARTMS Objekt Music Album <Dall> ver.2 Pre-Order”. X. 2025.02.06
- ↑ Auto-translated. Will change later.
- ↑ “HeeJin album description”. YES24
- ↑ Kim Hyun-sik. “[KOR] '前 이달소' 희진, 10월 솔로 출격…'화려한 새 출발'”. E-Daily. 2023.08.03
- ↑ Puah Ziwei. “ARTMS’ HeeJin pays tribute to Korean culture in ‘Algorithm’ music video”. NME. 2023.10.31
- ↑ “<K> 앨범소개”. Melon
- ↑ litelljohnn. “[Lyrics] Heejin - Algorithm (231031)”. Team Subbits. 2023.11.01
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 litelljohnn. “[Interview] Xportsnews "Idol-tist" Interview with Heejin (231104)”. Team Subbits. 2023.11.10
- ↑ litelljohnn. “(Lyrics) HeeJin - Sad Girls Club”. Team Subbits. 2023.11.01
- ↑ litelljohnn. “(Lyrics) HeeJin - Video Game”. Team Subbits. 2023.11.01
- ↑ litelljohnn. “(Lyrics) HeeJin - Nokia”. Team Subbits. 2023.11.01
- ↑ @yvesoulrry. “OMG SOHYUN TOLD ME SHE WROTE LYRICS FOR NOKIA IN BETWEEN SCHEDULES (???)”. X. 2023.11.03
- ↑ litelljohnn. “(Lyrics) HeeJin - Addiction”. Team Subbits. 2023.11.01
- ↑ @official_artms. “HeeJin <K> Showcase YouTube Live Streaming”. X. 2023.10.31
- ↑ @loonapress. “231101 #Heejin [K] debuts at #4 on Worldwide iTunes Album Chart”. X. 2023.10.31
- ↑ @loonapress. X. 2023.10.31
- ↑ “Circle Albums Chart – Week 44 of 2023”. Circle Chart. 2023.10.29–2023.11.04
- ↑ “Circle Albums Chart – Month 11 of 2023”. Circle Chart. 2023.11
