It’s always interesting when an idol from a group that is most famous as a unit makes something very personal. Huh Yunjin is a member of Le Sserafim, a girl group under HYBE Labels. (HYBE is the company that BTS is under, for context.) They’re fairly new on the scene, having only debuted in 2022, but they have a strong following already on account of Yunjin and other members being competitors on the reality show Produce 48. So needless to say, going from competing to be in a group to competing for attention from other bands would put anyone in a particular place of scrutiny.

Yunjin’s song “I ≠ DOLL”, and the video attached to it, is very revealing. While it centers on Yunjin’s experience as an idol, its specificity makes it relatable and helps it speak to a broader truth. People are taken advantage of, and they are often aware of it. But, when circumstances make you helpless to do anything about it, the feelings are complex.

I think “I ≠ DOLL” will have a huge impact on a lot of young people. The song was entirely self-produced by Yunjin, and the video even uses her drawings. Her voice permeates throughout all of it, and, as the world of K-Pop is constantly changing, I think that’s important to remember.