Sunmi is an undeniable force in K-pop. She first made her debut as a member of the Wonder Girls back in 2007, one of the first K-pop acts to really break through in the West. The English version of their single “Nobody” was the first K-pop song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2009.
In 2010 Sunmi left the group to go back to school, but the siren call of a music career pulled her back in. She released her debut solo EP Full Moon in 2014. That began a run of award-winning releases for the pop star, including Song of the Year for “Gashina” at the Gaon Chart Music Awards.
Despite her near-constant presence in the K-pop world as a solo artist and as a member of the Wonder Girls, whom she rejoined in 2015, Sumni only just released her first solo LP, Heart Maid , in 2025. This year she released the single “Forever July,” which blends ’90s R&B synths with rubbery bass and UK garage-inspired drums.
Sunmi has called it one of her most personal songs. And she wasn’t afraid to get personal in our Q&A either, revealing details about her writing process, her greatest disappointment as an artist, and her love of ear cleaning videos.
What is your most indispensable tool?
My phone. I use the Notes app and Voice Memos a lot when I’m writing lyrics or making music. Whenever I have a good idea, I can immediately pull it out and write it down, so I really can’t live without it.
Which is the most underappreciated?
The Samsung Galaxy series.