On March 23, Yuna officially made her solo debut after seven years of activity with ITZY. He released his first solo mini-album Ice-creammarking an important turning point in his career. This also makes her the second member of the group, after Yeji, to go solo. The album includes four tracks, featuring the title song “Ice-cream” quickly gaining attention for its catchy melody and strong personal identity.
“Ice-cream” is a fast-paced, vibrant pop song with an energetic, youthful beat. The concept aligns perfectly with Yuna’s lively image, allowing the youngest member of the group to showcase her sweet vocal tone. Overall, the song balances a cool, confident vibe with a subtle sense of charm and charm.
Rather than relying on high notes, “Ice-cream” focuses on versatility in vocal delivery and rapping. The lyrics promote self-confidence, portraying a girl who may seem sweet on the outside but who is sharp, independent and endearing on the inside. The track is seen as a clear statement of Yuna’s personal colour: bright, bold and unapologetically confident.
Shortly after release, the song received strong feedback from listeners. Many have praised its easy-listening beat and the way it suits her voice. However, some noted that the lack of explosive high notes made the song slightly less impactful. Despite that, “Ice-cream” made an impressive debut by reaching No. 1 on Korea’s Bugs Real-Time Chart, even surpassing global powerhouse BTS, a highly encouraging sign for his solo launch.
Looking back, Yuna (born Shin Yuna) first gained attention when she appeared in a BTS teaser alongside Jungkook before her official debut. In 2019, he debuted with ITZY as the main rapper, sub-vocalist and youngest member. Known for her brilliant images, she has consistently ranked among the best images of fourth-generation K-pop idols.
One of her most talked about moments came during her cover of “U-Go-Girl” al KBS Song Festival 2022where her hourglass figure has earned her nicknames such as “queen of the body” and the idol with “unreal hips”. Most recently, in January 2026, she expanded her acting career with the role of Hong Jang-mi in the tvN drama. “Undercover Miss Hong”, protagonist alongside Park Shin Hye.
As for ITZY, the group initially rose to fame with powerful performances and messages of self-love, big rookie awards, and making hits like “Dalla Dalla,” “ICEC”, “Not shy,” and the mega success “ASPIRATING”, known for his iconic shoulder dance.
However, the group slowed down after the album Crazy in Love. Frequent concept changes and unclear musical direction, coupled with less effective promotional strategies by JYP Entertainment, led to a decline in chart performance. Their absence from the major national charts had a significant impact on their position, especially in the context of the rapid rise of fifth generation groups.
Recently, however, things have begun to change. ITZY has seen a surprising resurgence on the country charts thanks to the viral popularity of “That’s a no no.” The song gained traction on social media after the group’s captivating concert performance, sparking a trend of dance covers on TikTok. Surprisingly, the song returned to the charts six years after its release.
With ITZY regaining momentum and Yuna’s solo debut off to a strong start, fans hope that she will continue to reach new heights and help bring the group back to the top of the K-pop scene.
Sources: K14
