Nearly 20 years into her music career Wonder Girls’ Sunmi is staying humble, but persistent.
Nearly 20 years into her music career Wonder Girls’ Sunmi is staying humble, but persistent.
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.
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.
The Samsung Galaxy series. It has made my work environment so much easier.Team Galaxyyyyyy!
What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer?
These days, you can transfer all the apps and data from your previous device, so I don’t really have to install anything separately. But if that process didn’t exist, I’d probably install KakaoTalk, a messaging app, first.
What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone?
I have so many unnecessary photos and screenshots in my gallery. I wish there were a feature that could recognize similar or duplicate photos and group them together, so I could delete them all at once.
What sites do you have pinned to your tab bar?
Notion. I use it a lot because I work on many group projects. It’s convenient, but it takes quite a long time to get used to. I think the UI could use some improvement.
Four: Notion, Google Drive, YouTube, and Claude.
Which social media platform do you use the most?
I don’t really use social media that much, but I think I use Instagram and X the most.
Videos of people getting their ears cleaned on YouTube.
What is your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned?
I’m not really good with technology, but I think the Samsung Z Fold 8 that I’m using right now is probably my favorite device. I often need to work on documents or edit videos while I’m on the go, and it’s incredibly convenient. I can work with both hands on a wide screen, and it’s surprisingly light. It’s exactly the kind of device I’ve always needed.
What game do you have the fondest memories of?
MapleStory by Nexon. I played it when I was in elementary school, and even after becoming an adult, I would sometimes play the mobile version. The graphics really bring back memories of my childhood.
“Tail.” It’s a song that still gets me excited every time I perform it live. When I hold my breath, the audience holds their breath too, and when I explode, they explode with me. It creates this really unique experience.
“You Can’t Sit with Us.” It was the first song where I ever tried rapping. But the lyrics and even my voice were terrible.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Always stay humble. You should never let yourself become arrogant.
I really love ice cream. Korean summers are shockingly hot, so it’s hard to survive without ice cream. I absolutely love Salt & Straw’s Salted Caramel Waffle Cone, but there’s nothing quite like it in Korea.
I find a small space to organize my thoughts.
I say “No?” out loud. For example, if I start thinking to myself, “I can’t do this,” I immediately say “No?” out loud.
