Jeon Hyo-sung: "SECRET activities after 12 years feel like the place where I belong" [hanbok Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

• GROUP SECRET leader Jeon Hyo-sung hanbok interview

Singer Jeon Hyo-sung shared her feelings about returning as a three-member group SECRET after 12 years.

Jeon Hyo-sung conveyed diverse stories about SECRET activities through a hanbok interview conducted with StarNews for the Chuseok holiday.

SECRET, led by Jeon Hyo-sung, released the special mini-album 'SECRET Flavor' on June 18. This marks their comeback under the name SECRET for the first time since 2014 — a span of 12 years.

The driving force behind this comeback is undoubtedly leader Jeon Hyo-sung. Original members Jeon Hyo-sung and Jinggo, along with new member Yebin, born in 2002, joined to open the second chapter of SECRET. 'SECRET Flavor' includes eight tracks: the title song 'Ice Cream', the track 'Get Right', as well as newly performed SECRET hit songs 'Madonna' and 'Shy Boy'.

Jeon Hyo-sung stated, "Through this comeback, I felt that fans have waited for a long time, which made me think, 'I should have returned sooner.' At the same time, I also thought, 'Indeed, this is where I belong.' To do so, I realized I must take good care of my health."

She also experienced a new format: an online video call fan signing event. Jeon Hyo-sung said, "We held a video call fan signing event that didn't exist in the past. One overseas fan mentioned they liked SECRET when they were in elementary school, and that was during SECRET's last activities. For them, this comeback is their first experience with a SECRET comeback. I am truly grateful to fans who have stayed by our side without leaving and waited for us." She expressed her gratitude to fans who have remained loyal for so long.

Jeon Hyo-sung debuted in 2009 as part of SECRET, receiving great love through hit songs such as 'Shy Boy', 'Love is a Move', 'Starlight Moonlight', and 'Magic'. In addition, she solidified her position as a solo artist with the solo track 'Good-night Kiss' and showcased a new side of herself through the 2023 Netflix original series 'Celebrity'.

With 17 years since her debut, Jeon Hyo-sung joked, "In human terms, that's like being in high school first year," before adding, "Senior artists who have been active longer than us, such as Jewelry's Seo In-young, BIGBANG seniors, and god seniors, are still actively performing. On the contrary, I feel there is still a long way to go for me. My only wish is to continue being active for a long time."

Continuing, Jeon Hyo-sung said, "While preparing this comeback album, I feel I have grown tremendously." In reality, she devoted great effort to 'SECRET Flavor'. She had to pay attention not only to the staff involved but also to communication with members and ensure musical quality was not compromised.

Regarding this, Jeon Hyo-sung explained, "Not only was I satisfied musically, but I did not want to compromise SECRET's originality. The more I worked on it, the greater my ambition became, and I thought I might go crazy. As there were many moments of deliberation over what to let go of and what to focus on during the preparation process, the resulting album is one without regrets. I even created a PPT presentation for the company regarding costumes because I needed to feel personally at ease." She explained the reasons behind her dedication to this comeback after 12 years.

Jeon Hyo-sung also mentioned, "We had many conversations with members. In Jinggo's case, she found it physically challenging. She had to balance dieting and practice while also relearning dance routines, which must have been difficult. At one point, Jinggo even cried. As the leader, I gave her a scolding, and we supported each other, leading us to this comeback."

What she emphasized to new member Yebin was 'SECRET's originality'. Jeon Hyo-sung said, "I can proudly claim that I have listened to SECRET's songs more than anyone else in the world. To preserve the unique feel and rawness of that era, we made efforts to maintain it. I thought that singing in a modern style might make it seem awkward. Yebin has excellent vocal ability and handled everything wonderfully. Even though she is still young, her voice is remarkably clear when hitting high notes. I think she is a vocalist hard to find these days; meeting her as part of SECRET feels like fate." She praised Yebin's talent.

She then added, "On one hand, since this is a comeback after 12 years, I worried that the public and fans might feel puzzled about having a new member who isn't an original member join us. In that context, I was also concerned whether Yebin might get hurt. However, when I saw comments saying things like 'With Yebin joining, SECRET is starting anew,' I realized that fans truly understand our hearts, and tears suddenly came to my eyes."

SECRET's activities, further revitalized by Yebin's addition, will continue into the future. Jeon Hyo-sung conveyed, "Since this is not a one-time activity, there are many things we want to show. Above all, I have a strong desire to continue our activities in diverse and active ways."

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*This content was translated by AI.