First showing her unstoppable wings through her debut single “Bird,” Apink’s Kim Namjoo has made her first solo comeback after four years, now spreading her wings even wider and further.

Showcasing a more daring and developed side of her, ‘BAD,’ the artist’s latest single album, is all about not being influenced by people who talk “bad” about you. Besides the title song of the same name, the album also includes the empowering sidetracks “Mirror, Mirror (Narr. Daniel Henney)” and “Ridin’ Out,” displaying Namjoo’s charms and sides that “I haven’t been able to show you before.”

Notably, Namjoo participated in the album’s concept and overall production process, making this single album a true reflection of herself. “The more developed aspects of me can be strongly felt on stage and in music,” she said.

To commemorate her first solo return, Namjoo chatted with allkpop to talk about ‘BAD,’ her biggest takeaway, and how all moments, including the difficulties, make up who she is today. Read the full exclusive interview below!

Namjoo's shout-out to allkpop readers:

allkpop: Hi, Namjoo! First of all, congratulations on your new single album! Let’s start with the basics: tell us how you feel to finally make a solo comeback after about 4 years. What can we expect from you as a solo artist Namjoo?

Namjoo: I tried hard to capture the most authentic version of myself in this album, and I think you will be able to see a lot of sides this time that I haven't been able to show you before. So, I think you will be able to enjoy it!

allkpop: Are there any interesting things that you could share with us while you were preparing for this album? What kind of support were you able to get from your fellow Apink members, and what was their reaction like to your new solo album?

Namjoo: First of all, it was an honor to have Daniel Henney narrate, and I was grateful for his sweet support when I met him in person. The members told me that the concept, songs, and stage were great, and they left me messages of support every time, so I was touched.

allkpop: If you could compare Namjoo in 2020, when you released your first single, versus Namjoo in 2024, the year you made your first-ever comeback as a solo artist, how would you do it?

Namjoo: I feel like I've had a lot of opportunities to grow as a person and as a singer in those four years. Such growth has made me who I am today, and I think the changes I have made and the slightly more developed aspects of me can be strongly felt on stage and in music.

allkpop: Your second single album ‘BAD’ is about not caring about those “bad” things thrown at you. Being a celebrity, receiving negative comments is normal. But how do you specifically approach this, and since when you’ve learned to not actually care about those “bad” things? What’s your mindset like?

Namjoo: I don't really care about what people think of me in the first place, and I'm always trying to focus on myself and just grow, so I stopped paying attention to it. If I try to focus only on myself, I won't worry too much.

allkpop: Aside from that takeaway, what else do you think you’ve learned about in your 13-year journey with Apink that means the most to you and helps you a lot in your career?

Namjoo: I think the biggest thing I've learned is to always be grateful. People are bound to break down at any time, and it seems that the only way to overcome such times of hardship and adversity is to always be grateful. You can always be grateful when you're on top of the world, but being able to be thankful even in times of pain is a great help to me.

allkpop: What is it that made you choose and decide that topic for your second single album? How important is this for you?

Namjoo: I wanted to be the most honest and show a side of me that I hadn't shown before, so I tried to capture the values of Kim Namjoo in 2024.

allkpop: “Mirror, Mirror” is about self-love. What do you love most about yourself that you think fans also love that aspect of you?

Namjoo: Adorableness! (laughs) And I'm always working hard to show you new and diverse charms.

allkpop: You said in our interview last year that even the difficult moments in life can be special and meaningful. Do you think these experiences make up who you are right now, and how so? Could you give me an instance where going through a difficult time helped you understand the situation or yourself better?

Namjoo: I don't think there is a moment in life that just passes by, so I think every moment has made me who I am today. I always try to make the best of it. I feel like all the moments come together to create me, and I believe that humans cannot grow if there are no difficult moments, so I try to overcome each and every one of them. In hindsight, they all had good intentions.

allkpop: Lastly, feel free to leave your message to allkpop readers and your fans as well!

Namjoo: I hope that this album will be music that everyone can enjoy, and I hope that my music and performance will serve as an opportunity for you to gain more confidence and love yourself! Thank you!

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