Celebrating their 20th anniversary, K-pop group SeeYa has reunited after a 15-year hiatus.
SeeYa, consisting of Nam Gyu-ri, Kim Yeon-ji, and Lee Bo-ram, held an interview on the 26th at Lotte Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to commemorate the release of their new single 'Nevertheless, We'.
With this pre-release track, SeeYa returns to the music scene after 15 years. They plan to continue their activities with a full album release in May. Lee Bo-ram expressed, "We reunited after 15 years. It felt like a dream during the recording and music video shoot. Even now, it feels surreal." Kim Yeon-ji added, "I want to thank everyone for waiting. We will repay the wait with our music. I'm very excited and thrilled."
Nam Gyu-ri shared, "It feels like destiny. I didn't expect so many people to support our reunion. We hope to transition from 'SeeYa Again' to 'SeeYa Always' with this opportunity."
The reunion began with a phone call. Nam Gyu-ri revealed, "Last year, many people around us talked about a SeeYa reunion. We each wanted to get together, but the situation wasn't right to discuss it concretely." She continued, "After my niece was born, I played the guitar and sang, which led to a demo. We started attending events, but it was hard to find the MR for SeeYa's songs. The night before an event, I worked on the MR until midnight but couldn't get it right, so I called Bo-ram for help."
Nam Gyu-ri continued, "The next day, after the event, I called to thank Bo-ram and offered to buy her a meal. She immediately set a date, and we met. During our conversation, we shared the difficulties we faced when we couldn't reunite before. The reunion process happened more easily and naturally than expected."
The recording session for the new song was reportedly emotional. The three members, standing together in front of the microphone for the first time in 15 years, were moved to tears during the chorus, causing multiple recording interruptions. Despite the tears and hoarse voices, they persevered to capture their genuine emotions.
Lee Bo-ram shared, "It was moving to hear our three voices together. Our voices still harmonize well, and we became stronger and richer when united. It was joyful and nostalgic to see how well we harmonized after so long, which brought up a lot of emotions and tears."
Nam Gyu-ri added, "The new song is our story. We're already in our 40s, a time to reflect on the past and think about the future. The lyrics express the idea of becoming a tree that endures seasons, not just a fleeting flower. It resonated with us, thinking about the time that has made us strong. Being in the studio together brought back childhood memories."
Despite the long hiatus, the members remained the same. Lee Bo-ram noted, "In the past, we were busy following the company's schedule, but now we actively share our opinions. We've matured musically, but everything else is the same. We eat and chat just like before." Nam Gyu-ri expressed affection, saying, "The closest friends are those you can be silly with, and that's where happiness lies. For me, SeeYa members are those friends."
Their experiences have deepened their understanding of each other. Lee Bo-ram said, "Gyu-ri was SeeYa's leader. After taking on a leadership role myself, I understood her struggles. Our solo activities have also made us cherish each other more."
When asked about the evaluation they hope to receive with the new song, Nam Gyu-ri mentioned 'K-Demon Hunters'. The members saw similarities between SeeYa and the fictional trio Huntress from the Netflix original film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'. Nam Gyu-ri joked, "We said, 'We're the original K-Demon Hunters.' Many from the MZ generation know 'K-Demon Hunters'. Maybe those unfamiliar with SeeYa will see us and think, 'They remind me of K-Demon Hunters.'"
The pre-release song's lyrics are entirely in Korean. Lee Bo-ram explained, "Since English isn't our primary language, Korean lyrics felt more genuine." Nam Gyu-ri added, "Korean allows for deeper expression of the same meaning. The most Korean is the most global," she laughed. "That's the power of music," she continued. "Even if the language is different, we can touch and connect with international fans. If we have the opportunity to sing abroad or across the country, we'd love to perform."
SeeYa aims to prove why they were beloved in the past. Lee Bo-ram said, "We've received feedback that our skills haven't rusted but improved, which makes us happy. We want to hear that 'classics are eternal.' Gyu-ri is so passionate that she suggests practicing together. We won't rest on past glory and will work hard to receive even better evaluations than before."
SeeYa's pre-release single 'Nevertheless, We' will be released on the 30th at 6 PM. They will kick off their activities with a fan meeting on the day of the pre-release.
Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr