Kwon Eun-bi Opens Up About Her Journey to Success and the Impact of 'Waterbomb'

K-pop singer Kwon Eun-bi candidly shared her thoughts on being invited to the 'Waterbomb' festival.

On the 26th, the YouTube channel 'Yojung Jaehyung' released an episode titled 'An Idol Who Debuted Three Times, No Time to Be Hurt,' featuring Kwon Eun-bi.

During the episode, Kwon Eun-bi discussed her journey from re-debuting in a girl group to gaining popularity as a solo artist through 'Waterbomb.' After debuting with the girl group Ye-A in 2014 and leaving due to company issues, she gained significant attention as a member of the 'Produce 48' group IZ*ONE in 2018. In 2021, she re-debuted as a solo artist, making her name known.

Kwon Eun-bi, who has re-debuted multiple times, revealed that she felt the reality shift after transitioning from the top-tier treatment in IZ*ONE to a solo career. "During IZ*ONE, we had large waiting rooms and beautiful sets for comebacks. Starting solo, I had to use a shared underground waiting room," she shared.

Even during failures, Kwon Eun-bi never blamed herself, saying, "I thought, 'I'm someone who will make it, why isn't it happening?'" She confessed that she accepted every opportunity with the mindset, "Just wait and see, I will succeed." When the 'Waterbomb' offer came, she was surprised, thinking, "Why would such a big event want me?"

Having never performed solo at such an event, Kwon Eun-bi admitted, "I was worried about how to fill 30 minutes. I was so nervous. But you never know how life will turn out. I had no idea it would become such a sensation."

After making a mark with 'Waterbomb,' Kwon Eun-bi expressed gratitude, saying, "I received many offers for work, advertisements, and events. It made me realize that as long as I'm prepared, responses can come unexpectedly. It happened two years after my solo debut, during a dark time when people started to notice me again."

Recently, Kwon Eun-bi purchased a small building in Seongsu-dong for 2.4 billion KRW (approximately $2 million USD) and is now running a café and rental business. Her tenants include her manager and staff.

As a café owner, she shared about covering her brother's wedding expenses, saying, "I felt I owed him. When I was in middle school, my brother, who was in high school, gave me 300,000 KRW (about $250 USD) to help with my art school tuition and academy fees. I wanted to repay that kindness after debuting," showcasing a strong sibling bond.

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, Ten Asia, eun@tenasia.co.kr