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Hwang So-yoon

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In this Korean name, the family name is Hwang.
Hwang So-yoon
황소윤
Hwang So-yoon in 2025
Hwang So-yoon in 2025
Background information
Birth nameHwang So-yoon
Also known asSo!YoON!
Born (1997-05-23) May 23, 1997 (age 28)
Jecheon, South Korea
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2016–present
LabelsBGBG Records
Member ofSe So Neon

Hwang So-yoon (Korean: 황소윤; born 23 May 1997) is a South Korean singer, songwriter and guitarist. She came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Se So Neon, of which she remains the band's only member.[1] Since 2019, Hwang has performed under the solo moniker So!YoON!, releasing two studio albums and collaborating with artists such as RM of BTS, Silica Gel, Phum Viphurit, Hoshi X Woozi of Seventeen and Park Ji-yoon.

Career

[edit]

As a member of Se So Neon

[edit]

In 2016, at age 18, Hwang founded Se So Neon with drummer Gangto and bassist Fancy Moon. In 2017, the group had released their first EP Summer Plumage (여름깃), and won Rookie of the Year and Best Rock Song at the Korean Music Awards.

By 2018, both members had left to perform their mandatory military service, with Hwang recruiting Park Hyun-jin and U-su to take their place.[2]

In 2020, Hwang and Se So Neon were named Fender's Global Artist of the Year, and were nominated for three additional Korean Music Awards.[3][4] In 2021, the group were the only Korean act to be included in YouTube Music's global foundry program.[5][6]

In 2023, Se So Neon's performance at Sungkyunkwan University was boycotted by students after social media comments by Hwang surfaced online.[7] Hwang had previously publicly responded to the Nth Room scandal in 2020 by sharing an op-ed which criticized South Korean society for downplaying sexual exploitation and due to the high number of members in the Telegram chats, called for all men to be treated as potential criminals.[8][9][10][11]

In 2024, Hwang and Se So Neon performed at SXSW despite a boycott over the festival's sponsorship by the United States Department of Defense. Two days after the performance, the band released an apology expressing their regret, citing ignorance due the lack of Gaza-related coverage in South Korean media and extending condolences to civilians affected by Israel's invasion of Palestine.[12]

After the departure of U-su in 2022, and Park Hyun-jin in 2025, Hwang remains the only active member of Se So Neon.[1]

Solo career

[edit]

In 2018, Hwang began to release music under a solo moniker, So!YoON!. Her name was stylized "to build a new character and deliver the energy that's embedded within the way it's written".[13] In July 2018, Hwang appeared on YB's single "Drifting Free". In October 2018, she appeared on Prep's single "Don't Look Back" alongside Shownu of Monsta X.[14]

Hwang's debut solo album So!YoON! was released on May 21, 2019 and includes features from SUMIN, Mid-Air Thief and Sam Kim. The album is a blend of indie rock, electronic and dream pop, and alternative R&B and was designed to show Hwang's musical ability to expand into different genres. In choosing an album cover, Hwang sent a handwritten letter to Australian artist Patricia Piccinini to use her sculpture "The Rookie" as a basis for the artwork.[13] To promote the album, Hwang appeared on the covers of Marie Claire Korea and GQ Korea.[15][16]

From 2019 to 2022, Hwang had a string of appearances as a featured artist for various Korean indie artists. She appeared on Avin's studio album TRANCE (2019) in the song "OMW" with Dbo. In August 2020, Hwang featured on "Do Not Disturb" by Woo. In April 2022, Hwang appeared on "Fort" by Kim Doeon.[17]

In August 2019, Hwang expressed an interest in collaborating with Thai songwriter Phum Viphurit during an interview with GQ Korea.[16] A year later, in October 2020, Hwang released the single "Wings" with Viphurit.[18] The same month, Vogue Korea named her as one of the biggest female musicians in South Korea.[19][20] In June 2022, Hwang performed the official Korean version of "Be Sweet" by Japanese Breakfast.[21][22]

On March 14, 2023, Hwang released her sophomore studio album Episode1 : Love. The album includes lead single "Smoke Sprite" featuring RM of BTS, who Hwang met without intending to spark a collaboration with. After sharing their music to each other, they decided to write "Smoke Sprite" together.[23] The album also features guest contributions from Jibin and Park Ji-yoon. In the music video for "Bad", Hwang portrayed a same-sex relationship, telling NME "there are many shapes and forms of love, and I just wanted to best visualize it. I wasn't particularly focused on it being the same-sex relationship, [but] I knew that gender shouldn't hold importance when representing love".[24]

On August 19, 2023, Hwang co-wrote and featured on "Tik Tak Tok" by indie rock band Silica Gel. The song was nominated for multiple awards at the Korean Music Awards, including Song of the Year.[25]

In September 2024, Hwang appeared at Alexander McQueen's 2025 Spring/Summer show.[26]

On March 10, 2025, Hwang collaborated with Hoshi X Woozi to release "Pinocchio" on the duo's debut single album Beam.[27]

Personal life

[edit]

Since 2025, Hwang has resided in the United States.[28]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums
Title Details
So!YoON!
Episode 1: Love
  • Released: March 14, 2023[23]
  • Label: Magic Strawberry Sound
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming, LP, CD

Singles

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As lead artist

[edit]
List of singles, showing year released and album
Title Year Album
"Holiday" 2019 So!YoON!
"Wings"[18]
(with Phum Viphurit) 		2020 Non-album single
"Bad"[29] 2023 Episode 1: Love
"Canada"[29]
"Smoke Sprite"[30]
(featuring RM)
[edit]
List of singles as featured artist, showing album name and year released
Title Year Album
"Drifting Free"
(YB featuring So!YoON!) 		2018 Non-album single
"Don't Look Back"[14]
(Prep featuring Shownu & So!YoON!) 		Line by Line
"OMW"
(Avin featuring So!YoON! & Dbo) 		2019 Tranche
"Do Not Disturb"
(Woo featuring So!YoON!) 		2020 Black Out
"Like a Vampire"
(Tabber featuring So!YoON!) 		Deep End Mix Tape
"Mom"[31]
(이수호 featuring So!YoON!) 		2021 Monika
"Fort"[17]
(Kim Doeon featuring So!YoON!) 		2022 Damage
"Be Sweet" (Korean Version)[22]
(Japanese Breakfast featuring So!YoON!) 		Non-album single
"Forever"[32]
(Rad Museum featuring So!YoON!) 		RAD
"With"
(Lee Young-ji featuring So!YoON! & Jay Park) 		Show Me the Money 11
"Tik Tak Tok"[33]
(Silica Gel featuring So!YoON!) 		2023 Power Andre 99
"E-Girl"
(Sokodomo featuring So!YoON!) 		2024 Sweet Heart
"Interplanetary Hoppin"
(Lava La Rue featuring So!YoON!) 		Starface
"Pinocchio"[27]
(Hoshi X Woozi featuring So!YoON!) 		2025 Beam

Awards and accolades

[edit]
Awards and nominations
Award Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
Shinhan Card Rookie Project 2016 — Se So Neon Silver [34]
Korean Music Awards 2018 Rookie of the Year Se So Neon Won [35]
Best Rock Song "The Wave" (파도) Won
Best Rock Album Summer Plumage Nominated [36]
2020 Best Rock Song "Go Back" (집에) Nominated [37]
2021 Best Rock Album Nonadaptation Nominated [38]
Best Rock Song "Nan Chun" (난춘) Nominated [39]
2024 Best Modern Rock Song "Tik Tak Tok" (featuring So!YoON!) Won [40]
Song of the Year Nominated [41]
Melon Music Awards 2023 Best Music Style "Tik Tak Tok" (featuring So!YoON!) Won [42]
Year-end lists
Publication List Work Ref.
Pitchfork The 35 Best Rock Albums of 2020 Nonadaptation [43]
Paste The 40 Best Rock Albums of 2020 Nonadaptation [44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "박현진 새소년 탈퇴, 황소윤 1인 체제로 [공식]". iMBC 연예 (in Korean). 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  2. ^ "Get To Know: 새소년 Se So Neon". The Rest Is Noise PH. 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  3. ^ "a guide to So!YoON!". daybreak. 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  4. ^ "Meet the 25 rising guitarists that Fender is championing this year". Guitar.com. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  5. ^ "Beyond K-pop: 10 Korean Indie Artists You Should Know". ELLE. 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  6. ^ "SE SO NEON return with vibrant new single 'Twit Winter' — watch". Bandwagon Asia. 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  7. ^ 조선일보 (2023-05-11). "대학 축제도 젠더 갈등... 성균관대 '남혐' 논란 밴드 섭외에 시끌". 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  8. ^ ""중립은 결국 괴롭히는 사람 편"…새소년 황소윤, 'n번방 사태' 목소리 내는 이유". 엑스포츠뉴스 (in Korean). 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  9. ^ "'n번방 사건'에 스타들도 분노…혜리·황소윤·조권도 국민청원 나서". 네이트 뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  10. ^ "정려원부터 황소윤까지, 'n번방' 관심 촉구한 연예인들". 노컷뉴스. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  11. ^ ""중립은 결국 괴롭히는 사람 편"…새소년 황소윤, 'n번방 사태' 목소리 내는 이유". 엑스포츠뉴스 (in Korean). 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  12. ^ Chin, Carmen (2024-03-18). "SE SO NEON apologise for performing at SXSW amid boycott: "We feel deeply embarrassed"". NME. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  13. ^ a b c "Se So Neon frontwoman So!YoON! releases debut album - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2019-05-26. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  14. ^ a b Herman, Tamar (2018-10-25). "PREP Teams Up With Monsta X's Shownu & So!YoON! of Se So Neon on 'Don't Look Back': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  15. ^ 소영, 김. "소윤의 실험". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  16. ^ a b GQ (2019-07-02). "황소윤의 솔로 데뷔가 의미하는 것". GQ Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  17. ^ a b "김한주, 황소윤 등이 참여한 프로듀서 김도언의 앨범 'Damage' 발매". Hypebeast.KR | 하입비스트. 2022-05-10. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  18. ^ a b "SE SO NEON's So!YoON! and Phum Viphurit team up for 'Wings'". Bandwagon Asia. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  19. ^ 김나랑 (2020-10-07). "지금 가장 뜨거운 여자 뮤지션은 누구". Vogue Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  20. ^ 송보라 (2019-06-26). "내게 강 같은 평화". Vogue Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  21. ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (2022-07-20). "Japanese Breakfast Shares Video for Korean Version of "Be Sweet"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  22. ^ a b Neale, Matthew (2022-07-20). "Japanese Breakfast and SE SO NEON's So!YoON! share Korean version of 'Be Sweet'". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  23. ^ a b "SE SO NEON's So!YoON! returns with sophomore album 'Episode1 : Love'". Bandwagon Asia. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  24. ^ Yeo, Gladys (2023-03-28). "So!YoON! on new album 'Episode1: Love': "I knew that gender shouldn't hold importance when representing love"". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  25. ^ Yeo, Gladys (2024-01-26). "Here are all the nominees of the 21st Korean Music Awards". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  26. ^ 서명희 (2024-10-01). "맥퀸 2025 S/S 쇼 현장에서 만난 새소년 밴드 황소윤과 더로즈의 우성". Vogue Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  27. ^ a b Chin, Carmen (2025-03-13). "SEVENTEEN's Hoshi and Woozi drop special video for 'Stupid Idiot'". NME. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  28. ^ 임수아. "WOMAN, ROCK THE WORLD | 황소윤 화보와 인터뷰". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-04-24.
  29. ^ a b "새소년 황소윤, 내달 정규 앨범 발매 전 선공개곡 17일 공개". 조세일보 (in Korean). 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  30. ^ Ziwei, Puah (2023-03-14). "BTS' RM and SE SO NEON's So!YoON! unveil new single 'Smoke Sprite'". NME. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  31. ^ Hwang, Seon-woong (October 12, 2021). "프로듀서 이수호, 첫 정규 앨범 [Monika] 공개". Visla Magazine. Retrieved May 23, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  32. ^ 뉴시스 (2022-03-17). "라드 뮤지엄, 오늘 첫 정규앨범…딘·이하이·황소윤 지원사격". 뉴시스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  33. ^ HARPERSBAZAAR. "밴드 실리카겔의 신곡, 틱택톡이 탄생하기까지 | 하퍼스 바자 코리아". HARPERSBAZAAR (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-26.
  34. ^ 입력 2016.08.03 22:51 (2016-08-03). "올해의 루키 '더베인'… 신한카드 스테이지 오른다". 중앙일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-03-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "방탄소년단, 대중음악상 '올해의 음악인'…혁오 3관왕". Yonhap News. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  36. ^ "새소년(SE SO NEON) [여름깃] – 2018 최우수 록-음반". Korean Music Awards. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  37. ^ Mathew, Ilin (2020-01-23). "How and when to watch Korean Music Awards 2020". International Business Times, Singapore Edition. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  38. ^ "새소년(SE SO NEON) [비적응] – 2021 최우수 모던록-음반". Korean Music Awards. Retrieved 2021-08-17.
  39. ^ "새소년(SE SO NEON) '난춘(亂春)' – 2021 최우수 모던록-노래". Korean Music Awards. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  40. ^ "실리카겔 'Tik Tak Tok (Feat. So!YoON!)'". 한국대중음악상시상식 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  41. ^ "실리카겔 'Tik Tak Tok (Feat. So!YoON!)'". 한국대중음악상시상식 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  42. ^ Yeo, Gladys (2023-12-04). "Here are all the winners from the 2023 Melon Music Awards". NME. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  43. ^ Pitchfork Staff (2020-12-15). "The 35 Best Rock Albums of 2020". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  44. ^ Paste Staff (2020-12-23). "The 40 Best Rock Albums of 2020 – Paste". Paste. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
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