Jeon Soyeon explains why she chose Kian84 for 'I'm Quitting'

Jeon Soyeon of the group i-dle has revealed why she included the voice of webtoon artist and entertainer Kian84 in her solo song 'I'm Quitting.' She explained that it was not simply a casting choice to create a unique combination, but because she discovered 'romance' in a way of life that is the polar opposite of her own.

Jeon shared the background of how she personally requested Kian84 to handle the narration in an unreleased clip from 'Heo Kyung-hwan's Trend Show' on the YouTube channel 'ggzz,' which was released on the 17th. When Heo Kyung-hwan mentioned that Kian84 provided the narration for 'I'm Quitting,' Jeon stated, "I sent a long message because I really wanted to receive it from Kian84."

The words she conveyed to Kian84 were quite specific. Jeon explained that she told him, "I think you are the person who lives most romantically." She determined that it was not because of his celebrity status or his broadcast persona, but because the way Kian84 lives his day matches the sentiment of the song.

Jeon defined her own life as the exact opposite. She said, "I am a person who lives only looking toward the future, so I can never enjoy a single day," and added, "I am a person who thinks tomorrow is so important, and the day after tomorrow is too, and that those are the only things that matter."

This connects to Jeon's working method as a creator and artist who must constantly prepare her next output. As the leader of i-dle who actively participates in songwriting, composing, and producing, she performs the role of both a singer on stage and a creator who designs music. This means her attitude of pushing herself toward the next goal rather than dwelling on today's achievements is both her strength and a source of constant tension in her life.

In Jeon's eyes, Kian84's life appeared to have a different kind of charm. She said she liked how Kian84 "enjoys that day in a truly romantic way." For someone who postpones the present for the sake of the future, the attitude of a person who lives through the present moment itself came across as unfamiliar and attractive.

Heo Kyung-hwan also described Kian84's characteristic, saying, "That is not something that can be easily imitated," and described it as "an action that can only be done when you are completely relaxed." He was essentially explaining Kian84's unique character as a life attitude that flows naturally rather than a calculated performance or concept.

Jeon described her own state as, "I am tense in my life every single day." Recalling her request, she said, "I thought I wanted the person who lives most romantically to do the narration," and directly asked Kian84, "I really want you to do it."

In this context, the title 'I'm Quitting' carries a different nuance than a simple declaration of leaving a workplace. While the word 'quitting' often signifies leaving a job or an organization in Korean society, through Jeon's explanation, the song can also be read as a question about a way of life that sacrifices the present for the sake of the future. It asks not just what one will stop doing, but what one is living for right now.

The choice to bring Kian84's voice into the song serves as a narrative device. Instead of delivering the message solely through the singer's refined vocals, she expanded the song's worldview with a more realistic sense by involving a person with everyday language and a uniquely nonchalant atmosphere.

Jeon's first full-length solo album 'An Awesome Life' was released on the 7th. 'I'm Quitting' is the title track of the album, and immediately after its release, it entered the Melon TOP100, drawing attention as many of the included tracks also appeared on the Melon HOT100.

Subsequently, the song's upward trend led to the top of the charts. According to the official Melon charts, 'I'm Quitting (Narr. Kian84)' was ranked number 1 on the TOP100 as of 11 AM on September 19, and SBS also reported the news of the song ranking number 1 on the TOP100 on September 17.

What is interesting is that Jeon's unique creative method is revealed even in the success of this song. By putting the everyday word 'quitting' at the forefront within the familiar framework of idol music and combining it with Kian84's unique way of speaking and character, she delivered the message intuitively to the public.

In particular, Jeon did not view Kian84 merely as a famous entertainer. She saw him as someone with the life attitude she lacks, and she brought that very difference into the music. Instead of seeking a sense of kinship from someone similar to herself, she discovered the core emotion of the song in someone different from herself.

Ultimately, the reason Jeon entrusted Kian84 with the narration is not just about the "unexpected combination." The significance lies in the fact that a person who spends every day preparing for the next entrusted her song to someone who slowly enjoys the present. The question 'I'm Quitting' poses does not stop at whether to leave a job; perhaps what Jeon wanted to convey through Kian84's voice was a more fundamental question of whether we are losing ourselves in the process of preparing for the future.