When K-pop songwriter and musician Sooyoon took on the assignment to write a song for a fictional band in a Korean drama, all he was given was a premise: it needed to fit both heartbreaking and hopeful moments. He had no idea the song “Sonagi” (Sudden Shower), sang by the fictional group ECLIPSE in the smash-hit K-drama Lovely Runner, would become the massive, much-loved hit that it is today.
The Anatomy of a Surprise Chart-Topper
Sooyoon, a former member of the K-pop rock band Royal Pirates, approached the track using the metaphor of a sudden shower. “Usually, rain feels more on the sad side, but I tried to make it so that after it rains, every bad thing washes out. The air is fresh, and there are rainbows. I used the rain as love falling down all of a sudden,” he explains.
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Despite writing the track in advance without knowing anything about the full drama at all, Sooyoon still somehow perfectly encapsulated the exact emotional core of the series through the song. It is no wonder it eventually landed on the Billboard charts, performed in major awards show, and is still one of the most requested songs across Asia.
Photo from Sooyoon
Sooyoon’s Shift from Bandmate to Songwriter and Back to Solo Artist
Sooyoon’s musical journey spans multiple eras of K-pop and diverse international influences:
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LA Roots to Seoul Scene: Raised in California, Sooyoon grew up listening to R&B, American and British rock, J-pop, and early K-pop.
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Transitioning to Songwriting: After Royal Pirates disbanded, he pivoted into writing tracks for real-world groups like Kep1er, JO1, NEXZ, and P1Harmony alongside longtime collaborator Moon Kim.
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The High-Energy World of K-Pop Groups: Sooyoon describes writing for idol groups as similar to stepping into an entirely different persona. While his personal solo tracks lean toward chill, easy-listening melodies; writing for idol groups demands high energy, heavy rhythms, and broad, open-ended lyrics tailored to company tastes. We love how he can adjust and adapt to both accordingly!
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Returning to the Stage: The viral success of Sonagi reignited Sooyoon’s desire to perform live and connect directly with fans again, and we are truly hoping he will make his way to Manila again soon.
Photo from Sooyoon
Reconnecting with Global Fans
For Sooyoon, the ultimate goal of his musical evolution remains simple, “I think there are no boundaries between music and no boundaries between people. We’re all one family.”
Following his recent visit to Manila in September, where he performed as a guest artist and experienced warm hospitality (and enjoyed Jollibee’s Peach Mango Pie, by the way!), Sooyoon is actively expanding his solo footprint across Asia.
With the recent conclusion of his concert in Japan and an upcoming birthday celebration through an acoustic live set with James Lee in Tokyo as well, Sooyoon hopes to visit more countries soon (including the Philippines, please?) Hopefully, he will be able to build a rich solo catalog soon to prepare for a full-length tour… but no pressure, of course. :p
For now, we look forward to his upcoming release featuring his former Royal Pirates bandmate, James Lee – their first official collaboration since their band days!!!
