Ryu Sujeong (ex Lovelyz)

Who is Ryu Sujeong?

Ryu Sujeong is a South Korean singer-songwriter who operates under her independent label House of Dreams. Born on November 19, 1997, in Daejeon, South Korea, she serves as the lead vocalist of the girl group Lovelyz and previously participated in the project girl group Girls Next Door. Her career spans multiple facets of the music industry, from group activities to independent solo work.

Following two years of auditioning at various agencies, Sujeong joined Woollim Entertainment in 2012. The training period involved rigorous preparation, with approximately seventeen trainees competing through monthly evaluations before eight members debuted. She officially debuted as a member of Lovelyz with the studio album "Girls' Invasion" on November 17, 2014. Her training schedule averaged 12 hours daily during this period.

As a solo artist, Ryu Sujeong made her debut on May 20, 2020, with the mini album "Tiger Eyes". This release marked her first independent musical direction while still under Woollim Entertainment. Following the expiration of Lovelyz's contract in November 2021, seven of the eight members, including Sujeong, chose not to renew their agreements with Woollim Entertainment. The contracts officially expired on November 16, 2021.

On September 1, 2022, she established House of Dreams, her own independent one-woman agency. This move represented a shift toward complete artistic autonomy, allowing her to manage various aspects of her career independently. The label's formation came through collaboration with production company Artist Rider. Under this independent structure, she released her first full-length album "Archive of Emotions" in 2023, demonstrating her evolution as a self-directed artist involved in songwriting, composing, mixing, and mastering.

Ryu Sujeong's career with Lovelyz

Debut and group activities

Lovelyz marked Woollim Entertainment's inaugural girl group when the eight-member ensemble debuted in 2014. The group held its debut showcase on November 12, 2014, performing as a seven-member configuration due to member Seo Ji-soo's temporary absence. Five days later, on November 17, 2014, Lovelyz released its first studio album "Girls' Invasion" alongside the lead single "Candy Jelly Love". The group returned to its complete eight-member lineup when Seo Ji-soo rejoined in October 2015, coinciding with the release of the first mini-album "lovelyz8".

The group maintained consistent promotional cycles between 2014 and 2020, releasing multiple projects including the single album "LOVELINUS" in December 2015, followed by the second mini-album "A New Trilogy" in April 2016. Their second full-length album "R U Ready" arrived in February 2017, achieving No. 1 chart status with its repackaged version "Now, We" released in May 2017. Additional releases included the third mini-album "Fall in Lovelyz" in November 2017, the fourth mini-album "Healing" in April 2018, and subsequent projects through their seventh mini-album "Unforgettable" in September 2020. Notable chart-topping tracks from this period included "Twinkle," "That Day," and "Obliviate", alongside hits "Ah-Choo" and "Destiny".

Role as lead vocal

Sujeong functioned as lead vocalist within Lovelyz's eight-member structure. Her vocal abilities garnered recognition through appearances on various music and entertainment programs during the group's active years. In 2016, she collaborated on a duet with Young Jun of Brown Eyed Soul, demonstrating her range beyond group activities.

Contribution to Lovelyz discography

Lovelyz distinguished itself through a pure and innocent conceptual approach, contrasting with the prevalent sexy image adopted by contemporary girl groups. This positioning emphasized youthful vitality and cheerful atmospheres throughout their seven-year active period.

Ryu Sujeong solo music career

Tiger Eyes EP debut

The extended play Tiger Eyes marked Sujeong's entry into solo activities on May 20, 2020, through Woollim Entertainment and distributed by Kakao M. The seven-track EP featured the eponymous lead single "Tiger Eyes," preceded by a voice teaser on May 11 and a 30-second music video teaser on May 16. The album peaked at No. 9 on the Gaon Album Chart. Notable tracks included "Lullaby (zz)," for which she received songwriting and composing credits. This release demonstrated her capabilities outside the group context while maintaining the support structure of her former agency.

Archive of Emotions album

Archive of Emotions represents her first full-length studio album, released on April 20, 2023, through House of Dreams. The digital version contains eleven tracks, while physical and Spotify editions include the previously released singles "Dearest" and "Pink Moon" from November 2022. Primary singles "Love or Hate" and "Grabby Girl" served as the album's promotional focus, with "Love or Hate" released as a pre-release single on March 30 alongside b-side "Daydreaming". The album's music video for "How can I get your Love" premiered through Billboard's website prior to the official release.

The project marks a stark departure from the bubbly pop sound of Lovelyz, adopting a moody and lower-fidelity aesthetic. Sujeong participated in songwriting, composing, mixing, and mastering processes across the production. The album functions as a personal archive, documenting emotions experienced throughout her mid-twenties. She performed "Love or Hate" and "Grabby Girl" on SBS funE The Show, followed by concerts titled "Ryu Sujeong 1st concert Archive of Emotions" at Baekam Art Hall on May 13 and 14.

Independent label House of Dreams

House of Dreams operates as a one-woman record label founded specifically for managing her independent activities. The label developed through collaboration with production company Artist Rider. Under this structure, she released initial singles "Dearest" and "Pink Moon" in November 2022, establishing her independent artistic direction prior to the full-length album.

Ryu Sujeong songs and musical style

Dark pop exploration

The second extended play 2ROX represents a deliberate shift toward dark pop, a genre Sujeong characterizes as "deadly, yet dark," blending pop and indie elements with darker tonal qualities. Released in collaboration with American singer XYLØ, the three-track EP features "BAD GRLS," "SHXT," and "Fallen Angel," all incorporating XYLØ's signature dark pop aesthetic. Sujeong initiated the collaboration after regularly listening to XYLØ's music, reaching out directly through social media to propose the partnership. The lead track "SHXT" adopts an upbeat, kitsch sound influenced by high-teen dramas from the 1990s and 2000s, while "Fallen Angel" delivers a sentimental, gloomy exploration of turbulent romantic relationships. Despite the genre's darker nature, Sujeong maintained elements of her characteristic innocent and girly sensibilities through active participation in songwriting and production, describing the result as retaining a "soft, cloudy-like nature" beneath the dark pop surface.

Songwriting and production credits

Sujeong maintains consistent involvement across composition, lyrics, and arrangement for her solo releases. Production credits span multiple tracks including "Lullaby" from Tiger Eyes, "Love or Hate" from Archive of Emotions, and all three tracks from 2ROX where she contributed as composer. Additional credits extend to 2024 singles "Walking on Clouds," "Orange Juice," and "White Dress," demonstrating sustained creative control. Her compositional approach emphasizes flexibility, developing melodies and lyrics during everyday activities rather than confined studio sessions.

Notable collaborations

The XYLØ partnership on 2ROX marked her first international collaboration, strategically designed to expand her reach beyond Korean audiences. She released "Orange Juice" featuring fellow Lovelyz member Yein on May 16, 2024. Her Japanese market entry occurred through the digital single "T-Shirt" on October 8, 2024.

Recent activities and projects

Following the release of Archive of Emotions, Sujeong held her first solo concert "Archive of Emotions" at Baekam Art Hall on May 13 and 14, 2023. The performances marked a milestone in her independent career, featuring live vocals and instrumental arrangements as primary focal points. She expressed renewed enthusiasm for music during this period, describing the project as deeply personal and resonating with audiences of her age demographic.

Subsequent releases in 2024 included the digital single "Walking on Clouds" on March 6, followed by "White Dress" on August 22. Her Japanese market presence expanded through "T-Shirt," released on October 8, 2024. In addition, she contributed to the original television soundtrack for "No movie series: A bar with emotions" in 2022.

On June 30, 2025, Artist Rider announced its separation from managing House of Dreams. Despite this change, Sujeong released her third extended play "New Car" on July 25, 2025, maintaining operational continuity under the independent label structure. The single album "Melted Love" followed on November 19, 2025.

Live performance activities throughout 2025 encompassed multiple festival appearances, including #OFF DAY 2025 at Kaywon University of Art and Design and Sound Planet Festival at Paradise City, Incheon. International performances included two shows at JIJI PRESS HALL in Tokyo, Japan.

FAQs

How long did the album-making process take for Archive of Emotions?

The production timeline commenced in October of the previous year, with approximately one month dedicated to songwriting. Consequently, the preparation extended to include video production and physical album manufacturing. This represented her first experience writing multiple songs within a constrained timeframe.

Which collaboration does Sujeong wish to pursue?

JOJI from 88RISING represents her desired collaborative partner, owing to her admiration for his musical output. Her favorite track among the eleven compositions varies frequently, with "Grabby Girl" identified as a particular preference during one interview period.

What musical direction interests her for future releases?

Ballad performances during concerts received positive reception from audiences, influencing her current genre preference. She maintains interest in exploring diverse musical styles while prioritizing personal enjoyment of the creative work.

How does she approach creative composition?

Her methodology emphasizes flexibility, developing melodies and lyrics during everyday activities rather than confined studio sessions. Humming tunes occurs at home, while walking on streets or riding buses provides additional creative inspiration.

What role does family play in her career?

Family functions as her primary support system for maintaining mental health. She allocates significant time to family interactions, which helps relieve stress and sustain psychological well-being.