Kwon Eunbi has opened up about the complicated feelings she has toward the unexpected resurgence of her song “Underwater,” revealing that while the attention helped her gain greater public recognition, she also experienced some regret over the way the song became popular.
The soloist recently spoke candidly about her career, the impact of Waterbomb, her public image and her desire to be recognized for more than one side of her identity as an artist.
On September 25, a video featuring Kwon Eunbi was released on YouTube, where the singer reflected on her journey and discussed how “Underwater” experienced a dramatic turnaround after initially failing to receive major attention.
The song, which was released before her Waterbomb breakthrough, eventually gained renewed popularity after clips of her festival performances went viral.
Kwon Eunbi explained,
“At first, it didn’t do well. Since it became viral through Waterbomb, there was some regret.
I kept wondering if that kind of performance was always necessary. I wanted to try singing songs that felt more like me.”
Her comments offer a different perspective on the success of “Underwater.”
Rather than simply celebrating the song’s viral revival, Eunbi admitted that she had mixed emotions about becoming widely recognized through a particular performance image.
The attention surrounding her Waterbomb appearances significantly increased her visibility as a soloist, but it also contributed to a public image that she has been trying to expand beyond.
The 2023 Waterbomb performance became a turning point for Eunbi, with “Underwater” receiving renewed attention and eventually becoming closely associated with the singer.
Her festival appearances led to the widely used “Waterbomb Goddess” and “Summer Queen” labels, which have continued to follow her career.
However, Eunbi has previously explained that these titles can also feel burdensome.
In an earlier interview, she said that being associated with summer and Waterbomb was something she was grateful for, while also expressing a desire to show different sides of herself through her music.
Eunbi Wants Fans to See a More Natural Side of Her
While discussing her latest music, Eunbi introduced her new song “DEJAVU” and explained that it represents another side of her identity.
She acknowledged that many people associate her with a sexy and charismatic image, but said she wanted to present something more natural as well.
Eunbi said,
“People think of me with a very sexy and charismatic image, but I wanted to show a more natural side as well.”
The statement reflects her ongoing effort to broaden the public’s understanding of her artistry.
Although Waterbomb played an important role in increasing her recognition, Eunbi has emphasized that she does not want her career to be defined entirely by festival performances or a particular image.
Earlier in September, she explained that she does not create music specifically with Waterbomb in mind.
“I don’t consider Waterbomb at all when making an album. I don’t work with Waterbomb in mind,” she said.
Eunbi added,
“Doing the music I want is more important. While I might think it would be fun to perform at festivals, I’ve never approached my work thinking ‘I must have this kind of song for Waterbomb.’”
Her comments come during a new chapter in her career following her move to RBW.
Her latest single “DEJAVU” is her first release since changing agencies and represents an opportunity for her to explore a different musical direction.
The Korea Times reported that Eunbi has been thinking about demonstrating abilities beyond the image the public has developed of her.
The singer also opened up about how she deals with criticism and negative comments online.
When asked whether she usually experiences stress, Eunbi explained that she tends to move on from things easily.
“I tend to let things go easily,” she said.
However, she admitted that malicious comments can still affect her. Eunbi confessed,
“Of course, I feel bad and want to fight when I see malicious comments, but I don’t have the time to deal with them. I’m too busy living my life.”
She continued,
“In the beginning, it was really hard, but gradually I got used to it, and the interest just faded away.”
Her comments highlight how her relationship with public attention has changed over time.
The singer acknowledged that dealing with criticism was difficult in the beginning, but she eventually learned not to allow online reactions to dominate her life.
Kwon Eunbi Looks Beyond the ‘Waterbomb Goddess’ Image
Although Eunbi has mixed feelings about how “Underwater” became popular, she has never denied the importance of Waterbomb in her career.
The festival significantly increased her public recognition and helped introduce her to a wider audience.
In an earlier interview, she described her first Waterbomb performance as her first major festival appearance as a solo artist.
She admitted that she had initially worried about whether she could fill a 30-minute set on her own. She said,
“I didn’t expect that stage to go viral and receive so much love.”
She has also remained open to returning to the festival in the future, acknowledging its importance to her career.
At the same time, she has expressed a desire to move beyond the labels that emerged from those performances.
Regarding the titles “Waterbomb Goddess” and “Summer Queen,” Eunbi previously said,
“It feels very burdensome and brings a sense of responsibility. I even feel a responsibility toward summer itself.
On the other hand, I’m grateful because I received so much love through Waterbomb. Associating me with summer isn’t an easy thing. I’m most thankful for that.”
She also admitted that she felt it might be time to show something different instead of remaining tied to those titles.
“I also wondered if it’s time to show something different rather than staying with the nicknames ‘Waterbomb’ or ‘Summer Queen.’
Now that I have the title ‘Summer Queen,’ I think it’s time to focus on albums and be recognized through my songs.”
For her next chapter, Eunbi even revealed the nickname she would like to receive instead:
“Vocal Tone Queen.”
She laughed and said,
“If you listen closely, my voice is actually pretty good. I want to hear nicknames related to my voice like ‘Vocal Tone Queen.’”
Kwon Eunbi’s reflections show that the Waterbomb phenomenon has been both a major career opportunity and a source of complicated emotions.
“Underwater” may have found a new audience because of her viral festival performances, but Eunbi now wants her music to speak for itself.
With “DEJAVU” introducing a more natural side of her artistry, the singer is looking toward a future where the public can recognize her for her voice, music and versatility- not only for the image created by one viral moment.
