Band Ex member Lee Sang-mi has stepped forward directly regarding the similarity controversy surrounding (G)I-DLE member SOYEON's solo title track "I'll Quit My Job".

On September 11, Lee Sang-mi took to her social media account, posting several photos taken with SOYEON and offering a direct explanation. Lee stated, "Everyone, please stop the groundless speculation," and revealed that the day they filmed the challenge was SOYEON's birthday on August 26. She added, "We filmed it back in August. I prepared a custom cake that fit SOYEON perfectly and celebrated her birthday all at once."

"I'll Quit My Job," written and composed by SOYEON herself, is based on an analog band sound and focuses on the daily lives of office workers and resigning from work. Immediately after its release, it drew reactions that it sounded similar to "Please Take Care of Me" by the band Ex, which won the grand prize at the 2005 MBC University Song Festival. It turned out that "I'll Quit My Job" was actually a homage to "Please Take Care of Me".

Appearing on the MBC variety show "Radio Star" broadcast on September 9, SOYEON shared the production process for her first solo full-length album "A Killer Life" and its title track "I'll Quit My Job," released on September 7. She shared, "I've tried various styles of band music so far, but this is my first time taking on a domestic band sound. I wanted to pay homage to Ex, so I contacted them directly and got their permission."

She went on to explain the intent behind the song, saying, "I'm not actually quitting my job. Everyone thinks, 'Should I just quit?' when things get tough at work. It's a song that captures the romance of office workers." Previously, phrases reading "I'll Quit My Job" were revealed in front of her agency's building, sparking rumors of an actual departure, but this turned out to be a solo album promotion.

This full-length solo album "A Killer Life" is SOYEON's first in approximately 5 years and 2 months since her EP "Windy" in 2021. As the producer, lyricist, and composer who has led (G)I-DLE's music, she experimented with various genres in this album, including rock, hyperpop, and disco.

kyakng@sbs.co.kr