The South Korean actress and f(x) member opens up about her return to music, a new creative chapter and finding her way back to what she loves.

For younger or newer fans of Krystal Jung, you may know her best for her acting, with roles in popular TV shows such as Prison Playbook, Police University and Crazy Love. For the OGs, however, Krystal has always been a singer and performer at heart. We watched her burst onto the K-pop scene as a member of girl group f(x), where she quickly established herself as one of the generation’s most distinctive performers.
Now, after years of focusing on acting, Krystal is returning to music as a solo artist, marking a new chapter in her creative journey.
Debuting at just 14, Krystal has grown up in the public eye. During her time with f(x), the group became one of the most influential K-pop acts of their generation. Their final studio album, 4 Walls (2015), received a 7.3 rating from Pitchfork and earned both domestic and international acclaim for its refined, forward-thinking dance-pop production. Distinctive and experimental, f(x) stood apart from their peers and helped pave the way for the evolution of K-pop’s sound. Even today, their music continues to serve as a reference point for a new generation of girl groups.
Since then, Krystal has shifted much of her attention towards acting, where she has found considerable success. Known for her natural ability to connect with emotion and transform herself in front of the camera, she has steadily built a reputation as an actress to watch. Her performance as Han Yoo-rim in Kim Jee-woon’s 2023 film Cobweb earned her the Best New Actress award at the 33rd Buil Film Awards, further cementing her growing presence in Korean cinema. She is also set to appear in tvN’s forthcoming drama alongside Ha Jung-woo and Lim Soo-jung.
But music has never really been far from Krystal’s mind.

This comeback represents an exciting new phase in her solo music journey, one centred on returning to her love of music and the creative process itself. Towards the end of last year, she released Solitary, a smooth pop R&amp;B track built around themes of self-affirmation. This year, she followed it with PWLT, offering a deeper dive into moody alternative R&amp;B and more introspective territory ahead of her upcoming album.
For Krystal, the new music is less about defining herself in one particular way and more about allowing different sides of her personality and emotions to exist together.
L’OFFICIEL SINGAPORE spoke to Krystal about this new chapter in her creative journey, revealing a different side of herself through music and staying authentic in a fast-moving and often brutal industry.

Both ‘Solitary’ and ‘PWLT’ feel emotionally introspective in very different ways. What larger themes connect the upcoming album as a whole?
“Solitary” isn’t just about loneliness. It’s about the emotions and instincts that become sharper when you’re left alone with yourself. ‘PWLT’ started from my mixed feelings about people and relationships. I get drained by people pretty easily, but at the same time, when I’m alone for too long, I start craving human connection again.
One day I’m like, “Why do people need to be together so badly? Why do we always want connection?” Then another day, I realise you can’t completely separate yourself from others either.&nbsp;So rather than making these feelings too conclusive, I wanted the music to stay a bit blurry and open to interpretation.
Between now and the album release, what aspects of this new era are you most excited for fans to discover next?
I think this chapter feels a lot more honest and natural to who I am. Not just through music, but also the visuals, mood and overall atmosphere around the project. I wanted to be more directly involved in expressing who I am and the things I love.
Rather than focusing on a single track, I want people to experience the album as one body of work. There’s a natural transition from track to track, and I think listening all the way through gives a better sense of the emotional flow and the world I wanted the album to give.

Many fans have followed your journey for years across music, acting and fashion. Do you feel this album introduces a side of yourself that audiences haven’t fully seen before?
I hope it has and people are seeing this side of me they haven’t before. I’ve always tried to follow what feels natural to me creatively, but I think this album probably reflects that more than anything I’ve done in the past. It has a lot of the moods, visuals and emotions I’ve been wanting to express more openly.
There are still parts of me people will recognise and connect with, but I also think there’ll be moments where people will think, “Oh, I didn’t know she had that side to her.” Musically and visually, this project feels closer to who I am right now.
Looking back at the process of creating your upcoming album, was there a moment when everything finally “clicked” and you realised the direction you wanted to pursue?
I don’t think it’s one of those things where everything suddenly comes together and becomes clear. The big picture was there from the beginning, but I constantly question things and figure it out as I go. There are definitely times when I have my doubts and think, “Is this right? Am I doing it right?”
I’m the type of person who constantly questions, revisits and refines things until I feel completely confident and satisfied, which unfortunately is not always the case. But my executive producer keeps me grounded and reassured throughout the process, making sure I feel good about where things are heading. Over time, we eventually find the right balance and things just start to feel right.

During busy periods like album preparation, what helps you stay grounded and inspired?
Things have been pretty chaotic lately because I’ve been working on my album while filming a drama series at the same time. When life gets that busy, your sense of balance starts to feel a bit out of place. So whenever I get the chance, especially on my days off, I try to make time that’s completely my own. Sometimes I just switch off, or spend time listening to music and watching films I love, to reset myself a little. I need those moments to recharge if I want to keep going.
And strangely enough, working on the album also grounds me. My thoughts start to settle, and I reconnect with the things that originally made me love music in the first place.
Your artistic identity has always felt very curated yet effortless. How do you protect your sense of individuality in such a fast-moving industry?
I don’t think of it as ‘protecting’ my individuality. I try not to drift too far from the things I like. I’m honestly not someone who keeps up with trends, or pays that much attention in general.
It’s important to find what genuinely feels comfortable and natural to you. Because in the end, the things I keep coming back to, the things I don’t get tired of, are the things that become my foundation. And as long as you hold onto that, you stay true to your identity.

Exclusive! Krystal Jung on Her Return to Music, New Single ‘PWLT’, Album & More

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