Song So Hee, a Korean traditional music (gugak) artist, has garnered significant attention from music fans with the release of her second EP album, 'Re:5,' on October 21, 2025. This album is expected to be a crucial turning point, further solidifying Song So Hee's identity as a contemporary music singer-songwriter who has pioneered her own genre. It is her first new release in about a year and six months since her first EP, 'Gongjung Muyong,' released in April 2024, and it was completed with the production support of CJ Cultural Foundation's 'Tune Up.'
'Re:5' stands out with its unique concept of interpreting the journey of life through the five elements of Eastern philosophy (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) and unfolding it into five tracks. Each song symbolizes the properties of the five elements and is organically connected like a single narrative, offering listeners deep resonance. The album begins with 'Ashine!,' which contains the vitality of wood and the brilliance of childhood, and continues with 'Broken Things,' which depicts emotions that break and flow like the flow of water.
Two songs, 'Hamba Kahle' and 'Love in Alaska-Sun,' have been selected as the title tracks for this EP, conveying the album's message even more strongly. The first title track, 'Hamba Kahle,' contains the stability and transition of 'earth' among the five elements, and the music video, inspired by the Korean folktale Princess Bari, visually depicts Song So Hee as a guide in 'purgatory,' connecting the world of the living and the dead, healing the deceased, and leading them to the next world. The dance performance also stands out, enhancing the immersion of the song. Finally, 'Love in Alaska-Sun,' which has the property of metal, concludes the album and completes Song So Hee's unique musical world.
Song So Hee, who has been known as a singer of Gyeonggi folk songs since childhood, has consistently expanded her musical spectrum based on the deep resonance of traditional music. Starting with the single 'Journey to Utopia' in 2022, she solidified her position as a contemporary music singer-songwriter by successively releasing 'Infodemics,' 'Asurajang' in 2023, and the EP 'Gongjung Muyong' and single 'Not a Dream' in 2024. She is evaluated as presenting a new direction for 'Korean-style world music' by combining a modern sensibility while maintaining the identity of gugak.
Along with the release of the EP 'Re:5,' Song So Hee will hold a solo concert on December 6th and 7th to meet her fans in person. As she received a great response by pre-releasing the unreleased self-composed song 'Hamba Kahle' at the '2025 SONG SOHEE CONCERT: Rolling 30th Anniversary Concert' held at Rolling Hall in Hongdae last May, it is expected that this solo concert will feature a more diverse and experimental stage, including the songs from 'Re:5.' It will be a special opportunity to experience her unique musical world that encompasses tradition and modernity live.
Through this EP 'Re:5,' Song So Hee has further solidified her own musical philosophy and message. She is growing into a unique artist who breaks down the boundaries of genres by adding a modern sensibility and in-depth narrative on the roots of traditional music. Her music provides an artistic experience that goes beyond simply listening, leading to contemplation about life and existence. Attention is drawn to her future musical endeavors and continuous challenges. More information can be found on her official social media channels or the agency's website.
Q1: What meaning does Song So Hee's new EP 'Re:5' contain?
A1: 'Re:5' is an album that interprets the journey of life through five songs, comparing it to the five elements of Eastern philosophy. Each song symbolizes the properties of the five elements and contains a message about the cycle and recovery of life.
Q2: What are the title tracks of this album, and what is special about them?
A2: The title tracks are 'Hamba Kahle' and 'Love in Alaska-Sun.' In particular, the music video for 'Hamba Kahle' was inspired by the folktale of Princess Bari, where Song So Hee appears as a guide in purgatory, and the dance performance provides a visually rich experience.
Q3: Why is Song So Hee called a 'contemporary music singer-songwriter'?
A3: Because Song So Hee debuted as a gugak musician in her childhood, but has since consistently released contemporary music albums mainly featuring self-composed songs such as 'Journey to Utopia,' 'Infodemics,' and 'Gongjung Muyong,' building her own unique musical world on the basis of traditional music.
Q4: What kind of stage can we see at the solo concert scheduled for December?
A4: At this solo concert, you can experience the songs from the EP 'Re:5' live, and it is expected that you will be able to experience experimental stages that combine various contemporary music self-composed songs that Song So Hee has shown so far with elements of gugak.
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