Around GMA

Marcos delivers aid to Davao provinces a day after SONA 2026
#SONA2026 Marcos says Davao City ‘Love Buses’ going electric
Discounted fares on LRT-2, MRT-3 remain in effect amid Middle East crisis

Article Inside Page

Showbiz News

After years of performing on stage and in front of the camera, Sandara Park is finally stepping into a role she has long dreamed of: telling her own stories through music.

After building a career spanning the Philippines, South Korea, television, musicals, and the global K-pop stage, former 2NE1 member Sandara Park is embracing what she calls the most significant chapter of her journey yet: becoming a songwriter.

Speaking with Hankook Ilbo, Sandara reflected on how, despite spending 22 years in entertainment, creating music she could truly call her own had remained an unfulfilled dream—until now.

"This is the biggest turning point in my life," she said, adding that although she had worked as a singer, TV host, variety personality, and musical actress, "the one thing I never got to do was create my own music and sing my own songs."

The singer revealed that she had been documenting her thoughts and experiences in journals and phone notes for years. However, turning those thoughts and emotions into songs proved challenging until she found the right collaborators.

"I didn't know how to turn the thoughts and emotions in my diaries into songs," she admitted. "Then I met a team of songwriters who create music very instinctively, and I gradually began applying what I saw and learned to my own music."

Looking back, Sandara realized she had unknowingly been developing her creativity through another aspect of her career: planning concert stages and performances.

"It had never occurred to me to think of them as creative work," she said. "Now I'm ready to dive headfirst into the creative process."

That creative journey begins with "REPRISM," a two-track single album scheduled for release this fall. The project serves as the first chapter of a musical series she expects to continue over the next two years.

For Sandara, the title represents revealing new sides of herself that fans have yet to see.

"'REPRISM' is about discovering those parts of myself and bringing them out for others to see," she said.

The release features the songs "Festival," which explores a rock-inspired sound, and "Nail," her first original track co-written with her songwriting team.

More than simply marking a comeback, Sandara hopes the project offers listeners a glimpse of the artistic direction she plans to pursue.

She acknowledged that the shift may surprise longtime fans, especially those familiar with her image as a member of 2NE1.

"Some people might ask, 'Why is she doing that now?'" she said of exploring a new genre in her 40s. "But whether I can turn that reaction into cheers is entirely up to me."

Although Sandara considers her debut in the Philippines and her return to South Korea to train as a K-pop idol among the defining moments of her career, she believes this chapter stands apart because every creative decision is now hers to make.

"Debuting in the Philippines and moving to Korea were both major moments," she said. "But this is the turning point. Now I'm creating something of my own."

The singer also reflected on how her definition of success has changed over the years.

Having experienced chart-topping success with 2NE1, Sandara admitted she once viewed anything less than the top spot as disappointing.

"There were times when we cried because a song ranked 10th," she recalled. "It seems absurd in hindsight."

These days, however, she finds greater fulfillment in connecting with fans, whether performing in large or small venues. She said performing at a smaller solo fan concert gave her a chance to interact with audiences in a more personal way.

"Happiness and success don't have to mean just one thing," she said. "At a smaller one, I can see their expressions as I sing and even talk with them."

For Sandara, her fans continue to inspire her to keep creating and performing.

"I want to meet them again as soon as possible and let them hear new music," she said. "I want to be an artist my fans can be proud to support, so they never feel embarrassed to say they love Sandara Park."

RELATED GALLERY: Sandara Park enjoys summer in Batangas