A Real-World Idol Meets a Virtual Star
Choi Yena, the former IZ*ONE member who’s carved out a bold and bubbly solo career, just announced her most unexpected collaboration yet—with none other than the virtual pop legend Hatsune Miku.
On June 15, YUEHUA Entertainment confirmed that Miku will feature on Yena’s upcoming song, stirring up major buzz among both K-pop fans and Vocaloid diehards.
Who (or What) Is Hatsune Miku?
Hatsune Miku isn’t your average J-pop star. She’s a vocal synthesis software developed by Crypton Future Media, complete with an anime-style avatar and colossal global fandom. Known for igniting the Vocaloid movement—a subculture where creators use digital voices to craft original music—Miku is a 21st-century icon who has performed “live” via hologram for sold-out crowds around the world.
She’s more than a character—she’s a phenomenon that changed how we think about music, fandom, and performance.
“Yena-core” Meets Cyber Pop
Yena isn’t new to standing out in the K-pop world. With her vibrant style and unapologetic charm, she’s coined her own brand: “Yena-core.” Think high-energy tracks, quirky visuals, and a dash of Gen Z chaos. Her previous title track, “Hate That Word: Kindness” from her 4th mini-album Blooming Wings, showed off her emotional range—and memes-per-minute ratio.
Her collab with Miku promises a genre-bending twist on that formula, combining Yena’s cheeky human warmth with Miku’s futuristic cool. It’s giving “Black Mirror meets bubblegum pop”—and honestly, we’re here for it.
Beyond Music: Yena’s Star Power Keeps Climbing
When she’s not singing or dancing, Yena’s popping up in ads for soju and streetwear, proving she’s got both commercial pull and cultural clout. Up next, she’ll meet fans in Tokyo and Osaka for “2025 THE YENA SHOW <I Am STAR!>” on June 15 and 17.
Between taking over stages IRL and now stepping into the digital realm with Miku, Yena’s not just breaking boundaries—she’s vaporizing them. As one fan put it online, “This isn’t just a song—it’s a crossover episode I didn’t know I needed.”
What’s Next?
The release date for the Yena x Miku track hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the hype is already sky-high. Will this usher in a new era of K-pop x Vocaloid crossovers? Stay tuned—this might just be the futuristic pop anthem of the year.
