K‑pop icon HyunA will release her new digital single “못 (Mrs. Nail)” on 30 April 2025 at 18:00 KST, marking her first music in almost a year and her first comeback since marrying former Highlight rapper‑producer Yong Jun‑hyung last October. The news was revealed on 17 April through a press statement from her agency At Area and quickly picked up by Korean media, including the English‑language Korea JoongAng Daily. According to the report, the single will showcase an “alternative‑pop dance” sound and arrive with a visually driven music video befitting an artist who has spent her 17‑year career redefining K‑pop’s limits.
At Area released a comeback scheduler on 16 April outlining daily drops of concept photos, behind‑the‑scenes clips and an MV teaser slated for 29 April. Two sets of concept images—one kitsch‑pink, the other metallic‑chic—followed almost immediately, drawing headlines such as “HyunA drops wild and kitschy concept photos for ‘Mrs. Nail’” on allkpop. In the pictures, the 32‑year‑old flaunts statement manicures and bold styling that echo the single’s title while continuing her long‑standing reputation for boundary‑pushing visuals.
Yet the high‑gloss comeback narrative took a personal turn on 20 April when HyunA posted a carousel of candid mirror selfies on Instagram. The caption, written in Korean, reads: “정말 고민이야… 이렇게 한 번만 더 살아볼까, 빼볼까, 행복할까?” (“I’m really conflicted. Should I live like this one more time? Should I try to lose weight? Will I be happy?”). The post—viewable here—instantly trended on Korean Twitter as fans praised her vulnerability. Within an hour, allkpop distilled the response under the headline “HyunA teases comeback, speaks candidly about body image and self‑doubt.”
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In that article, staff writer Alec06 notes that HyunA “proudly shows off a healthy figure after gaining 8 kg,” weight she says she put on intentionally for health reasons following years of intense dieting. “I want to feel strong, not fragile,” she reportedly told a friend in comments that circulated on domestic fan cafés. Nevertheless, her caption made it clear that old anxieties still hover: “Will losing weight actually make me happier?” the singer asks rhetorically, opening a conversation about appearance pressure even for top‑tier artists.
South Korean entertainment daily TenAsia added additional context the next morning, highlighting the contrast between polished concept teasers and HyunA’s raw self‑reflection. The outlet also pointed out that “Mrs. Nail” is her first major creative step since exchanging vows with Yong Jun‑hyung—an event that, according to friends, has emboldened her to be “brutally honest” with fans about mental health and body image.
HyunA’s struggle is hardly new. In an exclusive PEOPLE magazine interview last July, she admitted, “It’s OK to say I’m not OK.” She revealed recurring bouts of anxiety since her 2016 diagnosis with depression and vasovagal syncope, conditions that prompted a temporary hiatus in 2020. “Honesty,” she said then, “helps me stay connected to the stage and to myself.” Her latest Instagram post suggests that mission is ongoing—and resonating. Comments beneath the carousel ranged from “You look healthy and glowing” to “Take all the time you need, queen.”
Industry observers say HyunA’s timing is savvy. The Korean music market traditionally sees a lull just after spring break, meaning late‑April releases often shoot quickly to the top of domestic charts. Digital analyst Kim Sung‑hoon tells JoongAng Ilbo that a strong pre‑order campaign, combined with curiosity around her body‑positive message, could give “Mrs. Nail” a decisive edge on streaming platforms Melon, Genie and Bugs.
Musically, little has been disclosed beyond genre tags and the composer roster, but At Area teased “flirtatious lyrics that twist traditional marriage metaphors.” Fans suspect Yong Jun‑hyung, renowned for writing hits like Beast’s “Fiction,” has a production credit, although neither party has confirmed. Observers also note that the single’s nail‑art motif cleverly dovetails with global beauty‑content trends—a synergy HyunA has exploited before. Her 2022 single “Nabillera” sparked a TikTok flutter after she revealed the choreography in a short clip shot entirely in a salon.
Promotions for “Mrs. Nail” are expected to follow the standard K‑pop rollout: YouTube MV teaser (29 April), digital drop across DSPs (30 April), then a week of music‑show stages on Mnet’s M Countdown, KBS Music Bank and SBS Inkigayo. Whether HyunA will appear in person or via pre‑taped stage remains unknown—her last comeback for the EP “Attitude” relied on pre‑records because of overlapping wedding arrangements.
Beyond chart performance, cultural commentators are watching for the broader conversation her Instagram confession may spark. South Korea’s Entertainment Industry Association reported in January that 71 percent of female idols face “persistent pressure” to remain below a BMI of 18.5. By posting her weight‑gain dilemma publicly, HyunA “is chipping away at the industry’s silent code,” says body‑positive activist Lee Hye‑mi, adding that such candor from a veteran star “creates room for rookies to speak up without fear.”
Not everyone views the timing purely as activism. A minority of netizens on DC Inside’s idol forum accused the singer of “using insecurity as a marketing tool.” But the critical voices were drowned out by an outpouring of support on both domestic portal Naver and international platform Reddit’s r/kpop. One top‑upvoted comment reads: “If even HyunA can feel this way, maybe we should all cut ourselves some slack.”
Meanwhile, the singer appears unfazed by the mixed chatter. She posted an Instagram Story hours later showing herself in the studio, captioned “믿어봐—nail it” (“Trust me—nail it”), a pun fans quickly interpreted as a wink at the single title. That brief clip also hints at a dance break heavy on hand choreography, potentially spotlighting her newly bulletproof nails in the music video.
With two weeks to go, streaming‑pre‑save links have already appeared on Apple Music and Spotify via At Area’s official pages. Merch specialists anticipate a limited‑edition press‑on‑nail set to accompany the single—further evidence that HyunA is fusing vulnerable storytelling with the hyper‑stylised branding that has defined her career.
Whether “Mrs. Nail” becomes a chart‑topping smash or a cult‑favorite B‑side, HyunA’s frankness has already struck a chord. In just 24 hours her weight‑gain post surpassed one million likes, and Korean comment aggregators show an 88 percent positive sentiment score. For an artist who once confessed she “would rather collapse on stage than miss a beat,” choosing to pause, gain weight and then publicly question that choice feels like a radical act. “Should I be thinner? Should I just be happy?” she asked. The coming weeks will tell whether new music—and the new mindset behind it—give her the answer she’s looking for.
