K is the debut extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Heejin of the girl group Artms. It was released through Modhaus on October 31, 2023. The EP features six tracks, including the lead single "Algorithm". It is primarily a pop record with themes about heartbreak in the digital era. Heejin was closely involved with all aspects of the album's production, and wrote lyrics for four of the songs.
Background
Heejin first debuted as a member of Loona in 2016, and released the single album HeeJin with the group later that year. Following a series of legal disputes, several of the group's members, including Heejin, signed a new contract under the agency Modhaus in March 2023, and redebuted as Artms in 2024.
In August 2023, it was reported that Heejin would be making her solo debut with a new album planned for release in October. Despite her previous single album, Heejin considers K to be her true solo debut release, citing the small scale of the older work and her lack of creative control over it.
K was promoted before release with two music video teasers, released on October 12 and October 24, as well as a series of concept photos released on October 20. The teasers and photos all featured Heejin wearing a traditional Korean hanbok.
Title and composition
The title of K stands for Korea. Heejin explained that she chose the title as she was inspired by the popularity of Korean popular culture such as Korean dramas and K-pop, and wanted the album to represent "the beauty of her country".
Heejin was extensively involved in the album's production. She co-wrote lyrics for four of the songs, participated in the album design, and personally selected elements such as the concept images that would be used and the outfits that she wore. Heejin described the concept for the album as reflecting "Heejin herself" and that it would aim to show a more authentic side of her. She also said that while she had felt unable to voice her opinions during the production of the single album HeeJin, she now felt confident enough to give input and disagree with the agency's ideas if necessary, which was reflected in her close involvement in the production.
K has been described as an album about "precious human experiences such as falling in love and heartbreak". The EP opens with the track "Kehwa", which means "to bloom" in Korean. Heejin stated that she wanted this to reflect her desire to present herself to an even wider audience. Heejin wrote the lyrics for the title track, "Algorithm", after the name of the song had already been decided. She explained that the song is about wanting to forget someone but having things related to them continue to appear on one's social media algorithm. The song's production is based on 1980s Western pop music from artists such as Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Cyndi Lauper. For the third track, "Video Game", Heejin drew inspiration from the film Wreck-It Ralph (2012), and quickly wrote the lyrics in just one day. It is a "groovy" song with a strong bass line; Heejin stated that it was her favorite of the B-side tracks. The fifth track, "Nokia", is a breakup song that is named after cell phone manufacturer Nokia, with lyrics reflecting on a broken relationship "like a phone that is now discontinued and no longer exists". The sixth track, "Addiction", was almost chosen as a song for the girl group TripleS; Heejin wrote the lyrics after reflecting on her habit of eating snacks late at night.
Release
K was released on October 31, 2023. To promote the EP and communicate with her fans, Heejin held a showcase at Seongam Art Hall in the Gangnam district of Seoul on the EP's release day, where she introduced the album and performed songs including "Video Game", "Sad Girls Club", and "Algorithm".
A music video for "Algorithm", directed by Kim Sunung of Kings Creative Lab, was released alongside the EP. In the video, Heejin stars as a Korean princess living in a traditional Korean palace who wants to escape the palace to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop star. The style of the video was modeled after the television series Princess Hours (2006), of which Heejin is a fan.
Track listing
K track listing
No.
Title
Lyrics
Music
Arrangement
Length
1.
"Kehwa" (개화;Gaehwa; lit.'"Flowering"')
Artronic Waves
Artronic Waves
Artronic Waves
1:16
2.
"Algorithm"
Heejin, Artronic Waves, Jaden Jeong
Artronic Waves, Yi Sae Bom
Artronic Waves
3:08
3.
"Sad Girls Club"
imsuho, Oona Muurinen
imsuho, Naasim, Dr.Han, Oona Muurinen
imsuho, Naasim, Dr.Han
3:17
4.
"Video Game"
Heejin, Johan Gustafsson, Teodor Dahlbom, Julia Hallasen, Hanna Lilliecreutz
Johan Gustafsson, Teodor Dahlbom, Julia Hallasen, Hanna Lilliecreutz
Johan Gustafsson, Teodor Dahlbom
3:06
5.
"Nokia"
Heejin, Park So-hyun, Jaden Jeong
KZ, Kim Taeyoung, DINT, Charlotte Wilson, Rachael Chevlin
KZ, Kim Tae-young
3:14
6.
"Addiction"
Heejin, Jaden Jeong, G-high (MonoTree), San Yoon, Isa Guerra, Casper Redson, Hawa Song
BADD, San Yoon, Isa Guerra, Casper Redson, Hawa Song
BADD
2:38
Total length:
16:47
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Melon and from the album's liner notes.
12Kim, Hyun-sik (August 3, 2023). "[단독]'前 이달소' 희진, 10월 솔로 출격…'화려한 새 출발'"[[Exclusive] Former LOONA member Heejin to launch solo in October… A spectacular new start]. Edaily Starin (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
12Jang, Woo-young (October 12, 2023). "희진+한복 필승 조합…이게 바로 'K' 아름다움"[Heejin + Hanbok, the winning combination… This is the true beauty of 'K']. Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
12Jo, Hye-jin (October 24, 2023). "아르테미스 희진, 새 MV 티저 공개…빛나는 한복 자태로 '솔로 데뷔' 예고"[Artemis' Heejin Unveils New MV Teaser… Hints at 'Solo Debut' with Radiant Hanbok Attire]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
12Son, Bong-seok (October 20, 2023). "아르테미스 희진, '알고리즘' 새 콘셉트 포토 오픈"[Artms' Heejin Unveils New Concept Photos for 'Algorithm']. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
12Jo, Hye-jin (November 4, 2023). "[아이돌티스트] 희진 "아이돌 하길 참 잘했다""[[Idolist] Heejin "I'm so glad I became an idol"]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
12Heo, Ji-young (November 10, 2023). "솔로로 돌아온 희진 "여전히 이달소로 불리면 좋아요" [인터뷰]"[Heejin Returns as Solo: "I Still Like Being Called LOONA" [Interview]]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
↑Im, Jae-ho (October 31, 2023). "[인터뷰] ARTMS 희진 "잊고 싶은데도 자꾸 떠오르는 '알고리즘'처럼 각인되고 싶어"[[Interview] ARTMS Heejin: "I want to be imprinted like an algorithm that keeps coming back even when I want to forget it"]. BNT News (in Korean). Retrieved October 13, 2026.
12K (EP) (photobook). HeeJin. South Korea: ModHaus, Kakao Entertainment. 2023. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
