Doctor-singer Lee Jin-young teams up with Seol Un-do for new single 'Junbidwaesseoyo', out September 13

Lee Jin-young goes dance with a Seol Un-do original

Lee Jin-young (이진영) runs her own dermatology clinic. She also sings. On September 13, she releases 준비됐어요 (Junbidwaesseoyo / "I'm Ready"), a medium-tempo trot dance song that blends pop and funky elements around a strong melody and intentionally sticky hook. Seol Un-do (설운도) wrote it and handed it to her personally.

Seol Un-do had originally written the song for someone else—a sexier image, with Um Jung-hwa (엄정화) as the reference point. Then he spotted untapped potential in Lee Jin-young and pivoted. He told her he intends to serve as her exclusive composer going forward, making this release the opening move in what could be a longer creative partnership.

"Can I even pull off this sexy song?"

Lee Jin-young's first listen was split. "At first I thought, 'This is a hit?' But as I kept listening, I thought, 'Wait, can I pull off this sexy song?'" The recording process was grueling. "So difficult that tears came out a little," she said. But Seol Un-do's direction trusted her to interpret and express the character as a singer herself, rather than dictating every move. His main instruction: imagine finding a man you fell for at first sight and sing the song directly to him.

The recording leaned on facial expressions, gaze, and gestures to carry the narrative—a woman actively and honestly pursuing someone who caught her eye. That approach extends to the stage. Lee Jin-young will perform full choreography during this promotional cycle, a step up from her previous activities.

Shedding the "doctor-singer" label

Lee Jin-young has been clear about what she wants. "Through this album, I want to be evaluated for the music itself rather than the modifier 'doctor-singer.'" She has moved through trot and now into dance. Band music is next on her list.

(The goal she put plainest: "Someday I want to hear 'Lee Jin-young's song is good' and 'I want to see singer Lee Jin-young's stage.'")

준비됐어요 drops September 13.