(Photo = Provided by JYP Entertainment)

 

YEJI of ITZY has been recognized for her solo debut with ‘Air’, which was selected by UK music magazine NME as one of the Best K-pop Songs of 2025.

 

On December 10 (local time), NME published its list “The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2025” on its official website, where YEJI’s solo debut track ‘Air’ was included, proving her growing global impact.

 

NME praised the track, writing, “YEJI’s solo debut was one of 2025’s most satisfying surprises. She commands the song with a tension that’s almost suffocating, relishing the pressure building over the beat, and delivers rising emotion that becomes more intense as the climax approaches. The crashing electric guitar lines are what make ‘Air’ truly shine.”

 

Earlier this year, ‘Air’ was also featured in Billboard’s ‘25 Best K-pop Songs of 2025 (So Far)’ list published in July, solidifying YEJI’s status as a top 4th-gen performer. Co-written by YEJI herself, ‘Air’ is a synth-pop track with a strikingly addictive hook that encapsulates her artistry. She delivered a breathtaking performance, showcasing her distinct movement and confirming her potential as a solo artist.

 

Recently, ITZY successfully wrapped up promotions for their latest album ‘TUNNEL VISION’, powered by their powerful performance and title track of the same name. They took home a 1st place trophy on music shows, once again living up to their nickname as “K-pop’s Performance Queens.”

 

Additionally, the title track from their June mini album ‘Girls Will Be Girls’ was selected for the ‘Best of K-POP ON! 2025’ playlist curated by editors at the world’s largest music streaming platform, Spotify.

 

Building on this momentum, ITZY will launch their next world tour, ‘ITZY 3RD WORLD TOUR < TUNNEL VISION >’, starting in February 2026. The tour will kick off with a three-day concert in Seoul at the Jamsil Indoor Stadium from February 13 to 15.