Mamamoo's Solar Shares a Relaxed Tainan Car Moment as 'Solaris' Heads to Five Asian Cities

Solar, the leader of K-pop vocal group Mamamoo and the solo artist born Kim Yong-sun, updated fans with photos taken during a trip to Tainan, Taiwan. In a post uploaded on July 4, the 34-year-old singer is seen sitting in the back seat of a vehicle, looking slightly away from the camera with a calm, unhurried expression.

In the photo, Solar wears a pink sleeveless top and lets her long black hair fall naturally as daylight filters into the car. Another person in a red top is seated beside her and looking at a mobile phone, giving the image the casual feeling of people moving together between stops during the trip.

Since debuting in 2014, Solar has been central to Mamamoo as both leader and vocalist. The group made its official debut with the digital single Don't Be Happy and the mini album Hello, then built a strong vocal identity through hit songs including Um Oh Ah Yeh, You're the Best, Yes I am, gogobebe, and Decalcomanie. Across those releases, Solar was responsible for many of the high-note sections that helped define Mamamoo's sound.

Solar has also steadily widened her own stage as a solo artist. She made her solo debut in 2020 with the single Spit it out, then returned in 2024 with her second mini album COLOURS, which included But I among its tracks. With Spit it out and But I, she earned music-show No. 1 wins on separate occasions, giving her two first-place trophies as a solo singer.

More recently, Solar has continued reaching Chinese-speaking fans. After releasing the Chinese-language single 總有一顆屬於你的星球(Your Own Star) in March, she followed in June with Floating Free, adding new music aimed at the Chinese-language market.

Her third solo concert tour, Solaris, is also continuing across Asia. The tour begins at the Yonsei University Centennial Memorial Hall Concert Hall in Seoul and travels to five Asian cities including Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Singapore, and Taipei. The concerts are set to feature her solo signature songs Spit it out and But I, tracks from COLOURS, Mamamoo hits, and musical numbers she has performed on stage over the years.

Solar has expanded beyond pop music as well. She has taken title roles in large-scale musicals including Mata Hari, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Suga, earning recognition for both her singing and acting. Her third run in Mata Hari, in particular, brought her a nomination for Best New Actress at the Korea Musical Awards.

She has also made her screen debut as Cho Mi-yeon in the film Gwisi. On the KBS audition program The Song We Loved, New Singer, Solar appeared as a judge and evaluated contestants' performances, and in 2021 she received the Best Entertainer award in the show and variety category at the KBS Entertainment Awards.

Solar currently presents music covers, vlogs, and challenge content through her YouTube channel solarsido. Through her official fan club Yongsoon, she also offers fans opportunities such as advance reservations for concerts and fan meetings as well as participation in public broadcasts.

Among fans, she is often associated with the nickname Solbugi, which comes from her smiling eyes and round face, along with the Yongseonhae persona used on YouTube and her habit of keeping dorm spaces organized.