YENA Announces LOVE CATCHER Comeback and First Asia Tour

Former IZ*ONE member YENA drops her fifth mini album with star-studded features from DinDin, Jung Hyung-don, and Paul Kim, plus announces her first solo Asia tour across five cities.

Pak

March 3, 2026

#K-Pop#K-Pop Comeback#YENA#Choi Yena#LOVE CATCHER#YH Entertainment#Asia Tour#IZ*ONE

YENA is having her moment. The former IZ*ONE member, now one of K-pop's most consistent soloists, drops her fifth mini album LOVE CATCHER on March 11, alongside the announcement of her first solo Asia tour. Eight months after Blooming Wings, she's back with her most ambitious project yet.

LOVE CATCHER: The Album

The five-track EP positions YENA (최예나) as a versatile artist willing to take creative risks. Title track "Catch Catch" (캐치 캐치) leads with electro-pop energy, described by her team as showcasing "her most ambitious choreography to date." The cat-and-mouse theme runs through the production, matching the playful yet assertive concept photos that have dominated K-pop Twitter for the past week.

YENA LOVE CATCHER retro concept photo with blonde hair — YENA in retro-inspired styling for LOVE CATCHER concept version 3. Photo: YH Entertainment

What sets LOVE CATCHER apart is its feature lineup. "Because It Is Spring" (봄이라서) brings together rapper DinDin and comedian-turned-rapper Jung Hyung-don for an unexpected collaboration that bridges K-pop with variety entertainment. "Sticker" features indie artist Yoonmachi (MRCH), while "Question Mark" (물음표) pairs YENA with ballad specialist Paul Kim, known as Korea's "emotional craftsman." Even "Cat of April" (4월의 고양이) carries prestige, with lyrics penned by Han Roro, the Gen Z singer-songwriter who's been making waves in the Korean indie scene.

First Solo Asia Tour Announced

On March 3, YENA officially revealed her "So Near, Yet So Far, Another World" tour, marking her first international solo concert series. The tour spans five cities across six stops:

Seoul, South Korea: April 4-5, 2026
Macau: April 25, 2026
Taipei, Taiwan: May 1-2, 2026
Hong Kong: May 23, 2026
Tokyo, Japan: June 13-14, 2026

The tour signals YENA's growing regional presence. Since debuting solo with "Smiley" in January 2022, she's steadily built a catalog that balances bright, energetic concepts with genuine artistic evolution. Five mini albums in four years is a pace that proves her staying power in an industry where solo acts from disbanded groups often struggle to maintain momentum.

Why This Matters

YENA represents a successful post-project-group trajectory. IZ*ONE disbanded in April 2021 after a legendary two-and-a-half-year run, and while members scattered to various agencies and career paths, YENA has arguably carved the most consistent solo identity. Her "Yena Core" aesthetic blends vibrant visuals with hook-driven pop, and LOVE CATCHER appears to refine rather than reinvent that formula.

The star-studded feature list also demonstrates industry respect. DinDin and Jung Hyung-don aren't typical K-pop collaborators. Their inclusion suggests YENA and YH Entertainment are positioning this release for broader cultural penetration beyond the idol fan sphere.

LOVE CATCHER releases March 11 at 6 PM KST across all major streaming platforms. Pre-orders are now available.

Fans Also Ask

When is YENA LOVE CATCHER album release date?

YENA released her fifth mini album LOVE CATCHER on March 11, 2026, at 6 PM KST. The five-track EP is led by title track "Catch Catch" and features collaborations with DinDin, Jung Hyung-don, Paul Kim, and indie artist Yoonmachi. It follows her fourth mini album Blooming Wings released eight months earlier.

What cities are on YENA first Asia tour 2026?

YENA"s "So Near, Yet So Far, Another World" tour spans five cities across six shows: Seoul (April 4-5 at Blue Square), Macau (April 25), Taipei (May 1-2), Hong Kong (May 23), and Tokyo (June 13-14). This marks her first international solo concert series since debuting solo in January 2022.

Is YENA still part of IZ*ONE?

No. IZ*ONE officially disbanded in April 2021 after a two-and-a-half-year run. YENA (Choi Yena) is now a solo artist under YH Entertainment. She debuted solo in January 2022 with her first mini album SMiLEY and has since released five mini albums while maintaining her variety entertainment career.

What songs are on YENA LOVE CATCHER tracklist?

YENA LOVE CATCHER has five tracks: 1. "Catch Catch" (title track), 2. "Because It Is Spring" featuring DinDin and Jung Hyung-don, 3. "Sticker" featuring Yoonmachi (MRCH), 4. "Question Mark" featuring Paul Kim, and 5. "Cat of April" with lyrics by Han Roro.

Who are the featured artists on YENA LOVE CATCHER?

LOVE CATCHER features four collaborators: rapper DinDin and comedian-rapper Jung Hyung-don on "Because It Is Spring," indie artist Yoonmachi (MRCH) on "Sticker," and ballad specialist Paul Kim on "Question Mark." Gen Z singer-songwriter Han Roro wrote the lyrics for "Cat of April."