Hyemi, who now goes by the name YEL, recently opened up about the time that she was actively promoting with her former group FIESTAR. On Monday, she took part in an interview to celebrate her third solo album, titled Feel Lethargic.
"I was a trainee for such a long time that I was called 'LOEN Entertainment's fossil.' Out of the friends who trained with me, [MBLAQ's] Thunder and IU debuted first, and I finally debuted as a FIESTAR member after going through a series of canceled debuts. It was difficult, of course, but I also had fun while training," she began.
YEL was then asked how she felt about not having much spotlight similar to previous members Yezi and Cao Lu, she said, "I would be lying if I didn't think that I had as many charming sides to show [the public as much as Yezi and Cao Lu]. However, I was more thankful that the members helped increase the popularity of the group."
The singer didn't hold back in giving honest answers to questions about the amount she was receiving whilst promoting with the group.
"My income was zero. The agency provided us with high-quality stage outfits and props, but compared to that, our results weren't as great. However, it was a good agency. They would always give us allowances," she revealed.
"Even though I did not receive any income, working with FIESTAR remains a valuable experience for me. We weren't extremely popular, but there are still many people who remember FIESTAR. In addition, we did not disband due to negative reasons, so we are all rooting for each other. I hope every member becomes more successful and happy," she went on.
YEL expressed her gratitude to her supporters, especially now that she has embarked on a solo career.
"After the group disbanded, I gave vocal lessons to people who are training to become idols. During that process, I also got to seriously think and study about my voice and the way I produce sound. It might sound cliché, but I hope you continue to watch over me as I will continue to improve and make good music," she said.
