i-dle’s Yuqi Becomes Full Member of Korea Music Copyright Association, Marking Historic Milestone

Yuqi of i-dle has reached a major career milestone, officially being promoted to a full member of the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA).

According to Korea Music Copyright Association on January 29, Yuqi was upgraded from associate to full membership following the association’s annual review process. This achievement makes her the second i-dle member to earn full KOMCA membership after leader Soyeon—and notably, the first foreign female idol in K-pop history to do so.

A Rare Achievement for Foreign Artists

Each January, KOMCA evaluates associate members based on factors such as membership duration and accumulated copyright royalties before selecting artists eligible for promotion. Yuqi’s advancement is especially significant: while there have been foreign full members before, she is the first idol and the first Chinese national, regardless of gender, to reach this status.

The recognition highlights Yuqi’s growing influence not just as a performer, but as a legitimate songwriter and producer within the Korean music industry.

Building Her Own Musical Identity

Yuqi has steadily expanded her creative footprint through both group and solo projects. On i-dle’s post-rebranding mini-album We are, she showcased her songwriting skills on the disco-inspired track “Love Tease,” reinterpreting the genre with her own distinct style.

Her solo debut album YUQ1 further cemented her reputation as a self-producing artist. Yuqi wrote and composed the title track “FREAK,” as well as every track on her 2025 single Motivation, earning praise for her bold musical direction and versatility.

Strong Presence in Global Markets

Yuqi’s self-written song “Radio (Dum-Dum)”, released in March last year, gained remarkable traction in the Chinese music market. The track achieved Platinum certification on QQ Music and has remained on major charts for over ten months, solidifying its status as a long-running hit.

She has also demonstrated her producer credentials by contributing to junior labelmate NOWZ’s mini-album IGNITION, producing the pre-release track “Fly Freely (Feat. Yuqi).”

i-dle’s Status as a Self-Producing Group

With Yuqi joining Soyeon as a full KOMCA member, i-dle continues to strengthen its reputation as a self-sustaining, creator-driven group, setting itself apart in an industry often dominated by externally produced music.

Meanwhile, i-dle recently released the new track “Mono (Feat. skaiwater)” and is actively promoting through major music programs, including Music Bank and The Seasons – 10cm’s Night, signaling an especially busy and productive start to the year.