Wendy’s highly anticipated solo comeback under ASND Label has taken an unexpected turn, with sales numbers becoming the center of heated discussion among fans.
Back in 2021, Wendy made history as the first Red Velvet member to debut as a soloist with Like Water, selling over 68,000 copies on its first day. Her follow-up project, Wish You Hell in 2024, performed similarly with around 68,600 sales, keeping her firmly established under SM Entertainment.
That stability shifted in April 2025, when both Wendy and fellow member Yeri decided not to renew their personal contracts with SM. While clarifying that they would continue Red Velvet group activities, Wendy signed with ASND Label, home to fromis\ 9, to pursue her solo career.
Her first release under the new label, Cerulean Verge, signaled the start of this new chapter. However, its numbers raised eyebrows — just over 30,200 copies sold on release day, less than half of her previous solo records.
The contrast becomes starker when compared to her groupmates’ solo successes: Irene’s Like A Flower surpassed 250,000 sales, while Seulgi’s 28 Reasons exceeded 134,000.
The steep drop quickly became a hot topic across online communities. Some fans expressed disappointment, while others defended Wendy, emphasizing the difficulties of promoting without the backing of a powerhouse like SM.
Others noted that the soloist landscape in K-pop has become increasingly competitive, with newer idols dominating charts and long-established artists facing tougher challenges to maintain momentum.
Still, many fans remain supportive, praising Wendy’s artistry and hoping Cerulean Verge will gain recognition over time. Whether this marks a temporary hurdle or a long-term shift in her career trajectory remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Wendy’s future outside SM has already sparked one of 2025’s most heated K-pop debates.
Sources: Koreaboo
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