In The Korea Herald's first interview with a virtual idol, the WISHes member discusses her first solo release and why she wants virtual idols to be seen as musicians first Mumune of K-pop duo Wishes (Grim Production) When The Korea Herald logged on for its first-ever interview with a virtual idol, the usual pre-interview rituals remained the same. There was a scheduled video call, a brief greeting and questions about a new release.The only difference was that the artist waiting on the other side of the screen introduced herself as a 206-year-old witch from a sun-scorched desert.Appearing as a Live2D avatar via Discord, Mumune spoke with the bright, easygoing confidence of any rookie K-pop artist promoting a new release."Hello, I'm Mumune of the virtual idol group Wishes," she said in Korean. "I'm a virtual idol who truly, truly loves music."From there, the conversation settled into something close to routine — songwriting, recording sessions, musical influences, the nerves and excitement of stepping out on her own — the kind of ground any artist covers in a debut interview.It was easy, for stretches at a time, to forget there was anything unusual about the conversation at all. Then Mumune would mention her age, or her potion, or the desert she says she's from, and the room recalibrated.Released on July 30, "Orange Flare" marks Mumune's first solo project after two releases with her K-pop duo Wishes: "Wish List" in June 2024 and "Dear Moon" in June 2025.Blending hyperpop with pop-punk, the track pairs driving guitar riffs with vibrant electronic textures that reflect Mumune's upbeat personality. It was produced by K-pop and J-pop songwriter INFX, whose credits include Isegye Idol, Billlie and NiziU, alongside IRIS of MonoTree. Mumune of K-pop duo Wishes (Grim Production) "My first solo single, 'Orange Flare,' carries the meaning of an orange signal flare," Mumune said. "I made it with the ambition of launching that flare — in my signature color — up into the sky."Orange has long been her signature color, she explained, because she was "born" with orange hair — a shade she feels reflects her cheerful personality. She added that she enjoys experimenting with different hairstyles and styling concepts as well.The song also marks her first venture into rock music."Working with a live band was a first for me, so I think I prepared especially hard for it," Mumune said. "As Wishes, what we showed as a group leaned heavily on the chemistry between Iyla and me — our vocal harmony and the performance side of things. As a solo artist, I wanted to bring out more of myself as a vocalist and show my own musical color."That creative direction extends into the music video, which blends live-action footage with virtual production. A real band performs in an open field while Mumune shares the stage with them, creating a seamless blend of the physical and virtual worlds that mirrors the song's youthful energy.While discussions around virtual idols often focus on the technology behind them, Mumune prefers to talk about the creative possibilities the format offers."As a virtual idol, I think the biggest advantage is being able to freely and boldly wear whatever outfits I want," she said. "And because there are no spatial limitations, I can also design stages and backgrounds however I like."She pointed to Wishes' "Dear Moon" as an example."If you watch the music video, the setting leaps across time and space in ways that would be impossible otherwise," she said. "I think that's the biggest strength of what a virtual idol can express." Mumune of K-pop duo Wishes (Grim Production) Life as a virtual artist, she added, is not a solitary one."There are plenty of others at my company besides me," Mumune said. "There are eight of us in total, and we're all close. We talk things through when we're struggling with something and lean on each other."Although her performances exist in a virtual world, Mumune's biggest dream is strikingly physical: headlining Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome, one of South Korea's premier concert venues.Though virtual artists such as Plave and Naevis continue to gain mainstream recognition, Mumune believes the format is still too often dismissed as little more than animation or a technological gimmick. She hopes her music can gradually change those perceptions."Songs don't really need language," she said. "Music has no borders. Anyone can enjoy it. So I want to communicate my heart and my emotions through singing.""And I hope that by working even harder going forward, more people will come to know my name and understand that people like me exist — that virtual idols are singers too, just like anyone else."