While browsing YouTube over the weekend, I came across a song that surprised me, titled 'Kwon So-young - C.O.C.' on the screen.

I first thought, what kind of song title is C.O.C.?

Listening to the song, even just the opening instrumental, instantly transports me back 26 years.

It reminds me of my first job in a Myeongdong office in the 2000s, where I would go to nightclubs with colleagues after work to hear that very song.

I noticed it has surpassed 2 million views. A comeback after 26 years? I had to look into what was going on.

Reflecting on 1999, there weren't many videos or stage performances of the singer Kwon So-young.

I had completely forgotten her face and activities, but the moment the song played, memories of the 2000s flooded back.

"Ah, this song!" It has a catchy tune that was played countless times in nightclubs and on street tape stalls back then.

What surprised me while watching the video was not just the song but her visuals.

Was the beauty of 1999 ahead of its time, or did she just miss her moment?

Her sophisticated and urban beauty would not be out of place among today's idols, and I can't help but feel it's a shame she wasn't recognized more at the time.

If it were today, she would have gone viral on Instagram or YouTube.

I heard that recently she received requests to appear on shows like other nostalgic singers, but she declined, wanting to quietly fade away.

I remember how Yang Jun-il, another singer, became popular again by appearing on shows and holding fan meetings, but I think Kwon So-young's choice is quite wise.

Honestly, once you reach your fifties, whether male or female, your once glamorous appearance inevitably changes.

Especially for women, once they hit their forties, it's hard to escape the weight of time, and their faces and aura change significantly.

I can fully understand her desire to leave her most beautiful moments as cherished memories for the public.

By now, she must be living a normal life as a woman in her fifties, but her decision to turn away from fleeting glamour without regret feels even more admirable.

The fact that a classic song that didn't get its due recognition back then resonates with young people living in the 2020s is truly fascinating. The song was composed by Lee Kyung-seob.

He is one of the representative composers of the Korean music scene in the 1990s, creating numerous hit songs across a wide range of genres, from emotional ballads to sophisticated dance tracks.

'C.O.C.' naturally incorporates the techno and eurodance sounds that were popular at the time.

Even 26 years later, its non-dated melody and refined arrangement have garnered renewed attention, earning it the title of 'a song ahead of its time.'

Kwon So-young, a hidden gem of the 90s who was born in the wrong era, I applaud you for your brilliant moments, even if belatedly.