SEVENTEEN’s lovable youngest Dino makes his much-anticipated solo debut as alter ego Picheolin.
In line with the trend of other members debuting in units, Pledis Entertainment revealed the “DINO X PICHEOLIN” concept. The surprise announcement caught both casual listeners and dedicated fans off guard.
After all, “Picheolin” began as Dino’s playful alter ego, which became a beloved inside joke among the fandom. First introduced during a 2021 Carat Land skit, the character’s journey was far from over.
Following his first appearance, he went on to make appearances in SEVENTEEN‘s variety show “Going Seventeen”. His debut on “Wonwoo’s Diary” was where “Chunsunie” (who would end up as his fandom name) was first coined. Since then, Dino’s alter ego, Picheolin, found his way into other content. He even made it as far as the 38th Golden Disc Awards with BSS.
吉BOARD
吉BOARD is the first solo physical mini album to come out of SEVENTEEN. It is a far cry from Dino’s first solo mixtape release, “WAIT,” where he first showcased his unique sensibilities as an artist. Dino confesses that this was “a lot of pressure” during a countdown live held on August 3, 2026. The album itself was reported to symbolize 1990s street culture and a blend of several genres with the Korean spirit of exuberance and joy “heung”.
On July 13, Pledis Entertainment announced via promotion scheduler that Dino would be coming out with three different music videos. Each one would be displaying his varied charms and sensibilities to the public. The concept also called for the separation of alter ago, “Picheolin,” and idol “Dino.” The company added, “Picheolin is a persona embodying the aspiration to blend into the public’s daily lives in a friendly and natural way.”
“Love Sick” and ” “미쳐 미쳐”
Before dropping the title track on August 3, he released two other music videos that showcased both his and his alter ego Picheolin’s diverse musical styles: “Love Sick” and “미쳐 미쳐.” Each has such a unique sound that there’s no mistaking one for the other. “Love Sick” tells what fans see as Picheolin and Chunsunie’s love story, filled with an unshakable longing for a girl he can no longer reach, while also touching on the universal regret of loving and losing.
While “Love Sick” brings city pop and new jack swing into the forefront with a narration from Leo Moon Sae, “미쳐 미쳐” somehow combines dance-pop and semi-trot with a sound that’s genuinely and uniquely his. It’s so catchy that it won’t be a surprise to anyone if it becomes one of the songs banned during Korea’s entrance exams.
Both songs were pre-released on July 15 and July 22. The title track “놀아보세 (prod. Hitchhiker)” following them on August 3. For its part, it combined the more classic Korean retro sounds with EDM and dance beats. It fully brings into center stage the message of spreading joy and excitement to its audience.
Stream Dino and Picheolin’s new album on all streaming music platforms. No doubt one of his whimsical tracks will be suited to your taste!
Source: SEVENTEEN
