[talk] The collaboration between Essential and Wonpil is notable.

As soon as the new year started, Bugs launched a new project called Essential Studio, and Wonpil joined as the first runner.​

Essential Studio is an expanded project from NHN Bugs' music curation brand, "essential;," and aims to be more than just a playlist channel; it also aims to be a creative platform and brand where users can create their own music. Previously, they collaborated with artists like Crush and Doyoung under the name "essential; With Artist," but from now on, they've changed their name to "Essential Studio" and are planning to move forward more fully, aiming for a global IP project.

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The song that accompanies that first start is Wonpil's new song 'Wish'. It was released on January 7th at 6PM through various music sites including Bugs, and is described as a medium-tempo pop genre song that combines Wonpil's signature refreshing vocals and acoustic guitar. It is said to be a song that delivers a small happiness that feels like the new year to those who listen to it with an overall bright and warm atmosphere, a lyrical melody, and a message of hope.

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The song's planning also perfectly aligned with the new year. Essential Studios said they chose "Wish" as the first track because they wanted to convey bright, positive energy and hope to all listeners at the start of the new year, January 2026. They carefully selected the track that best embodied the project's direction and message, monitoring hundreds of demos from both Korea and abroad.

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British pop artist Etham, known for "12:45," also participated in the production, adding to the perfection of the song. The lyrics are said to contain the small happiness found in moments like a ray of sunshine that accidentally seep into the repetitive daily routine and boredom, as well as the heart that harbors greater hopes. Wonpil said that he conveyed the song's message centered around the keywords "hope, wish, wish, and luck."

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Wonpil's group DAY6 is currently gaining popularity both domestically and internationally, to the point where they're being called the "nation's band," so the response to Wonpil being the first to join the lineup has been quite enthusiastic. Essential stated that Wonpil's vocals and image naturally came to mind when they first heard the new song, and that they decided to join because they believed he was the artist who could best express the emotional line of the song.

To sum up, Wonpil's current status for 2026 can be summarized as the release of "Wish," the first track from the Essential Studio project, gifting listeners with a healing and hopeful song for the new year. Essential Studio aims to continue collaborating with various top artists and producers both domestically and internationally, establishing itself as a significant project in the global music market.