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By iamraeiam | July 6, 2025
U Chae launched her first solo U.S. fan meet tour, Hey, U_Chae, with a heartwarming and high-energy event in Seattle.
U Chae officially kicked off her first-ever solo U.S. fan meet tour, Hey, U_Chae, on July 3, 2025, at K-Pop Empire in Seattle. The event marked the first of eight stops across the country, offering fans an intimate and unforgettable experience with the rising soloist.
Running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the evening delivered a warm blend of nostalgia and new beginnings. K-Pop Empire provided a welcoming space as fans flooded in, many donning PIXY or U Chae merchandise and proudly holding lightsticks representing her. Though U Chae has visited the U.S. previously—first as a member of PIXY and again during the 2024 K-Pop Breakout Tour—Hey, U_Chae is her first solo activity, and Seattle was the first opportunity for fans to meet her one-on-one in this new chapter.
U Chae first gained recognition as a member of the girl group PIXY, debuting in 2021. Known for her magnetic stage presence, powerful dance skills, and duality of sweetness and edge, she quickly became a fan favorite. Following her departure from the group in 2023, she took a brief step back before reemerging as a solo artist with a focus on reconnecting with fans on her own terms. Hey, U_Chae is a direct extension of that effort, offering something more personal, more vulnerable, and more her.
The Seattle event featured a candid Q&A, high-touch moments, and a special performance of a yet-to-be-released track—a gift for those in the room, performed phone-free to preserve the experience across all cities. Throughout the evening, U Chae effortlessly switched between Korean and English, showing her dedication to creating a space where all fans felt seen and heard. She shared sweet anecdotes, asked fans for local food recommendations (Dick’s Drive-In quickly rose to the top), and offered heartfelt thanks that visibly moved the crowd.
There’s a grounded sincerity to U Chae’s stage presence that feels rare. While she shines during performances, it’s the in-between moments—her laughter, her wide eyes at fan signs, her careful attention to each person—that make her feel more like a friend than a distant star. “You can’t help but look at her and smile,” one fan said, perfectly summing up the mood. These moments of closeness are what Hey, U_Chae is all about: building community, one heartfelt interaction at a time.
As the fan meet tour makes its way to the next cities—including Concord, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and more—Seattle set the tone with a night that felt both intimate and full of possibility. U Chae may have kicked off Hey, U_Chae as a soloist, but she never stood alone. The love from fans old and new filled every moment—proof that this next chapter isn’t just about reinventing herself, but about growing together.
Images and words by: iamraeiam
English (US) · 