There is a kind of waiting that longtime K-pop fans know too well. Not the usual months between promotions or the heightened anticipation of studying every teaser photo and tweeting every wild theory about the newest concept. This is the more complicated version: cheering as the members you love step outside the group’s frame and find different versions of themselves, while still missing the particular magic that only happens when they are together.
For MAMAMOO fans, that wait lasted nearly four years.
Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa were hardly inactive during that time, which almost made the waiting stranger. They were still writing and releasing music, still touring and appearing on variety shows; still doing TikTok challenges and going viral for one reason or another. MOOMOOs, as MAMAMOO fans are called, had plenty to follow. Still, something was missing.
Then on May 7, 2026, the MAMAMOO official account posted a single image of two overlapping hang tags against a blue background. The front tag displayed a new logo with the name “4WARD.” The one behind it carried the tagline “Four as one,” followed by four familiar names. Caption: “COMING SOON.”
This announcement led to MAMAMOO’s first group comeback since 2022’s MIC ON: 4WARD, a special single featuring the title track “4 Flowers. The song does not pretend that no time has passed. It lets the years show.
What has not changed is how their voices find each other. However Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa have traveled as individual artists, slipping back to place next to each other is like muscle memory. Their voices and personalities have always been distinct, and they are even more so now. They make room for each other to shine.
After 4WARD’s arrival on June 4, the reunion moved quickly from the recording booth to promotional appearances. Then, on June 19, their 12th anniversary, the group opened their 4WARD tour in Seoul before taking the show through Asia. On August 12, they will bring that momentum to New York for the start of a US run that continues through August 30 in Washington before Australia and more Asia dates follow.
The tour leans into MAMAMOO’s history without getting stuck there. It looks back with affection but keeps moving. Even with an extensive catalog, the group makes room for hits, deep cuts, a medley, solo stages, inside jokes, and rearrangements. “Taller Than You,” already one of the funniest songs in their discography, returns in trot form, which somehow feels both absurd and inevitable.
All of it circles back to “4 Flowers,” the song MAMAMOO chose to return with. Four flowers, one root. After years on their own paths, Solar, Moon Byul, Whee In, and Hwa Sa have found their way back to each other not by happenstance, but because MAMAMOO and MOOMOOs were worth the time and effort it took to make it happen. To the four members, MAMAMOO isn’t a pit stop; it is home base.
So, we started there.
Solar: When I first heard the final recorded version, hearing all our voices blend together in one song for the first time in so long gave me a moment where I went, 'Wow, this really is MAMAMOO!' It was deeply moving, but at the same time, it made my heart feel a bit aching and bittersweet.
Moon Byul: It's not just the chemistry we feel on stage because of our busy schedules, we all recorded “4 Flowers” separately, but listening to the recorded track, our teamwork came through so well that I immediately felt, “Yes, this is MAMAMOO.”
Whee In: I think I felt it most when I heard our fans cheering.
Hwa Sa: Every time we open the show with 'Mr. Ambiguous,' I feel this overwhelming rush of emotion.
S: To be honest, setting aside the new tracks, the current setlist has a relatively standard structure. But we got a bit ambitious this time, and it just turned out like this (laughs). What mattered most to me was showing MOOMOO the songs and performances they love. As a result, a few songs naturally had to be left off the setlist.
MB: The members, along with our staff, put a massive amount of thought and discussion into this. In the end, we adjusted the setlist to focus on the songs our international MOOMOOs have been most eager to hear.
WI: We had to leave out a few songs due to venue and logistical issues on site, which was a really tough decision because we love all of them. Keeping our fans in mind, especially since it’s been a while since we last met, we built the setlist around songs everyone could enjoy together and tracks that really define our identity.
HS: It feels like the setlist was chosen with well-known songs so that even first time attendees could easily enjoy it. Honestly, if it were up to me, I’d want to sing every single one of our songs for them.
S: When our management team first pitched the idea, I thought it was super fresh. Recording it was a total blast. It felt so unique and new, and I was so glad to see MOOMOO loved it just as much. Once we started practicing with the choreography, it became even more fun.
MB: Taking on new genres is always exciting. I loved that we were able to show that even hip hop can be turned into trot. Because we took on this new challenge together as a group, it felt all the more satisfying.
WI: Trot has been taking Korea by storm over the past few years, so this special stage was created to match that trend. I never expected “Taller Than You” to be rearranged like that, which made practicing so much fun. The crowd's reaction at the concert was electric, so we had an absolute blast performing it.
HS: That was actually an idea from our management team. Parodying modern pop songs into trot versions has been a huge trend in Korea lately, but hearing our songs rearranged into our own unique style was amazing. I’ve been having so much fun performing them at every show.
S: Without a doubt, it’s our MOOMOOs. After doing solo activities for so long, seeing that look of pure excitement in their eyes when we stood on stage as a full group again left a huge impression on me. It was so intense that the memory is still vivid.
MB: Beyond just performing on stage, I think I missed all those small moments laughing, chatting, and just hanging out together as a group.
WI: I’d say it’s the energy and synergy on stage that none of us could ever reach alone.
HS: It’s those tiny, casual conversations about nothing in particular. Of course I missed the stage the most, but looking back, those small chats we shared in our own secret language during the downtime turned out to be so surprisingly precious.
S: I still have a long way to go, but through my solo work, I think I learned a lot in various areas, including music, vocals, and stage presence. Since you have to fill the entire stage on your own as a soloist, it was challenging, but I learned just as much from the experience.
MB: Through our individual activities, each of us showcased our own style and the genres we excel at, which I think helped sharpen our individual colors and made us stronger as artists. Seeing those four distinct personalities come together to make MAMAMOO shine even brighter today fills me with pride.
WI: Watching our solo activities and these solo performances makes me so proud of MAMAMOO as a group. I think the members are truly incredible for doing their best in their respective spaces to make us feel that way.
HS: When you promote as a soloist, the thing that hardens and grows strongest is your inner self. In a group, you share responsibilities, which can make you a bit complacent in certain areas, but when you’re on your own, everything is laid bare. Because of that, you build the strength to navigate everything entirely on your own.
S: Before heading out, we always hold a content meeting for Solarsido. There are so many details to consider like what kind of content we can film in the next city and whether our schedule actually allows it. Because of that, our options are inevitably somewhat limited, and there are places where we simply can't film at all.
Still, if there's any chance to do it, we try our absolute best. Having the opportunity to create and leave something behind in each country while on tour isn't common. Looking back later, even the exhausting moments turn into memories and stay with me as good times.
TM: Moon Byul, one of the best parts of the new title track was hearing you really get to shine as both a rapper and vocalist. After exploring and expanding your musicality as a solo artist, how did it feel to bring that fuller range back into a MAMAMOO title track?
MB: At first, I felt a lot of pressure. While I handle both vocals and rapping during my solo activities, my main position in MAMAMOO is as a rapper, so I was really worried. But thanks to the support from the members, I was able to pull it off. I was even happier because not only our fans but also the general public loved it so much.
WI: Once I became clear on wanting to do music for a very long time, I naturally stopped feeling rushed. Even if it takes a little more time, I always believe I need to clearly understand what I’m good at and what fits me best, so that I can consistently deliver high-quality music.
HS: I think I actually get a bit quieter. The other members are so witty and fun that when I’m with them, I can just relax and enjoy a quiet laugh. I’m so grateful to them for that. In those moments, I feel completely at ease.
S: That's also our MOOMOOs, without a doubt. Because they exist, we have a reason to perform as a group again, and I believe MAMAMOO can continue to exist. As long as MOOMOOs are here, MAMAMOO will go on in one form or another.
MB: It's definitely our fans. For the four of us, MAMAMOO itself is incredibly precious, but because our fans are with us, that meaning and power become so much greater. I'm always so grateful to them for waiting for us and believing in us, and I want to make sure we repay that love.
WI: I draw the greatest strength from my members, who I can always rely on first, and from our fans, who support and wait for us. Thanks to the passionate love and support they send for everything we do, I gain energy, keep standing on stage, and find the courage to keep moving forward with a new side of myself.
HS: It’s all about love. If there’s no love, my personality just won’t allow me to push myself hard even if I wanted to. Thanks to the constant love that’s been waiting right here, even the tough moments feel like blessings.
