The daughter of South Korean rapper Tablo is stepping into the world of K-pop songwriting, highlighting how a new generation of creators is beginning to emerge behind one of the country’s most influential cultural exports.
Haru Lee, the daughter of Tablo of hip-hop group Epik High and actress Kang Hye-jung, has been credited as the sole lyricist on “Do Your Dance,” the title track from boy group RIIZE’s upcoming second mini album, II, scheduled for release on Sept. 15.
The credit has drawn attention in South Korea’s entertainment industry, where songwriting duties are typically divided among teams of established lyricists, composers and producers. For Haru Lee, who was born in 2010, the role represents one of the earliest known examples of a celebrity child entering K-pop’s highly competitive creative pipeline.
The development also reflects a broader evolution within the Korean music industry. While K-pop has become synonymous with meticulously trained performers and polished idol groups, much of the industry’s global success depends on an extensive network of songwriters, producers and creative talent working behind the scenes.
Haru Lee previously received a songwriting credit on “To Me From Me,” a track by girl group Kiki, where she collaborated with her father. Tablo, who debuted with Epik High in 2003, has long been regarded as one of South Korea’s most respected lyricists, known for combining introspective storytelling with socially conscious themes.
Her latest contribution, however, marks the first time she has been listed as the sole lyricist on a major K-pop release managed by one of the country’s leading entertainment companies.
RIIZE, one of SM Entertainment’s newest boy groups, has rapidly established itself as a prominent name in the next generation of K-pop acts. The group’s upcoming release is expected to draw significant attention from both domestic and international fans, placing Haru Lee’s work on one of the industry’s largest stages.
The songwriting credit arrives at a time when the global K-pop industry is expanding beyond performers to spotlight the creators responsible for shaping the music itself. As international audiences become increasingly interested in the production process behind Korean entertainment, the emergence of younger songwriters is likely to attract growing attention.
For Haru Lee, the milestone represents an early step into an industry where artistic credibility is often earned through years of experience and competition. Whether this signals the beginning of a long-term career in music remains to be seen, but her involvement has already sparked discussion about the next generation of talent emerging within South Korea’s entertainment ecosystem.
Separately, Epik High is set to return to North America later this year with its “EPIK HIGH 3.0 TOUR.” The group will begin the tour on Sept. 30 in New York before performing in 13 cities across the United States and Canada, including Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Oakland, Vancouver, Seattle, Las Vegas and San Diego. The tour underscores the group’s enduring international appeal more than two decades after its debut—and comes as Tablo’s daughter takes her own first steps into the global K-pop industry.
