SEVENTEEN's Wonwoo marked his birthday not with a break, but with a release — dropping a new solo ballad while serving in South Korea's military. Here is exactly what he put out, and when.
What Wonwoo Released — and When
Wonwoo of SEVENTEEN released a solo digital single titled Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (봄, 여름, 가을, 겨울) on July 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. KST, distributed through streaming platforms via PLEDIS Entertainment under HYBE. The track was timed to his birthday and framed as a gift to fans, known as CARATs, rather than a scheduled comeback (source: Soompi).
According to SEVENTEEN's official Weverse notice, the release centers on one title track offered in two versions — a Korean version and a Japanese version ("Shunka Shuto") — both made available on streaming services simultaneously. An accompanying official music video, published as "원우 (WONWOO) 봄, 여름, 가을, 겨울 Official MV," went live alongside the audio on the official SEVENTEEN/HYBE Labels YouTube channel.
The drop was a short-notice surprise. PLEDIS Entertainment confirmed the release only one day earlier, on July 16, 2026, via the group's official channels, positioning the song as a personal birthday offering to fans (source: Otakukart). The timing carried added weight because Wonwoo delivered the release while fulfilling his mandatory military service, keeping a line open to CARATs even while on duty.
How He Released Music From the Army
Wonwoo can release music during enlistment because the track was recorded before he began service, and PLEDIS Entertainment handled distribution while he stayed on duty. He enlisted in April 2025 as the second SEVENTEEN member to enter South Korea's mandatory military service, so a mid-service studio session was never required for this birthday drop.
His assignment shapes how visible he can be. Wonwoo is serving as a public service (social) worker, a civilian-track role that does not confine him to a base the way an active combat posting would . That path still keeps him off promotional schedules and out of public performance, which is why a pre-recorded release is the practical way for him to reach CARATs right now.
His service timeline explains the window for releases like this one:
- Enlistment: April 2025, the second SEVENTEEN member to begin service .
- Role: public service (social) worker — no base confinement .
- Expected discharge: around January 2027, roughly 18 months of total service .
The mechanism is straightforward: the music was produced ahead of enlistment, and PLEDIS scheduled the digital release for July 17, 2026, while Wonwoo remained on assignment. No new recording session happened during his service, which is what makes a surprise birthday single feasible even when the artist is unavailable for studio work.
What 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' Actually Sounds Like
'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' is a poetic, introspective ballad that walks through all four seasons to cherish memories shared with a loved one and to hope those seasons keep returning . The lyrics move image by image: cherry blossom petals colored by spring, a clear summer shower, autumn hues bathed in moonlight, and winter's blanket of white snow — a progression that leaves a wistful, lingering impression .
The central theme is memory across time rather than a single moment. Each season stands in for a chapter spent with someone precious, and the song's emotional weight comes from the wish that those chapters will come around again — the hope embedded in the cyclical title itself .
Musically, coverage describes restrained instrumentation, rich string arrangements, and delicate rhythmic elements built to translate each season's colors and "temperature" into sound, rather than lean on a percussion-heavy pop structure . That approach is consistent with the emotive vocal-ballad style Wonwoo has favored across his solo output.
One caution on credits: as of publication, the official PLEDIS and Weverse notice for the track does not itemize lyricist or composer credits . Some outlets characterize Wonwoo's birthday releases as self-written, but readers should verify authorship against the release's official liner notes before treating him as the confirmed songwriter for this particular track.
His Birthday Release Tradition: 2025 vs. 2026
The 2026 single fits a pattern Wonwoo established the year before: a self-dated birthday gift on July 17 that stands apart from SEVENTEEN's group calendar. In 2025 he released Gogae (고개, 'Hill') on July 17, 2025 — a piano-and-strings ballad paired with an animated music video following a cat and butterfly journeying over a hill, and for that track he was credited as a contributor to both lyrics and composition . One year later, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter arrived on July 17, 2026 as a seasonal ballad offered in Korean and Japanese versions, though its production credits remain unlisted in the primary sources reviewed .
| Detail | 2025 — 'Gogae' (고개) | 2026 — 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | July 17, 2025 | July 17, 2026 |
| Style | Piano-and-strings ballad | Seasonal ballad, string arrangements |
| Versions | Single track | Korean Ver. + Japanese Ver. |
| Visual | Animated MV (cat and butterfly) | Official MV on SEVENTEEN's YouTube |
| Writing credits | Confirmed contributor (lyrics + composition) | Unconfirmed in primary sources |
Both singles are positioned as personal fan gifts rather than promotional group work, which distinguishes them from SEVENTEEN's shared output. Notably, the group's fifth studio album Happy Burstday — the 10th-anniversary record released in October 2025 and featuring solo tracks from all 13 members — sits separately from these birthday drops. Wonwoo's July singles are individual gestures to fans (CARATs), timed to his own birthday and outside any coordinated SEVENTEEN release schedule.
Where to Stream and Watch the MV
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter is a digital-only release, distributed through PLEDIS Entertainment (HYBE) to major streaming platforms — Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Melon, and Bugs — from its July 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m. KST drop . Both the Korean and Japanese versions of the title track sit under the same release, so you can queue either from the track listing .
For the visual, the official music video is on the SEVENTEEN / HYBE Labels YouTube channel. Search 원우 (WONWOO) 봄, 여름, 가을, 겨울 Official MV, or navigate through the SEVENTEEN channel to find it . The full release notice and complete track listing are posted on SEVENTEEN's official Weverse page at weverse.io/seventeen .
One practical note for CARATs planning around it: this is a birthday single, not a campaign. There is no physical album, no tour, and no offline fan meet attached — the song and its MV are the entire release. The takeaway is simple: stream it on your platform of choice, watch the MV on YouTube, and check Weverse for the authoritative credits once liner notes are published.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wonwoo still in the military in 2026?
Yes. Wonwoo enlisted in April 2025 as the second SEVENTEEN member to begin service and is serving as a public service (social) worker, with an expected discharge around January 2027. Members serving in this track can release pre-recorded material while on duty, which is how 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' arrived on schedule during his enlistment.
What is 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' by Wonwoo about?
It is a seasonal love-and-memory ballad. The lyrics trace a relationship through vivid imagery of each season — cherry blossom petals in spring, a clear summer shower, autumn hues under moonlight, and winter's blanket of white snow — and express the hope that those precious seasons shared with a loved one will continue into the future, according to reporting on the July 2026 release. Musically, coverage describes restrained instrumentation with rich string arrangements built to carry the "temperature" of each season.
Is there a Japanese version of Wonwoo's new single?
Yes. The single ships with two versions of the same title track, released simultaneously on July 17, 2026: 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (Korean Ver.)' and 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (Japanese Ver.).' The Japanese title is 'Shunka Shuto' (春夏秋冬), which refers to the same four seasons, per SEVENTEEN's official Weverse notice.
Did Wonwoo write 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter' himself?
Not confirmed yet. Some outlets characterize his birthday releases as self-written, but the official Weverse notice for the 2026 track does not itemize lyric or composition credits, and primary English-language reports did not confirm them. By contrast, his 2025 birthday single 'Gogae' was confirmed as a track he co-wrote and co-composed. Check PLEDIS Entertainment's official credits and liner notes for confirmation.
When will Wonwoo be discharged from the military?
His discharge is estimated for around January 2027. He enlisted in April 2025 and is serving as a public service worker, a track with a standard service duration of roughly 21 months. Dates can shift with official announcements, so treat January 2027 as an estimate rather than a fixed discharge date.
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This article was written using information collected and analyzed by NAMANE's in-house K-pop research AI engine. We use AI technology to bring you faster, broader coverage, and in the process some details may occasionally differ from the latest facts. For important information such as dates, venues, and prices, please double-check with official sources.
