[4][A] Beenzino, a member of hip-hop duo Jazzyfact,[4] Bak Ji-yong from vocal trio Honey G,[3] comedian Ahn Young-mi,[6] and Lee's companion dog Soonshim participated on the album as featured artists.

[10] Lee's comeback was pushed back multiple times throughout 2012, until it was finally announced that she would return to the stage with her fifth studio album in May 2013.

Lee rejected the rumors when she tweeted and urged people to "not to be deceived by any of fake information about the album", on February 7, 2013.

[14] According to an official from B2M Entertainment, Lee's agency, Monochrome will contain a number of acoustic and easy listening songs instead of her previous style of electronic pop music.

However, the official also stated that the singer has made an effort to reach the nexus between her and the listeners by choosing a dance tune with a powerful group choreography as the title track of her album.

[9] Vogue Korea announced that Lee would introduce her new song through "Show Girl", a fashion music video of her recent photo shoot with the magazine on April 19, 2013.

[20] "Show Girl" was sequentially released on the first of May via Vogue Korea's iPad app, the magazine's website, and then its YouTube channel.

Hyori), the series of teasers featured footage from Lee's daily life, and recording sessions and photo shoots for Monochrome, with the sound of brass instruments played as background music.

A music video teaser for "Miss Korea" (미스코리아; Miseukoria), a pre-release single from the album, was unveiled on May 2, 2013.

[36] Lee personally selected 30 non-celebrity women "with love and respect for themselves" who she saw as the genuine "Miss Korea"s, to perform the song together on stage at the 2013 SBS Gayo Daejeon televised concert.

[39] The album's lead single "Bad Girls" is a dance tune only consisted of acoustic band sound.

[41][42] As a parody of SBS's current affair program The Its Know, the teaser stimulates curiosity through narrations such as "Why did Lee Hyori become a bad girl?"

[45] The former features cameo appearances from designer Yoni P, Gil of Leessang, model Jang Yoon-ju, Spica member Ju-hyun, and actress Kim Seul-gi.

The singer wrapped up promotions for Monochrome, performing a rock-arranged version of the title track, with featured artists Ahn Young-mi and Kim Seul-gi, at 2013 Mnet 20's Choice Awards.