YEJI

Hwang Ye-ji, known simply as Yeji, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and dancer best recognized as the leader of ITZY, the powerhouse girl group under JYP Entertainment. Born on May 26, 2000, in Seoul and raised in Jeonju, Yeji’s journey to stardom was anything but easy. As a child, she battled serious health issues, including pneumonia, osteomyelitis, and atopy. However, her love for dance and performance never wavered. She took her first steps toward a career in entertainment by joining the Jeonju Youth Dance Club, “Blue Rump,” in 2014, and later polished her skills at Near Art Story dance school during high school.

In December 2015, Yeji auditioned for JYP Entertainment by performing TWICE’s “Like Ooh-Ahh” and successfully became a trainee. Her first public appearance came in 2016 at a JYP showcase. She later gained more exposure in 2017 when she appeared on Mnet’s reality show Stray Kids as part of JYP’s pre-debut team. In 2018, she participated in SBS’s survival show The Fan, earning praise for her performance skills before being eliminated in the later rounds.

Yeji officially debuted as ITZY’s leader on February 12, 2019, with IT’z Different and the hit song Dalla Dalla. With her signature charisma, ITZY quickly became one of the most successful fourth-generation K-pop groups, releasing hit albums like IT’z ICY (2019), IT’z ME (2020), and GUESS WHO (2021). Yeji has also pursued individual projects, including co-hosting the Asia Song Festival in 2019 and collaborating on a remix of Bebe Rexha’s Break My Heart Myself in 2022 with fellow ITZY member Ryujin.

In January 2025, it was confirmed that Yeji would be the first ITZY member to make a solo debut. With fans eager to see her unique artistic style, this marks an exciting new chapter in her career. From overcoming health struggles to becoming a global star, Yeji’s journey is a testament to her resilience, talent, and unwavering passion for music.