Karina | |
---|---|
Born | Yu Ji-min April 11, 2000 Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea |
Occupations |
|
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2020–present |
Labels | |
Member of | |
Website | Official website |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 유지민 |
Revised Romanization | Yu Jimin |
McCune–Reischauer | Yu Chimin |
Stage name | |
Hangul | 카리나 |
Revised Romanization | Karina |
McCune–Reischauer | K'arina |
Signature | |
Yu Ji-min (Korean : 유지민;born April 11,2000),known professionally as Karina,is a South Korean singer and rapper. She is the leader of the South Korean girl group Aespa,formed by SM Entertainment on November 17,2020. She is also a member of the supergroup Got the Beat,which debuted on January 3,2022.
In 2024,Karina achieved her first top-ten song as a solo artist on the Circle Digital Chart,as well as her first-ever solo music show award from Show! Music Core ,with "Up" from Aespa's digital single album Synk:Parallel Line . [1]
Karina was born and raised in Suwon,Gyeonggi Province,South Korea, [2] [3] in a family consisting of her parents and an older sister. [4] She attended Hansol High School until she was discovered by an SM Entertainment representative through social media and trained for 4 years before her debut. [5] She then dropped out to focus on training and later obtained a GED equivalent certificate. [6]
Karina is Catholic and stated that her baptismal name is Katarina,which is the inspiration for her stage name. [7] [8] [9]
During her time as a trainee,Karina appeared in labelmate Taemin's music video for the song "Want" in February 2019,and performed with him on several music programs in the following weeks. [10] [11] Karina also appeared alongside labelmate Kai for Hyundai and SM's virtual showcase,The All-New Tucson,Beyond Drive. [12]
On October 27,2020,SM revealed Karina as the second member of Aespa. [13] She debuted as the leader of the group on November 17,2020,with the digital single "Black Mamba". [14]
From October 30 to mid-December 2021,Karina hosted the show Travel Diary Soul:Seoul alongside David Lee McInnis as part of a tourist promotion by Seoul Metropolitan Government. The programme ran for 4 episodes and showcased tourist hotspots in the city. It was produced jointly with History Channel and aired to 39.5 million households in 19 countries. [15] [16] On December 17,she was announced as a member of SM's supergroup Got the Beat alongside bandmate Winter and other female labelmates such as BoA,Girls' Generation's Taeyeon and Hyoyeon,and Red Velvet's Seulgi and Wendy. [17]
On May 11,2023,MBC announced that Karina will be the special host of the May 13th episode of Show! Music Core alongside Lee Min-hyuk and Jungwoo. [18] On September 22,Karina released the single "Sad Waltz" for the Netflix TV series Song of the Bandits . [19] On November 30,it was announced that Karina will take part in the Netflix unscripted show Agents of Mystery . [20] Filming for the show started in January 2024, [21] with the first episode scheduled for release on June 18. [22]
In May 2024,Karina appeared in KBS's variety music programme Synchro U as a cast member, [23] where she won the Rookie Award –Show and Variety Category at the 2024 KBS Entertainment Awards. [24] It was also confirmed on the same day that Karina will be a special DJ of the MBC FM4U's radio show Lee Seok-hoon's Brunch Cafe on April 18 and 19. [25]
Karina was introduced by SM as a member with multiple talents from dance,vocal and rap ahead of her debut. [26] Following her debut introduction video,the phrase "Karina is a God" has been adopted by fans and the press [27] [28] noted by her public image and role in her group, [29] with the magazine Paper calling her a "dynamic dancer,an attentive leader,and a sultry rapper to her group". [14] Making her a recognisable figure among South Korea's MZ population. [30] [31]
In 2021,Karina topped South Korean's brand reputation for K-pop artists and influencers for two consecutive months. [32] She also topped Star News' female idol category for 8 weeks. [33] In the Korean Business Research Institute's monthly "Individual Girl Group Members Brand Power Ranking",Karina placed first in both the June and July issue and fourth on the October issue. [34] [35] She was also featured on Seoul Metropolitan Government's "Tour Promotion Program" that "helps tourists to appreciate the panoramic view of the entire city and the historic Seoul City Wall as well as pottery making in Mullae-dong". [15]
Karina has served as the ambassador of various companies,with her first collaboration in April 2022,where she was selected as the goodwill ambassador for Maeil Business Newspaper 's "Clean Campaign". [36] Her endorsements expanded in 2023,starting in November,when Lotte Chilsung selected her as model for their "Kloud Krush" alcohol beverage. [37] In December, Vogue Korea announced that she became the new face of YSL Beauty's "Rouge Pur Couture" lipstick line. [38]
After suffering a 13.1% fall in sales between the 2023 to 2024 financial year due to competition with other brands, [39] Converse Korea appointed Karina as their new ambassador in January 2024 [40] and released two collaborative projects with her for the brand's 2024 Spring and Fall lines. [41] That following April,she was selected as the model of Vita 500 Zero,a popular Vitamin C drink brand in Korea,with the company's hopes of expanding their market to younger consumers. [42] The announcement was released [43] [44] following a previous social media post teasing the brand's new model. [45] The collaboration was regarded as a success,with the promotional video becoming the top trending video in YouTube Korea upon its release. [46] In August,Karina was selected as the ambassador and model of the fashion e-commerce company Musinsa 's Musinsa Beauty [47] and additionally appointed as the global brand ambassador of the Italian luxury fashion house Prada [48] after previously attending their men’s fall 2024 show in January. [49] She subsequently appeared in the brand's 2024 Holiday Campaign alongside other ambassadors. [50] In September,she was selected as the muse of the Danish outdoor brand Nordisk [51] and in December,she was selected by Shinsegae to lead their "Hello,New Santa" Christmas campaign. The Ministry of Trade,Industry and Energy reported that department store sales from January to October in 2024 had fallen by ₩ 400 billion ( US$ 349.67 million),which prompted Shinsegae Department Store to shoot their end-of-year promotional video with Karina. [52] The campaign was a 10 minute promotional film for the department store and was displayed in Shinsegae Square. [53] The campaign was viewed positively and attracted both domestic and international customers,with Shinsegae's Department Store app seeing an increase of 47.1% in new customers in the 20 to 30s age group during the campaign period. [54]
According to national statistics released in 2022,the number of coffee stores in Korea is around 100,729,nearly doubling from six years ago. Therefore,due to the competition,a number of brands are opting to use celebrity endorsements to appeal to the newer generation. In January 2025,the coffeehouse chain Pascucci,operated by SPC Group,appointed Karina as their first celebrity model since the franchise was introduced to the country in 2002,as she is considered a highly recognisable face in the younger market. [30]
Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album |
---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||
"The Cure" (with Kangta,BoA,U-Know,Leeteuk,Taeyeon,Onew,Suho,Irene,Taeyong,Mark and Kun) | 2023 | — [A] | 2022 Winter SM Town:SMCU Palace |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album |
---|---|---|---|
KOR | |||
"Sad Waltz" | 2023 | — [B] | Song of the Bandits OST |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KOR [57] | HK [58] | JPN Hot [59] | MLY [60] | NZ Hot [61] | SGP [62] | TW [63] | WW [64] | |||
"Hot &Cold" (온도차) (with Kai,Seulgi and Jeno) | 2022 | — [C] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2022 Winter SM Town:SMCU Palace |
"Up" [note 1] | 2024 | 2 | 9 | 50 | 12 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 27 | Synk:Parallel Line |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. |
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise. [65]
Title | Year | Artist | Album | Lyricist | Composer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
"Menagerie" [note 2] | 2023 | Herself | Non-album singles | ||
"Regret of the Times" | 2024 | Aespa | |||
"Up" | Herself | Synk:Parallel Line |
Title | Year | Director(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
"The Cure" (with Kangta,BoA,U-Know,Leeteuk,Taeyeon,Onew,Suho,Irene,Taeyong,Mark and Kun) | 2023 | Hong MinHo (Studio Achilles) | [67] [68] |
Year | Song title | Artist | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | "Want" | Taemin | [69] |
2023 | "Vuja De" | U-Know | [70] [71] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Travel Diary Soul:Seoul | Host | For Seoul Metropolitan Government | [16] |
2024 | Synchro U | Cast member | [23] |
Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Agents of Mystery | Cast member | [72] |
Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | Show! Music Core | Special MC with Jungwoo and Lee Min-hyuk | [73] [18] |
Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Lee Seok-hoon's Brunch Cafe | Special DJ on April 18 –19 | [25] |
Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
iHeartRadio Music Awards | 2025 | Favorite K-pop Dance Challenge | "Up" | Pending | [74] |
KBS Entertainment Awards | 2024 | Rookie Award –Show and Variety Category | Synchro U | Won | [24] |
Korea First Brand Awards [note 3] | 2025 | Best Female Entertainment –Idol | Won | [76] | |
Best Female Solo | Herself | Won |
"Black Mamba" is the debut single by South Korean girl group Aespa. Originally released as a standalone single on November 17, 2020, by SM Entertainment, the song was later included on the group's second extended play Girls, which was released on July 8, 2022. The song was written and composed by Yoo Young-jin, while also composed by Omega, Ella Isaacson, Gabriela Geneva (NIIVA), Jordan Reyes, Shaun Lopez, and Scott Chesak. Musically, "Black Mamba" was described as a pop, electropop and dance-pop track with a signature synth and EDM sound and bass that is paired with an addictive hook. The lyrics are about a being called "Black Mamba" that not only interferes with the members' and avatar's connection but also threatens their world and as such is abhorred by the members.
Aespa is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The group consists of four members: Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The group is known for popularizing the metaverse concept and hyperpop music in K-pop.
Kim Min-jeong, known professionally as Winter (윈터), is a South Korean singer and dancer. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Aespa which debuted under SM Entertainment in November 2020. In January 2022, she became a member of the supergroup Got the Beat.
"Next Level" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa, which remakes A$ton Wyld's song of the same name. It was released digitally on May 17, 2021, by SM Entertainment. Composed by Yoo Young-jin, Adam McInnis, Mario Marchetti, and Sophie Curtis, the track is described as a dance and hip hop song with an upbeat new jack swing bridge. The song is a continuation of the group's story from their debut single "Black Mamba", telling their journey into the fictional Kwangya universe to search for the aforementioned "evil".
Savage is the first extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. The EP was released by SM Entertainment on October 5, 2021, and is available in three versions—P.O.S, Synk Dive and Hallucination Quest. It contains six songs, including the lead single of the same name.
"Savage" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their first extended play (EP) of the same name. It was released as the lead single on October 5, 2021, by SM Entertainment. Described as a "hyperpop-tinged title track", the song was written by Yoo Young-jin, who also composed along with Kirsten Collins, Jia Lih, and Hautboi Rich, and eventually handled the arrangement alongside Lih. It also continues the group's previous storyline in "Next Level", with the members and their corresponding avatars confronting their Black Mamba villain in the fictional Kwangya universe.
Got the Beat is a South Korean supergroup and first sub-unit of project group Girls On Top. Formed by SM Entertainment in 2022, composed of seven female artists who already debuted under the agency: soloist BoA, Taeyeon and Hyoyeon from Girls' Generation, Seulgi and Wendy from Red Velvet, and Karina and Winter from Aespa.
Kim Do-hoon is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in Moving (2023), Today's Webtoon (2023), and The Escape of the Seven (2023).
Ning Yizhuo, known professionally as Ningning (Korean: 닝닝), is a Chinese singer based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Aespa.
"Welcome to My World" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa featuring Naevis. Written by Ellie Suh, Hyun Ji-won, and Danke alongside Mich Hansen, Jacob "Ubizz" Uchorczak, Celine Svanbäck, and Patrizia Helander, it was released as a pre-release single for their third extended play My World by SM Entertainment on May 2, 2023.
My World is the third extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 8, 2023, and contains six tracks, including the pre-release single "Welcome to My World" featuring Naevis, and the lead single "Spicy" which reached the top three on the Circle Digital Chart. Compared to the dark, futuristic, hyperpop-influenced tones of Savage (2021) and Girls (2022), My World's brighter pop sound draws mostly from dance and R&B, with melodies characterized by "captivating beats" and "delightful" vocals of the group. The songs incorporate eclectic styles ranging from alternative pop and dream pop to synth-pop and ballad. Described by Aespa as a return to the "real world" from Kwangya, the mini album shows a new side of the group across various genres.
"Thirsty" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their third extended play My World. Composed and produced by Geek Boy AI Swettenham, Kyler Niko, and Paulina "Pau" Cerrilla with lyrics written by Kim Bo-eun from JamFactory, the R&B track was released by SM Entertainment on May 8, 2023 along with the EP.
Drama is the fourth extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on November 10, 2023, and contains six tracks including the lead single of the same name.
Aeri Uchinaga, known professionally as Giselle (Korean: 지젤), is a Japanese singer and rapper based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Aespa, formed by SM Entertainment in November 2020.
"Supernova" is a song recorded by South Korean girl group Aespa for their first studio album Armageddon. It was released by SM Entertainment on May 13, 2024, as the lead single from the album. Written by Kenzie and composed by her alongside Paris Alexa and Dem Jointz, it is a dance and hyper-pop song that incorporates hip-hop and EDM with lyrics comparing Aespa's expanded world view to a supernova.
Aespa's Synk Road is a South Korean reality web series starring Aespa. Produced by SM C&C Studio and directed by Jin Sun-mi, the reality show was broadcast on Wavve on December 28, 2022, and was shown every Wednesday. It is a variety travel show where the members complete missions to acquire "ae-key" cards hidden along their travel route, featuring activities like teamwork and secret missions and showcasing their adventures over three days and two nights.
Whiplash is the fifth extended play by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released by SM Entertainment on October 21, 2024, and contains six tracks, including the lead single of the same name.
"Up" is a song by South Korean singer Karina, and included on the digital single album Synk: Parallel Line by South Korean girl group Aespa. It was released through SM Entertainment on October 9, 2024. The song is a hip-hop and dance track, written and composed by multiple contributors, including Karina. It achieved widespread success, peaking at number 2 on South Korea's Circle Chart and placing on other global charts.
대한민국 음악의 중심! <쇼! 음악중심>. 이번 주 <쇼! 음악중심>은 비투비(BTOB) '이민혁' 님과 aespa '카리나' 님이 스페셜 MC로 함께합니다[The centre of Korean music! <Show! Music Core>. This week's <Show! Music Core> will be hosted by BTOB's Lee Minhyuk and aespa's Karina as special MCs.]
1978년 출시한 입생로랑 뷰티의 '루쥬 쀠르 꾸뛰르'의 새 얼굴이 발탁됐다. 4세대 걸 그룹 중 올라운더 카리나가 그 주인공이다.[The new face of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty's "Rouge Pur Couture", launched in 1978, has been chosen. Karina, an all-rounder from the fourth generation of girl groups, is the star of the show.]