Seo Soo-jin (; born March 9, 1998), better known mononymously as Soojin, is a South Korean singer, dancer, and rapper. She is a former member of the South Korean girl group
I-dle
I-dle (; stylized in all lowercase), formerly known as (G)I-dle (), is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The group consists of five members: Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. Originally a sextet ensembl ...
under
Cube Entertainment
Cube Entertainment Inc. () is a South Korean entertainment company. The company operates as a record label, talent agency, music production company, event management and concert production company, and music publishing house. Cube are known for h ...
. After she left the group in 2021, she made her debut as soloist with the EP ''
Agassy'', released on November 8, 2023, under BRD Communications.
Early life
Soojin was born in
Gyeonggi
Gyeonggi Province (, ) is the most populous province in South Korea.
Seoul, the nation's largest city and capital, is in the heart of the area but has been separately administered as a provincial-level ''special city'' since 1946. Incheon, ...
, South Korea. She attended Waw Middle School in
Hwaseong. She later learned
jazz dance
Jazz Dance is a performance dance and style that arose in the United States in the early 20th century. Jazz Dance may allude to vernacular Jazz, Broadway or dramatic Jazz. The two types expand on African American vernacular styles of dance that ...
and
taekwondo
Taekwondo (; ; ) is a Korean martial art and combat sport involving primarily kicking techniques and punching. "Taekwondo" can be translated as ''tae'' ("strike with foot"), ''kwon'' ("strike with hand"), and ''do'' ("the art or way"). In ad ...
while studying at the
Korean Arts High School
Korean Arts High School () is a private arts high school located in Hongik-dong, Seongdong District, Seoul, South Korea.
The school was established in 1981, and provides education that includes general academic subjects, such as Korean languag ...
. She decided early in her life that she wanted to pursue a singing career, but said it took two years for her to convince her father to agree with her decisions.
Career
Pre-debut
Soojin was a trainee under DN Entertainment and was originally supposed to be a member of the South Korean girl group Vividiva under her stage name N.Na (앤나). She took part in several performances and photo shoots of the group, but then left the group in 2015.
Then in 2016, Soojin became a trainee at Cube Entertainment.
In 2017–2018 she appeared in fellow-member
Soyeon
Jeon So-yeon (; born August 26, 1998), known mononymously as Soyeon, is a South Korean rapper and record producer under Cube Entertainment. She first gained attention for competing in the television shows ''Produce 101'' and ''Unpretty Rapstar ...
's solo music videos for the songs "Jelly" and "Idle Song" as an unknown dancer and wearing a mask.
2018–2020: Debut with (G)I-dle, and solo activities
In 2018, she was revealed as a member of the girl group
(G)I-dle
I-dle (; stylized in all lowercase), formerly known as (G)I-dle (), is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment in 2018. The group consists of five members: Miyeon, Minnie (singer), Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. Originally a se ...
. She debuted with the group on May 2, 2018, following the release of the group's debut mini album, ''
I Am
I Am or I'm may refer to:
Language and literature
* "I Am that I Am", a common English translation of the response God used in the Hebrew Bible when Moses asked for His name
** I am (biblical term), a Christian term used in the Bible
* "I Am" ( ...
'' and its lead single "
Latata
"Latata" (stylized as "LATATA") is the debut single recorded by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle as the lead single from their debut Korean extended play (EP) ''I Am''. It was released on May 2, 2018, by Cube Entertainment and distributed by Ka ...
". (G)I-dle made their debut stage performance on
Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's ''
M Countdown
''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet from the CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. It features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. First hosted by Leeteuk ...
''.
In October 2020, Glance TV introduced their new fashion show ''Minnie Soojin's i'M THE TREND'' and paired Seo and
Minnie
As a first name, Minnie is a feminine given name. It can be a diminutive (hypocorism) of Minerva, Winifred, Wilhelmina, Willemina, Winona, Margaret, Hermione, Jasmine, Mary, Miriam, Maria, Marie, Naomi, Miranda, Clementine, Dominique, Dom ...
together.
The duo had a styling battle every time for the title of 'Trend Center', which is a combination of a trend setter and an idol center. In addition, the duo revealed their styling secrets, various outfits, shopping tips and video pictorial 'Fashion Film'. The show premiered on October 14 through
Naver Style TV.
2021–2022: Bullying scandal, and departure from (G)I-dle and Cube Entertainment
On March 4, 2021, it was announced that Soojin would temporarily halt all activities following allegations of bullying by former classmates.
On August 14, Cube Entertainment announced that Soojin had officially withdrawn from (G)I-dle, though she will remain under the same agency. (G)I-dle would continue its activities as a five-member girl group after her departure.
On March 5, 2022, Cube Entertainment announced that they have officially terminated Soojin's contract after police investigations concluded that the accusers were not guilty of spreading false information. On September 8, Soojin's legal representative released a statement on her behalf, stating that "the school's Autonomous Committee for School Violence Countermeasures found her not guilty. Instead, they discovered she had been a victim of bullying, and no further legal action will be pursued".
2023–present: New agency, and solo debut
On October 16, 2023, it was announced that Soojin signed an exclusive contract with BRD and was preparing to make her solo debut the same month. A dance performance video was released on October 25, entitled "Black Forest", teasing her upcoming solo debut. Her debut EP ''
Agassy'' was released on November 8.
On May 23, 2024, Soojin released her second EP ''
Rizz
''Rizz'' () is an internet slang word defined as style, charm, or attractiveness. It is likely short for ''charisma,'' and is often associated with brain rot.
Background
The phrase was popularized by American YouTuber and Twitch stream ...
'', with the title track "Mona Lisa".
Discography
Extended plays
Singles
Videography
Music videos
Filmography
Variety shows
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
1998 births
Living people
South Korean female idols
South Korean female models
South Korean female dancers
South Korean female taekwondo practitioners
K-pop singers
Cube Entertainment artists
I-dle members
People from Hwaseong, Gyeonggi
Singers from Gyeonggi Province
21st-century South Korean women singers
21st-century South Korean sportswomen