Ryujin

RYUJIN — From MIXNINE #1 to Actress Shin Ryu-jin

The main rapper and main dancer of ITZY. Born Shin Ryu-jin on April 17, 2001. On stage, she is known for pairing an effortless, relaxed demeanor with pinpoint precision, earning her the title of "monster trainee" even before her debut. Starting in late 2025, she has also been building her name as an actress, starring in independent films under her real name, Shin Ryu-jin.

At a Glance

Casting and Trainee Days

She was street-cast by a JYP casting scout while attending a GOT7 fan meeting during middle school. A day that started as a fan outing ended up being her first step toward joining the agency.

Before her official debut, she appeared on several screens as a trainee in 2017. She was featured in BTS's 〈LOVE YOURSELF〉 Highlight Reel, took a minor role in the film The King, and appeared alongside future ITZY members in the premiere episode of Mnet's Stray Kids, which documented the formation of labelmate Stray Kids.

MIXNINE — Wire-to-Wire First Place

On the 2017 JTBC survival audition program MIXNINE, Ryujin never once relinquished the #1 spot among female contestants throughout the entire broadcast. Maintaining the top spot from premiere to finale is a rare "wire-to-wire" achievement, even among audition shows. Although the female team did not debut as a result of the final showdown, the performances and widespread name recognition she gained solidified her pre-debut reputation as "MIXNINE's #1 Ryujin."

Stage Style: Effortless Precision

Ryujin's dancing is defined by how precisely she hits every beat without ever looking like she's overexerting herself. Pairing an effortlessly nonchalant expression with crisp, deliberate finishes to her movements, she naturally catches the eye even in synchronized group choreography. Her deep, low-register rapping typically anchors the pivotal transitions that shift a track's mood.

In November 2021, she was featured as the "Artist of the Month" on the dance channel STUDIO CHOOM, delivering a solo performance to Billie Eilish's "Therefore I Am" (released on November 20, 2021; choreographed by Ali and Bell). Setting her own routine to an outside track rather than her group's music, this solo stage is widely recognized as a defining showcase of her individual dance caliber. You can compare her approach with the rest of the group on the individual pages for leader Yeji, vocalist Lia, dancer Chaeryeong, and youngest member Yuna.

Solo Track 〈Run Away〉

On December 22, 2023, she unveiled the music video for 〈Run Away〉 as a pre-release solo track from ITZY's eighth mini-album, 《BORN TO BE》. A modern rock track driven by electric guitar, Ryujin personally participated in writing both the lyrics and music. The song explores the narrative of choosing to become the villain in a relationship to give the other person the courage to leave. The cinematic music video transitions from sweeping items off a dining table to cycling between laughter and tears in the mirror. Portraying a deeper emotional range distinct from her usual girl-crush persona, the project felt like a preview of her subsequent acting career.

Actress Shin Ryu-jin — Night on Earth and The Shave

In November 2025, news broke that she had taken on a lead role in the independent film Night on Earth (directed by Jeong Soo-hyun) under her real name, Shin Ryu-jin. Set in a society thrown into chaos by the sudden appearance of mutant jellyfish, the film follows a young man living in hiding inside a bathtub who begins to reengage with life after crossing paths with diverse characters at an illicit clinic known as "Manbok Pension." Ryu-jin played Kang, an employee at Manbok Pension, with filming already wrapped prior to the announcement. Director Jeong Soo-hyun took home the BH Entertainment Award for the project at the 26th Jeonju International Film Festival in 2025.

In January 2026, she was cast alongside Roh Jeong-eui and Show Kasamatsu in director Kim Jung-hoon's feature film The Shave. The plot centers on horror novelist Soo-yeon (Roh Jeong-eui) and her partner Shinji (Show Kasamatsu) staying at a secluded rural estate, where Shinji begins undergoing a chilling transformation after cutting his face with an antique razor. Marking director Kim Jung-hoon's first feature in 13 years, the film was invited to the competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival in October 2026, where it held its world premiere.

She has also made brief appearances on television. In the series finale of the JTBC weekend drama Chairman Kang, The Rookie, which concluded in July 2026, she made a special cameo as herself—ITZY's Ryu-jin—in a scene where she accidentally bumps into the lead character, Hwang Jun-hyun (played by Lee Jun-young), leading to a soul swap. Around the same time, news reports also mentioned High School Detective, a comedic police procedural about a detective infiltrating a high school undercover, as another upcoming project. Following its festival debut, The Shave is slated for a domestic theatrical run within the year, while the release date for Night on Earth remains unannounced as of early November 2026.

Beyond the Stage — Fashion and Philanthropy

• May 2023: Attended the Gucci 2024 Cruise Collection show at Gyeongbokgung Palace as an invited guest.
• April 2023 & April 2025: Featured in pictorials for Vogue Korea. The 2025 shoot was in collaboration with Tom Ford Beauty.
• March 2025: Collaborated with Ralph Lauren for their Tokyo MLB event.
• Philanthropy: Donated 50 million KRW in April 2022 toward Gangwon wildfire recovery efforts, and another 50 million KRW in February 2023 for earthquake relief in Türkiye and Syria, earning her induction into relief organization The Promise's Honors Club.

2025–2026 — ITZY After Contract Renewal

In 2025, all members of ITZY renewed their contracts with JYP. "Tunnel Vision," the title track of their 11th mini-album TUNNEL VISION (November 10, 2025)—their first release following the renewal—is a dance track pairing brass over a hip-hop-based beat, which brought them their first post-renewal music show win on KBS's Music Bank on November 21. Their third world tour of the same name, TUNNEL VISION, kicked off in February 2026 at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul, traveled through Tokyo, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Manila, Macau, and Taipei, toured London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Frankfurt in September, and concluded on October 3 with a concert in Singapore.

Midway through the tour, on May 18, 2026, their 12th mini-album Motto was released. Alongside the title track "Motto," the album featured solo tracks from each of the five members, with Ryujin contributing "LOOK," a song running just over two minutes. Following "Run Away," it was her second solo release, this time written and composed by another songwriter (Kass). On August 8–9, the group held their fifth fan meeting at Olympic Hall in Seoul, selling out both shows.

When Is Ryujin's Solo Album Coming? — As of November 2026

Ryujin has not yet released a standalone solo album. Her only solo tracks to date are "Run Away" and "LOOK," both featured on ITZY group albums, and she has not pursued separate sub-unit activities either. ITZY's solo discography currently counts three releases—starting with leader Yeji's AIR (March 10, 2025), followed by Yuna's Ice Cream (March 23, 2026), and soon Chaeryeong's Lovesick (slated for November 9, 2026)—leaving only Ryujin and Lia. JYP has not yet announced who the next solo act will be.

This year, Ryujin's individual activities leaned more toward acting than music. Her acting project Myeondo (Shaving) premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in October, while reports also confirmed that ITZY is featured on the lineup for the 2026 KGMA at Gocheok Sky Dome on November 7–8.

Explore ITZY's full discography and member profiles on the ITZY page.

Clarifying Namesakes

ITZY's RYUJIN is listed on the official JYP ITZY artist profile as RYUJIN, born April 17, 2001. She is not to be confused with veteran actor Ryu Jin, who shares the same stage name. When searching for performance videos or Korean source materials, pairing her name with the group—such as "ITZY RYUJIN" or "있지 신류진"—helps filter results accurately. For Chinese-language video titles containing "留真," confirming the group name is included will ensure you find the right artist.

Official Channels

• JYP's Official ITZY Profile
• STUDIO CHOOM Ryujin 'Therefore I Am' Official Video