Yeji

ITZY Yeji (Hwang Ye-ji) — The Leader Who Started Dancing in Jeonju, to Solo Debut with 'AIR'

Yeji, the leader of ITZY, was born Hwang Ye-ji. First revealed as the group's leader just before their 2019 debut, she has held the position for over seven years, defining the team's fierce first impression. In 2025, she became the first member of the group to release a solo mini album.

At a Glance

Pre-Debut: From Wonder Girls Choreography to 'JYP's Secret Weapon'

Her journey into dance began when her older sister showed her a Wonder Girls routine. Captivated, she enrolled in a dance academy in Jeonju and eventually auditioned for JYP in 2015 with TWICE's "Like Ooh-Ahh," becoming a trainee.

Before her official debut, she made three notable broadcast appearances:

• 2015 tvN Twenty Again, Episode 8 — In the year she became a trainee, she was briefly caught on camera as a backup dancer.
• 2017 Mnet Stray Kids, Episode 1 — In the premiere episode of the survival show chronicling the debut of labelmates Stray Kids, she appeared alongside future ITZY bandmates Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna.
• 2018 SBS The Fan — Introduced by 2PM's Junho as "JYP's Secret Weapon," she passed the first stage to advance to the next round, but was eliminated in Episode 5.

Though she didn't make it to the end of the show, just months later, the very same trainee reemerged as the leader of JYP's newest girl group.

As ITZY's Leader

ITZY revealed Yeji as their leader on January 20, 2019, making their explosive debut just over three weeks later on February 12 with "DALLA DALLA." In August 2019, during her debut summer, she ranked No. 1 on the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute's individual girl group member brand reputation index.

On stage, her presence anchors the performance as main dancer. Known for her feline-like features, she pairs expressive theatricality with sharp, crisp control that makes key choreography pop. Her selection as STUDIO CHOOM's "Artist of the Month" in March 2021 underscored her widespread recognition as an elite dancer beyond group activities. She expanded into hosting as a special and interim fixed MC on weekly music shows in 2020, and in November 2023, she served as a mentor alongside Chaeryeong on the SBS audition program Universe Ticket.

Her leadership shone especially bright on September 20, 2025. At ITZY's fourth fan meeting held at KBS Arena in Seoul, all five members personally shared the news of their contract renewal with JYP. It was an early renewal, completed ahead of their original contracts' expiration in early 2026.

Solo Career: From 'Crown On My Head' to 'AIR' and 'Pocket'

Her first solo releases arrived through ITZY's group albums. On December 20, 2023, the music video for her solo track "Crown On My Head," featured on their eighth mini album BORN TO BE, was released, with Yeji credited for both lyrics and composition.

She made her official solo debut on March 10, 2025, with the mini album AIR, featuring four tracks:

1. "Air" — The title track. An '80s-inspired synth-pop number with a driving bassline, featuring lyrics co-written by Yeji and J.Y. Park, among others.
2. "Invasion"
3. "Can't Slow Me, No"
4. "258"

The album peaked at No. 3 on the Circle Weekly Album Chart and earned a Platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). During release week, she promoted "Air" across four major music shows, from M Countdown on March 13 to Inkigayo on March 16.

On their twelfth mini album Motto, released on May 18, 2026, each member contributed a solo track; Yeji's offering was "Pocket," a track she initially premiered during her solo stage on tour.

2026 Updates

Touring took center stage this year. Their third world tour, named after the mini-album TUNNEL VISION released on November 10, 2025, kicked off in February 2026 at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. The tour went on to hit Tokyo, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Manila, Macau, and Taipei, before heading to Europe in September with stops in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Frankfurt. The final show took place in Singapore on October 3, and on October 6, Yeji shared a farewell note and photos on social media, writing, "TUNNEL VISION tour is overrr."

In between tour dates, they promoted Motto in May and held their fifth fan meeting at Olympic Hall in Seoul on August 8–9 (both shows sold out). For solo endeavors, she was named brand ambassador for Roger Vivier in February 2025 and appeared in their campaign pictorial that April.

With the tour wrapped, year-end stages are lined up for November. Reports announced that ITZY will join the lineup for the 2026 KGMA, held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on November 7–8, followed by Chaeryeong's solo album release on November 9.

ITZY's Solo Relay Kicked Off by Yeji

Following Yeji's 《AIR》, the members' solo albums have been rolling out at a pace of roughly one per year. As of early November 2026, here is how the timeline shapes up:

Ryujin and Lia have yet to release standalone solo albums. To date, both have only released solo tracks featured on group albums (《BORN TO BE》, 《Motto》).

It is also notable that the leader paved the way first. Yeji steadily took steps toward making her own music by participating in writing and composing "Crown On My Head" in 2023 and penning lyrics for "Air" in 2025. During her solo debut press showcase, Yuna shared that Yeji even visited the music video set in person to cheer her on.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yeji's real name? It's Hwang Yeji. Her stage name uses the two letters of her given name as is.

What is her age and birthplace? She was born on May 26, 2000. She was born in Seoul and spent her childhood and school years in Jeonju. She attended Jeonju Commercial Information High School.

What was her ranking on SBS 《The Fan》? She did not make it into the final rankings. She appeared on the show at 2PM Junho's recommendation, passed the first round, and was eliminated in episode 5.

Is she the first member from ITZY to debut solo? Based on solo albums, yes. 《AIR》 in March 2025 is the first solo mini-album by a member. Before that, there were solo tracks within group albums, such as 〈Crown On My Head〉 from 《BORN TO BE》 (released January 2024, music video pre-released December 2023). The second is Yuna in March 2026, and the third is Chaeryeong in November 2026.

Did ITZY renew their contract? Yes, they did. At a fan meeting on September 20, 2025, all five members personally announced they had renewed their contracts with JYP.

Has she engaged in charity work? In March 2025, she donated 50 million won to Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association for wildfire damage recovery.