Yuna

Yuna — ITZY's Maknae Steps into the Solo Spotlight with "Ice Cream"

Shin Yu-na, the youngest member (maknae) of ITZY, was born on December 9, 2003, in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. In the Sinosphere, her name is written as 申有娜 or 有娜. Debuting in February 2019 at the age of 15, she frequently commanded center stage during group performances, earning the nickname "golden maknae" for her sharp dance skills. On March 23, 2026, she released her debut solo mini-album Ice Cream, and broadened her horizons into acting that same year with appearances in two tvN drama series.

Profile

From Casting to Debut

She was scouted by a JYP casting agent at a music festival in 2016 and officially became a trainee after passing an audition. Ahead of her debut, she appeared in 2017 alongside fellow members Yeji, Ryujin, and Chaeryeong on the first episode of Mnet's survival show Stray Kids, which documented the formation of labelmate group Stray Kids. She also made an appearance in BTS's "LOVE YOURSELF" Highlight Reel.

Yuna is known to have been the final member added to ITZY's lineup, not having been part of the initial roster. Completing the five-member group, they made their debut on February 12, 2019, with "DALLA DALLA." She balanced her studies alongside her career, graduating from Hanlim Arts High School in February 2022.

On Stage: Center Presence, Dynamic Moves, and Bright Energy

The power in Yuna's dancing stems from her sweeping extensions and refreshingly expressive facial delivery. Standing relatively tall, her choreography features long, striking lines, which naturally places her at the heart of the chorus formations where the group gathers. She frequently flashes bright smiles to shift the tone while the older members maintain fierce, sharp expressions—a dynamic that stands out even more vividly in solo fan cams than in full-group recordings.

She has also showcased her skills as a host, serving as an MC alongside Key and Boom at the year-end SBS Gayo Daejeon in 2021.

Spotting Yuna: Dance Covers, Challenges, and Random Play Dance

Across Chinese-speaking communities, searches for "有娜 翻跳" (cover dance), "挑战" (challenge), and "随机舞" (Random Play Dance) overwhelmingly point to fans learning and performing Yuna's specific parts in ITZY's title tracks. Here are a few helpful pointers when preparing or searching for dance covers:

• Reference Choreography: Most covers rely on official dance practice videos from the JYP/ITZY YouTube channels and individual music show fancams. If you are learning only Yuna's part, individual fancams are ideal for tracking her exact stage paths and transitions.
• Solo Covers: Since March 2026, covers of her solo title track "Ice Cream" have surged. An upbeat bubblegum pop track clocking in at 143 BPM, Yuna noted during her press showcase that she aimed for choreography "that makes everyone want to dance along."
• Random Play Dance Staples: Title tracks with distinct, instantly recognizable killing parts during the chorus—such as "DALLA DALLA," "ICY," "WANNABE," "Not Shy," "LOCO," "SNEAKERS," "CAKE," "UNTOUCHABLE," and "GOLD"—appear frequently. More recent additions include "Tunnel Vision" (2025) and "Motto" (2026).
• Search Tips: Because several artists and actors share the same name, pairing her name with the group name—such as "ITZY YUNA," "있지 유나," or "申有娜 ITZY"—helps filter out unrelated results.

Solo Debut: Ice Cream

JYP announced Yuna's solo debut on March 2, 2026. Following the sequential release of the tracklist on March 9, music video teasers on March 16 and 18, and an album spoiler video on March 20, the mini-album officially dropped on March 23 at 6:00 PM. It marks the second solo release from ITZY, following leader Yeji's AIR in 2025.

The title track "Ice Cream" is a bright bubblegum pop song about savoring the present moment before it melts away like ice cream, with lyrics penned by Exy, Perrie, and Uyeon. On the day of its release, the song hit No. 1 on the Bugs real-time chart. The album topped both the Hanteo daily physical album chart and the Circle Chart daily retail album chart, while securing the No. 2 spot on the Circle Weekly Album Chart. The music video reached No. 1 on YouTube's trending music video charts in the US, UK, France, Canada, and Chile the day after its premiere, surpassing 10 million views by March 31.

Her music show promotional run kicked off on March 26 on Mnet's M Countdown, followed by KBS's Music Bank on March 27, SBS's Inkigayo on March 29, and MBC's Show! Music Core, continuing for roughly two weeks. On March 27, four remix versions—English, sped-up, slowed+reverb, and instrumental—were released alongside a US physical edition.

During her release showcase, Yuna shared, "Releasing my first solo album after seven years brings a lot of pressure, but also a strong drive to do well." She noted that she actively voiced her own ideas throughout the production process, concluding the press conference by sharing her wish to hear people say, "She grew up so well," after watching her performances. Yeji also visited her on the music video set to show her support.

Solo Tracks on Group Albums

Even prior to her solo debut album, Yuna recorded two solo tracks featured on ITZY's group releases.

• "Yet, but" — The final solo track on ITZY's eighth mini-album BORN TO BE, released on January 8, 2024. A bright pop track driven by synths and guitar riffs, it marked Yuna's first original solo song rather than a cover. Described as carrying a message of resilience ("I won't break down easily"), it also generated buzz for the playful pun in the chorus, where "not yet, but" sounds phonetically identical to the Korean phrase na yeppeuda ("I am pretty").
• "Tangerine" — One of five member solo songs included on ITZY's twelfth mini-album Motto, released on May 18, 2026. She first premiered the track during her solo stage on the TUNNEL VISION world tour.

Acting and Commercial Endorsements

She made her acting debut in tvN's weekend drama Undercover Miss Hong (January 17 – March 8, 2026), making a special appearance as Hong Jang-mi in the Park Shin-hye-led series. She quickly followed up with tvN's 12-episode Monday-Tuesday drama Favorite Employee (August 3 – September 8, 2026), playing Yoon Cho-i, a rising star who captures the spotlight overnight with her striking looks. For her acting projects, she is credited under her full name, Shin Yu-na.

Her major commercial and fashion highlights include:

• Attending the GANNI Spring/Summer 2025 show at Paris Fashion Week (September 2024)
• Model for MLB's winter campaign and brand muse for cosmetic brand NAMING (November 2024)
• Muse for DYNAFIT's 2025 S/S women's line (January 2025)
• Global ambassador for Infinix Mobile (March 2026)

Summary of 2025–2026 Activities

All five members of ITZY personally announced their contract renewals with JYP Entertainment at their fourth fan meeting on September 20, 2025. Their subsequent schedule unfolded as follows:

In November, fellow member Chaeryeong became the group's third solo runner with her debut mini-album Lovesick on the 9th. Reports also confirmed ITZY's appearance in the lineup for the 2026 KGMA, held at Gocheok Sky Dome on November 7–8. For any schedule updates or changes, check the ITZY Official Website.