Hwang Ye-ji

Biography

Hwang Ye-ji (Korean: 황예지; born May 26, 2000), known mononymously as Yeji, is a South Korean singer and dancer. She is the leader of the South Korean girl group Itzy, formed by JYP Entertainment in 2019. Yeji released her debut solo extended play (EP), Air, in March 2025.

Early life

Hwang Ye-ji was born on May 26, 2000, in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Jeonju. While in elementary school, she dreamed of becoming a singer. Her older sister encouraged her to start dancing by showing her choreography from Wonder Girls' songs, which inspired her to enroll in a local dance academy. She later attended Jeonju Commercial Information High School.

2015–2018: Pre-debut

In 2015, Yeji became a trainee at JYP Entertainment after auditioning with Twice's song "Like Ooh-Ahh". Later that year, she made a brief appearance as a backup dancer in episode 8 of the television drama Second 20s. In 2017, she appeared in the first episode of Stray Kids alongside her future groupmates Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna. The following year, she participated in SBS's The Fan, where 2PM's Junho introduced her as "JYP's secret weapon". Her performance gained positive attention, building anticipation ahead of her debut.

2019–present: Itzy and solo debut

On January 20, 2019, Yeji was revealed as the leader of Itzy. The group officially debuted on February 12, 2019, with the release of their first single album, It'z Different, and the music video for its lead single "Dalla Dalla". On August of the year, Yeji claimed the 1st spot in the Korean Business Research Institute's brand reputation ranking for individual girl group members. On March 19, 2021, Yeji was selected as Studio Choom's "Artist of the Month", during which she covered "River" by Bishop Briggs and shared insights into her dance journey. In June 2022, Yeji and fellow member Ryujin performed Bebe Rexha's "Break My Heart Myself" in Studio Choom's "Mix & Max" series.
She continued her solo activities in May 2023 with a video cover of "Uchiage Hanabi (Fireworks)" by Daoko and Kenshi Yonezu. In November, Yeji and groupmate Chaeryeong appeared as mentors on SBS's reality survival series Universe Ticket. On December 20, she released the music video for "Crown On My Head", her solo track from Itzy's eighth EP Born To Be. In September 2024, Yeji released a cover of IU's "Strawberry Moon". On December 1, she released her first OST, "Think about you", for the romantic comedy series Love Your Enemy.
On January 17, 2025, it was announced that Yeji would be making her solo debut. On March 10, she released her first EP, Air, along with a music video for its lead single of the same name. She co-wrote the lead single's lyrics to convey the intense immersion she experiences while performing on stage.

Fashion and endorsements

In 2023, Yeji appeared on the cover of the April issue of W Korea. The following month, she featured on the cover of Elle Korea alongside labelmate Felix. In 2024, she appeared in the August issue of Allure Korea. In September, she attended Dolce & Gabbana's Spring/Summer 2025 show at Milan Fashion Week. On December 10, 2024, Yeji was chosen to attend the pop-up store opening of South Korean makeup brand Tirtir in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.
In February 2025, Yeji was announced as a brand ambassador for Roger Vivier. In April, she appeared in the brand's "Un Été à Paris" Summer 2025 campaign, which featured her modeling Belle Vivier accessories at the Pont Neuf and various Parisian gardens. The same month, she was featured in Harper's Bazaar Korea. She was also featured in the October 2025 issue of Elle Hong Kong.

Philanthropy

In March 2025, Yeji donated ₩50 million (US$37,500) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association to aid wildfire victims and firefighters in Ulsan, Gyeongbuk, and Gyeongnam, South Korea.

Composition credits

All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.