Yerin/ Jung Ye-rin (ex. GFRIEND)

Who is Yerin (GFRIEND)?

Jung Ye-rin, known mononymously as Yerin, is a South Korean singer and actress born on August 19, 1996. She gained prominence as a member of the girl group GFriend and maintains an active career as a soloist under A-Side Company.

Born in Incheon, South Korea, Jung Yerin adopted the stage name Yerin for her professional career. The name carries the meaning "Treasure" in Korean. As a Leo zodiac sign with blood type O, she stands at an official height of 168 cm, though her actual height measures 167.4 cm.

Yerin debuted as a member of GFriend in January 2015 with their first extended play, Season of Glass. During her tenure with the group under Source Music, she established herself as both a vocalist and performer. Following GFriend's disbandment on May 22, 2021, after all members departed Source Music upon completion of their six-year contract, Yerin transitioned to a solo career.

In June 2021, she signed with Sublime Artist Agency to pursue solo activities. After her contract with Sublime expired in March 2023, she moved to Bill Entertainment on April 17, 2023. However, she subsequently left Bill Entertainment in 2024 and joined A-Side Company. On May 18, 2022, Yerin made her solo debut with the extended play titled "Aria". Her official fandom name is WOORIN.

Beyond her musical career, Yerin expanded into acting, making her debut in the web drama Midnight's Girl just two months after her GFriend debut.

Early life and background

Birth and family

Jung Ye-rin was raised in Incheon, South Korea, within a family that initially opposed her entertainment ambitions. Her father, Jung Young Don, hails from Seoul, while her mother's name is Jung Hyun Nam. She has one older brother who was born in 1985, making him eleven years her senior. The aspiration to become a singer emerged during her fifth grade of elementary school, though she faced considerable family resistance, including being scolded by her parents. Her parents eventually granted permission for her to pursue an entertainment career when she gained admission to the School of Performing Arts Seoul.

Education at School of Performing Arts Seoul

Jung Yerin attended the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA), where she enrolled in the practical dance department. She graduated on February 11, 2015. During her time at SOPA, she formed lasting friendships with fellow 1996-born classmates, including Oh Ha-young, who also graduated from the practical dance department, and Joy, who completed the practical music department. The shared high school experience enabled them to quickly establish close bonds that have endured beyond their school years.

Trainee period

Before joining Source Music, Jung Yerin trained at multiple entertainment companies. She began her trainee journey at Fantagio, where she trained from 2012, during her first year of high school, until 2014, when she was in her third year. Additionally, she spent time as a trainee at Cube Entertainment. In early 2014, she transferred to Source Music. Her total training period spanned approximately two years before her debut. The trainee phase presented significant challenges, particularly regarding weight management, as she did not naturally possess the slim physique of some fellow members and experienced difficulties during this period.

Career with GFRIEND

Debut in 2015

GFriend's first extended play, Season of Glass, marked the official entry into the K-pop industry on January 16, 2015. The promotional track "Glass Bead", composed by Seo Yong-bae and Iggy, debuted at number twelve on Gaon's weekly chart. The group initiated promotional activities on January 16 through KBS's music program Music Bank. Billboard subsequently named GFriend as one of the "Top 5 K-Pop Artists to Watch in 2015" on January 28, 2015.

The group's second mini-album, Flower Bud, released on July 23, 2015, featured the title track "Me Gustas Tu". A viral fan-recorded video from September 2015 captured the members completing their "Me Gustas Tu" performance despite repeatedly falling on a slippery stage, garnering international attention for their professionalism. On September 17, 2015, GFriend became the only girl group nominated in the MTV Europe Music Awards "Best Korean Act" category.

Position as sub-vocalist and lead dancer

Within GFriend's formation, Yerin held multiple positions as lead dancer, sub-vocalist, center, and face of the group. These roles positioned her as a central figure in the group's performances and visual presentation throughout their promotional activities.

Notable performances and activities

In January 2016, Yerin became a new MC for SBS MTV's music program The Show alongside Zhou Mi. She appeared in Super Junior Heechul and TRAX Jungmo's unit M&D music video "I Wish" on April 13, 2015. On October 17, 2016, she featured on the track "Future Boyfriend" with El Camino. In 2017, she collaborated with Cao Lu and Kisum on the single "Spring Again". Additionally, she participated in the variety show Happy Together that year and appeared in SBS's reality-documentary show Law of the Jungle, featuring in episodes filmed in Komodo. The group's activities concluded on May 22, 2021, after all members departed Source Music upon completion of their six-year contract.

Solo career and activities

Solo debut with Aria

Following her transition to solo activities, the extended play "Aria" released on May 18, 2022, containing five tracks: "Intro: Bloom", the title track "Aria", "Believer", "Lalala", and "Time". The album marked her first music release since the group's conclusion in May 2021. She played a substantial role in producing the EP, selecting all tracks and providing feedback on nearly all aspects of the album's creation. The title track "Aria", a dance track incorporating synth sounds, represented her artistic vision of painting her world with her own color. She particularly recommended the ballad "Time", which she recorded first and described as capable of bringing solace to listeners.

Beyond her debut release, subsequent EPs included "Ready, Set, Love" on August 23, 2023, and "Rewrite" on September 4, 2024. She released a collaboration single "Colors" with GOT7's Youngjae on October 11, 2022. Her contributions to original soundtracks included "I Feel You" for the webtoon series "The Girl Downstairs" on April 1, 2023, and a collaboration with Song I Han for the K-drama "The Witch Store Reopening" on September 15, 2023.

TV shows and MC roles

In February 2022, she hosted the MBN entertainment show "Catch Job" alongside broadcaster Cho Woo-Jong. She served as MC for MBC's "Crazy Encounter Season 4" and appeared as a cast member in "Beauty Time 3" during 2021. Additional television appearances included participation in "My House Sangjeon", "Sing in the Green", and serving as DJ for "On Air Spin-off" and "Got7's Youngjae's Best Friend".

Acting in movies and web series

Her acting portfolio expanded with the film "New Normal" as Hae-kyung in 2023, which served as the closing film at the 26th BIFFF. She portrayed Lee Hae-na in the 2023 series "The Witch Store Reopening" and Gu Ru-mi in the 2024 production "Sea Village Cloud Pension".

Yerin's discography and filmography

The solo discography encompasses three extended plays released between 2022 and 2024. "Aria" achieved position 8 on Korean charts with sales of 41,303 units. "Ready, Set, Love" followed in 2023, reaching position 18 with 13,645 copies sold. The third EP, "Rewrite", released on September 4, 2024, included collaborations with Kim Da-yeon from Kep1er and charted at position 30 with 9,040 sales. A single album titled "Awake" appeared on September 24, 2025, peaking at position 23.

Collaborative work features prominently throughout the musical output. Notable partnerships include "Spring Again" with Cao Lu and Kisum in 2017, achieving 82,419 digital downloads. Additional collaborations encompassed "Colors" with Youngjae in 2022, "The Sky In Me" with the Gyeonggi Libera Orchestra in 2025, and "All For You" with Sin Ye Young, SoonSoonHee, and Jeon Gunho in 2026. Original soundtrack contributions included "Spring" for the drama "Good Job" in 2022 and "All I Need Is You" with Song I-han for "The Witch Store Reopens" in 2023.

The filmography demonstrates range across multiple formats. Web series roles included Ye Eun in "Midnight's Girl" during 2015, Lee Hae-na in "The Witch Store Reopening" in 2023, and Gu Ru-mi in "Sea Village Cloud Pension" in 2024. Film work consisted of portraying Hae-kyung in "New Normal", which premiered at the 26th BIFFF in 2023. Television hosting positions spanned "The Show" as MC from January to September 2016, "Catch Job" in 2022, and "Crazy Encounter Season 4" identically in 2022. Radio appearances included serving as DJ for "On Air Spin-off" in 2021 and special DJ for "Got7's Youngjae's Best Friend" in 2022.

Personal facts about Jung Yerin

Personality and nicknames

The MBTI personality type classifies as ENFJ (Protagonist). Personality traits align with characteristics commonly described as "cute". She exhibits a candid and unfiltered communication style, demonstrated through frank discussions on topics including marriage during television appearances. The primary nickname "Ginseng" originates from her desire to serve as an energy source for fellow members. An additional nickname "Yenni" appears in Korean as 옌니.

Hobbies and interests

Physical activities constitute primary recreational pursuits, encompassing dancing and working out. She maintains a dedicated ariel yoga practice spanning approximately two years, attending sessions two to three times weekly. The practice addresses core muscle development, as physical strength presented initial challenges during the learning phase. Beyond physical activities, manga and anime consumption represents a significant interest area. The anime series "One Piece" holds status as her favorite.

Additional interests include chocolate, dolls, and maintaining diaries. Special talents encompass flipping pancakes and performing Doraemon voice impressions. Motion sickness persists as an ongoing condition, coupled with acrophobia (fear of heights). Future activity aspirations include horseback riding, tennis, and golf, contingent upon favorable circumstances.

Relationships with other idols

Friendships extend across multiple K-pop groups. Joy from Red Velvet maintains a close friendship established through their shared birth year of 1996 and attendance at School of Performing Arts Seoul. The friendship with Hayoung from Apink forms part of a trio including Joy, collectively known as the "Hayoung-Yerin-Joy friendship". TWICE members Jihyo, Nayeon, and Jeongyeon maintain friendships. Additional connections include Yoojung (former I.O.I and Weki Meki member, currently soloist) and Solbin from Laboum.

FAQs

The ideal type?

The ideal type preference identifies actor Lee Hyun Woo. Dietary habits reveal an aversion to vegetables, with raw carrot identified as particularly disliked, and cooking activities remain outside regular practice. The preferred food choice includes Gorgonzola pizza with honey, reflecting distinctive taste preferences. Among group members, she maintained the biggest appetite.

Physical specifications?

Physical specifications include a shoe size of 230mm. Religious affiliation aligns with Christianity. The fetal name 시원이 translates to "cool" or "live a comfortable life". Her older brother served in special forces, resulting in a four-year period without discharge, creating an upbringing dynamic similar to an only child during elementary school years.

Performance capabilities?

Performance capabilities include the creation of a signature dance move titled "Chicken Dance". She remains the only member to successfully execute a straddle vault, which subsequently became incorporated into the "Me Gustas Tu" choreography. During June 2018, she briefly assumed leadership responsibilities when Sowon took bereavement leave following her father's passing, primarily handling greeting duties. On the inaugural day of Season of GFriend, her solo stage featured Lee Hyori's "U Go Girl".

Musical background?

Musical background includes performing Younha's "Password 486" during her audition. Television appearances encompass participation in "King of Masked Singer" under the persona "Fat Macaron". Transportation preferences favor Sowon as driver despite SinB possessing superior driving skills, as the former enables comfortable sleep during travel. Dating experiences occurred during high school years, with activities including restaurant discovery and movie attendance while wearing school uniforms