Seola WJSN Profile: Hidden Facts About Kim Hyun Jung You Never Knew

Seola trained for an impressive seven years before making her mark in the K-pop industry, showcasing extraordinary dedication to her craft. Born on December 26, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea, she has built a multifaceted career that spans group performances, sub-units, and solo work.

As the oldest member of WJSN (Cosmic Girls), Seola debuted with the group on February 25, 2016, under Starship Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment. Notably, her journey with WJSN began when she was revealed as a member of the group's 'Sweet Unit' on December 24, 2015. Since then, she has expanded her repertoire by joining WJSN THE BLACK, the group's second sub-unit, in May 2021, before finally making her highly anticipated solo debut with the release of "Inside Out" in January 2024.

Early Life and Pre-Debut Journey

Kim Hyun-jung began her K-pop journey long before becoming the Seola fans know today. Born in Seoul, South Korea in 1994, her path to stardom exemplifies the dedication required to succeed in the competitive entertainment industry.

Training for 7 years before debut

Kim Hyun-jung's training period stands as a testament to her perseverance. Although some sources report she trained for a total of 10 years, the most consistent information indicates she spent approximately 7 years at Starship Entertainment. Her training journey began around 2006 under Media Line Entertainment, after which she transferred to Starship Entertainment.

During an appearance on MBC's "King of Mask Singer," Seola reflected on this extensive preparation period, stating, "I never regret those 10 years of training. I have learned a lot during that time". This sentiment echoes in another quote where she expressed, "I have no regrets about my long trainee years as I am working hard and actively promoting as a singer now".

Throughout those challenging years, many of her fellow trainees left the industry. Nevertheless, she persisted, developing her vocal skills and performance abilities while watching others debut before her.

Pre-debut appearances in music videos

Even as a trainee, Seola made efforts to gain visibility in the industry. She appeared in several high-profile music videos that helped introduce her to audiences before her official debut. Most notably, she featured in Boyfriend's "Janus" music video in 2012, establishing her presence in the K-pop scene.

Additionally, Seola showcased her versatility by appearing in Mad Clown featuring Hyorin's "Without You" and Junggigo's "24/7" which featured other notable artists including Zion.T, Crush, and DEAN. These appearances demonstrated her camera presence and helped build anticipation for her eventual debut.

Beyond music video appearances, Seola also ventured into collaboration work. In 2011, she featured on Story G's song "Winter Again", providing early evidence of her vocal capabilities years before her official debut with WJSN.

Stage name evolution: Junmi → SeolHa → SeolA

Interestingly, Kim Hyun-jung underwent multiple identity transformations before settling on her current stage name. Her first stage name was "Junmi", which she used during her earlier training years. As her debut approached, she transitioned to "SeolHa" before finally adopting "SeolA" as her permanent stage identity.

This evolution of stage names possibly reflects her growth as an artist and the company's strategy to position her effectively within WJSN. The name "SeolA" ultimately became the identity under which she would debut and build her career.

Furthermore, before joining WJSN, Seola was originally slated to debut in a different group altogether. She was part of a pre-debut team called VIVA GIRLS alongside several other trainees who would later debut in different groups, including her future WJSN groupmate EXY, HELLOVENUS' Lime, Nine Muses' Kyungri, and Dalshabet's Woohee. However, this group never materialized, ultimately leading to her placement in WJSN.

Throughout her pre-debut years, Seola also showed her support for other Starship artists. In fact, she attended a SISTAR concert in 2015, the same company that would later debut her as part of WJSN. Little did fans know that the audience member would soon become a performer on the same stages.

Debut with WJSN and Rise to Fame

After years of training, Seola's dream finally materialized as she stepped into the spotlight with WJSN. The group's official announcement came on December 24, 2015, when Seola was revealed as a member of the group's 'Sweet Unit', marking the beginning of her professional career.

WJSN debut in 2016 with 'MoMoMo'

WJSN officially debuted on February 25, 2016, with the release of their first EP titled "Would You Like?". The mini-album featured six tracks, including two lead singles: "MoMoMo" and "Catch Me". First and foremost, the debut showcased the group's unique concept and musical direction. The music video for "MoMoMo," which notably featured actor Lee Kwang-soo, was released one day before their official debut.

Following this, the group held their debut stage on M! Countdown on February 25, performing both "Catch Me" and "MoMoMo". Their promotional activities continued on other major music shows, including KBS' Music Bank, MBC's Show! Music Core, and SBS's Inkigayo. Subsequently, a music video for "Catch Me" was released on March 9.

The mini-album performed impressively for a rookie group, peaking at number 7 on the Gaon Album Chart and selling over 12,701 physical copies by May 2016. This commercial success established WJSN as one of the promising rookie groups of 2016, even earning them nominations for 'Best New Artist (Female Group)' and 'HotelsCombined Artist of the Year' at the 2016 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

Role as lead vocalist and oldest member

Within WJSN, Seola holds the position of lead vocalist, showcasing her refined vocal abilities developed through her extensive training period. Moreover, she carries the distinction of being the eldest member of the group, born on December 26, 1994 (initially reported as December 24, 1994).

As the oldest member, Seola naturally assumed a leadership role within the group, providing guidance and support to her younger members. Her position as a lead vocalist in a group known for its diverse vocal colors demonstrates the confidence Starship Entertainment placed in her musical abilities.

Sweet Unit and zodiac concept

WJSN was introduced with a creative zodiac concept, where each member represented one of the twelve zodiac signs. Correspondingly, Seola represents the Sagittarius zodiac sign in the group's concept, despite her actual zodiac sign being Capricorn. This conceptual approach was reminiscent of EXO's original concept involving superpowers.

In addition to this, WJSN was divided into four distinct units, with the first letter of each unit forming the acronym 'WJSN'. Seola was placed in the Sweet Unit alongside fellow members EXY and Soobin. The Sweet Unit was officially revealed on December 24, 2015, the same day Seola was announced as a WJSN member.

Beyond her activities with the main group, in August 2016, Seola participated in a special collaboration project. She joined other WJSN members (Exy, Soobin, Eunseo, Cheng Xiao, Yeoreum, and Dayoung) and label mates Monsta X to form the unit 'Y-Teen'. This project unit served as CF models for KT's phone fare service and released various content including EPs, music videos, and other entertainment material, further expanding Seola's visibility in the industry.

Sub-Units and Special Collaborations

Beyond her activities with WJSN's main lineup, Seola has expanded her artistic horizons through participation in various sub-units and special collaboration projects, each showcasing different facets of her versatile talents.

WJMK with Weki Meki members

On May 2, 2018, Starship Entertainment and Fantagio Music announced a special project unit combining members from both WJSN and Weki Meki. This four-member collaboration group, aptly named WJMK (short for Wuju Meki), featured Seola and Luda from WJSN alongside Yoojung and Doyeon from Weki Meki.

Throughout May 2018, promotional images featuring bright color concepts were steadily released to build anticipation for the project. The unit officially made their mark on June 1, 2018, with the digital single "Strong". This track showcased a hip-hop dance style with a distinctive flute melody and refreshing summer sound.

"Strong" effectively combined the different strengths of both groups, with Seola's vocal tone blending seamlessly with Luda and Kim Doyeon's voices, complemented by Kim Yoojung's rap verses. The lyrics present a confident approach to romance, expressing how to cutely yet boldly approach someone you like. This project essentially allowed Seola to demonstrate her adaptability by working with artists outside her primary group.

WJSN THE BLACK and its concept

WJSN THE BLACK marked WJSN's second official sub-unit, debuting on May 12, 2021, with their first single album "My Attitude". This four-member unit comprised Seola, EXY, Bona, and Eunseo.

The announcement came on April 26, 2021, through WJSN's official social media accounts. The sub-unit's concept starkly contrasted with the group's first unit, WJSN CHOCOME, which had debuted in October 2020. While CHOCOME embraced cuteness, WJSN THE BLACK aimed to showcase a more mature side of the members.

According to Seola herself, "I think we will have succeeded with our new challenges if we hear people say, 'WJSN had this side to them?' We want to set in stone that we are not a group that sticks to one style but rather still has so many different concepts to show". This statement underscores her desire to break away from established images and explore new artistic territories.

Their title track "Easy" belongs to the dark disco genre, telling the story of confidently extending a seductive hand to someone they love. Notably, fellow member EXY participated in writing lyrics for both tracks on the single album.

Y-Teen with MONSTA X

Predating both WJMK and WJSN THE BLACK, Seola participated in Y-TEEN, a 14-member project group consisting of all seven MONSTA X members and seven WJSN members under Starship Entertainment. Alongside Seola, the WJSN contingent included EXY, Soobin, Eunseo, Cheng Xiao, Yeoreum, and Dayoung.

This large-scale collaboration debuted on August 6, 2016, with the single "Do Better". Unlike purely artistic collaborations, Y-TEEN served a specific commercial purpose as CF (commercial film) models for mobile company KT's 'Y Teen' phone plan.

The music video for "Do Better" functioned primarily as an advertisement for this cell phone service. Some fans noted that screen time and lines weren't equally distributed among all members, with certain performers like Jooheon, I.M., and EXY receiving more prominence. Nevertheless, this project provided Seola valuable experience in large-group dynamics and commercial endorsement work early in her career.

Through these diverse sub-units and collaborations, Seola has consistently demonstrated her adaptability, versatility, and willingness to explore different musical concepts beyond her main group activities.

Acting Career and Web Dramas

While pursuing her musical career, Seola simultaneously ventured into the world of acting, building an impressive portfolio of web drama roles. Throughout her acting journey, she has consistently showcased her versatility across different genres and character types.

Debut in 'Good Morning Double-Decker Bus'

Seola's acting career officially began in 2017 with the short web-series 'Good Morning Double-Decker Bus'. This debut project served a unique purpose beyond entertainment - it was specifically created to promote tourism in Gyeonggi Province. The project marked her first foray into acting, allowing her to explore her abilities in a different performance medium beyond singing and dancing.

The short format of this web drama provided an ideal entry point for Seola to test her acting abilities without the pressure of a full-length series. This initial experience laid the foundation for what would become a consistent parallel career alongside her WJSN activities.

Roles in 'In-Out Sider', 'Goedam', and 'Love in Black Hole'

Following her acting debut, Seola continued building her filmography with increasingly substantial roles. In 2019, she secured a leading role in the web drama 'In-Out Sider', demonstrating her growth as an actress and the industry's growing confidence in her abilities.

Her career gained additional momentum in 2020 with a role in Netflix's anthology horror series 'Goedam', which exposed her to international audiences through the streaming platform. This project represented a significant departure from her public image as an idol, allowing her to showcase her range as a performer.

By 2021, Seola had accumulated sufficient acting experience to be recognized as having "plenty of acting experience including main roles" when she joined the cast of 'Love in Black Hole'. This sci-fi romance web drama consisted of 12 episodes running approximately 10 minutes each, airing between September 10 and October 16, 2021. The series featured a school setting with themes including childhood friends' relationships and time rifts.

Interestingly, Seola worked alongside other idols venturing into acting, including SF9's Jaeyoon and BAE173's Hangyul and Doha. The drama was distributed through Tencent Video, further expanding her visibility in the Chinese market.

Acting style and fan reception

While specific information about Seola's acting style is limited in the available sources, her consistent casting in leading roles suggests industry recognition of her talent. The progression from a promotional web series to more substantial dramatic roles indicates growing confidence in her abilities.

Primarily, her acting career has been characterized by consistent work in the web drama format, which has become an increasingly important platform for idol-actors to gain experience. The shorter episode format of web dramas (typically 10-15 minutes) provides a different performance challenge than traditional television dramas.

Other WJSN members have similarly pursued acting careers, with Exy appearing in "Heo Sikdang" and "Divorce Insurance," while Soobin featured in "At Your Distance, We Are" and the film "Amoeba Girls and the School Horror: Foundation Day". Yeoreum joined this acting cohort with her role in "Student Teacher Practice".

Ultimately, Seola's acting career represents another dimension of her artistic expression, complementing her activities as a vocalist and performer within WJSN and its various sub-units.

Solo Debut and Musical Growth

January 2024 marked a historic milestone in Seola's career as she became the first member of WJSN to release solo music, eight years after the group's formation. This significant step forward showcased a different musical direction from her group activities, highlighting her artistic growth and versatility.

Release of 'INSIDE OUT' in 2024

On January 23, 2024, Seola officially released her debut single album 'Inside Out,' led by the title track 'Without U' alongside two B-sides: 'Let's Talk (Loneliness)' and 'No Girl'. The album release was accompanied by a music video for 'Without U,' which premiered simultaneously.

Interestingly, Seola chose to diverge from the dance-focused performances she delivered with WJSN, telling the press: "People thought I'd be dancing when they heard that I was releasing a solo album, [but] I danced a lot as a member of WJSN. So I thought it would be refreshing to see me perform alongside a live band". This artistic choice allowed her to prioritize her vocals and explore a different performance style.

Songwriting and composing credits

Perhaps most impressively, Seola demonstrated significant creative control over her solo project. She participated in lyric writing for all three tracks on the album and contributed to both songwriting and lyrics for 'No Girl'. This level of involvement represented a natural progression in her musical journey, as she had previously written and composed songs for WJSN, namely 'Our Garden' from their eighth mini-album 'Neverland' in 2020 and 'New Me' from 2021's 'Unnatural'.

Speaking about this creative freedom, Seola explained: "WJSN albums are not something I can work on alone – we have to consider all our members and the color of the group, and I think I was able to have a bit of fun doing what I want to do this time". Consequently, each track on 'Inside Out' reflects a different mood that represents aspects of her personality.

Chart performance and fan response

From a commercial perspective, 'Inside Out' achieved moderate success, reaching position 34 on the South Korean Albums Circle Chart and position 8 on another Circle chart measurement. Furthermore, the album surpassed 25,000 physical sales on Hanteo, demonstrating solid fan support.

The reception among fans and critics proved equally positive. One reviewer praised the release as "among my favorite singles so far this year", expressing pleasant surprise at Seola's solo direction. Even fellow WJSN members showed enthusiastic support, with Eunseo becoming emotional upon first hearing the album. As Seola recounted: "As I played the song, I could hear Eunseo holding her tears, which in turn made me hold back my tears as well".

OST Contributions and Vocal Highlights

Beyond her group activities, Seola has established herself as a sought-after voice for original soundtracks, where her emotional delivery and distinctive tone shine through each collaboration.

Notable OSTs: 'Love Virus', '100 Percent', 'Stay'

Throughout her career, Seola has contributed to several notable original soundtracks that showcase her vocal versatility. Her OST portfolio includes "Love Virus" (2018) for "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim," "100 Percent" (2022) for "Best Mistake 3," and "STAY" for "Between Him and Her". Each project has allowed her to demonstrate different aspects of her vocal color outside of WJSN's typical musical style.

"STAY," a particularly noteworthy addition to her discography, is a minimalist composition centered around electric guitar with delicate, emotional lyrics expressing the transition from friendship to love. The track's arrangement perfectly complements Seola's emotive delivery, highlighting the nuanced control she brings to ballad performances.

Meanwhile, "Love Virus," her collaboration with MONSTA X's Kihyun, served as Part 1 of the "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" soundtrack. The song features sweet, romantic lyrics describing the unexpected feelings of falling in love: "Love comes to me, like an unknown miracle" and "You make my heart race, you make me feel dizzy, is this love?".

Collaborations with MONSTA X's Kihyun and CRAVITY's Taeyoung

Indeed, Seola's collaborative work has paired her with fellow Starship Entertainment artists, creating magical vocal synergies. Her duet with MONSTA X's Kihyun on "Love Virus" (2018) brought together two of the label's most respected vocalists. As one fan commented, "Starship fam's vocals are honestly so amazing. They never fail to amaze me".

Yet another impressive collaboration came with CRAVITY's Taeyoung on "STAY," where their voices formed a "perfect harmony" that beautifully expressed the song's fresh and lovely emotions. This partnership demonstrated Seola's ability to adapt her vocal approach to complement different vocal tones and styles.

Her ability to turn any song into a ballad

Particularly noteworthy is Seola's talent for emotional interpretation, best exemplified by her appearance on Lifetime's "Sing and Stay2" alongside fellow WJSN members. During this performance, she transformed their upbeat track "Pantomime" into a breathtaking ballad version.

On the show, critics praised how she "captivated music fans with her dreamy yet mysterious voice". The performance highlighted not just her technical abilities but her interpretive skills as well. Alongside Exy, Soobin, and Dawon, she demonstrated perfect harmony and breathing control that "took the viewer's breath away".

This unique ability to reimagine songs in ballad form stems from her exceptional control over dynamics and emotional expression, qualities that have made her increasingly in demand for soundtrack work as her career progresses.

Hidden Talents and Fun Facts

Unlike her polished on-stage persona, Seola's personal quirks and preferences reveal a more endearing side to the WJSN vocalist. Behind the glamorous performances lies a collection of amusing traits that fans cherish.

Aquaphobia and quirky habits

Beneath her confident exterior, Seola carries a notable fear of water, professionally known as aquaphobia. This phobia creates an interesting contrast to her cosmic-themed group identity. Besides her fear, she displays several distinctive habits that fans have documented over the years. She frequently touches her bangs when nervous and has a tendency to crouch unexpectedly. Perhaps most charmingly, her legs involuntarily shake whenever she eats something particularly delicious.

In her downtime, Seola gravitates toward surprisingly ordinary activities. Her hobbies include receiving massages, performing housework, taking leisurely walks, and simply "killing time" – a refreshing departure from her meticulously choreographed professional life.

Nicknames: Shaki, Mumin, Hyunddong

Throughout her life, Seola has collected a variety of nicknames reflecting different aspects of her personality. Her family affectionately calls her "Hyungdong", offering a glimpse into her pre-fame identity. Among fans and group members, she's known as "Moomin" and "Weepinbell", referencing her resemblance to these characters.

Interestingly, if Seola had pursued a rap career instead of becoming a vocalist, her stage name would have been "Shaki" – a path not taken but preserved in this alternate-universe moniker.

Her love for BLACKPINK and jellies

Off-stage, Seola embraces her role as a fan herself. She's openly passionate about fellow K-pop group BLACKPINK, even amassing an impressive collection of their merchandise. This fan-girl side connects her to supporters who recognize the authentic enthusiasm they share.

Given these points about her food preferences, Seola particularly enjoys eating jellies, a simple pleasure that humanizes the idol. These seemingly minor details about her tastes and habits create a more complete picture of Kim Hyun-jung beyond her WJSN identity.

Fan Engagement and Public Appearances

Seola actively connects with her audience through various platforms, building a deeper relationship with fans beyond her musical releases and group activities.

Fanmeeting: 'SeolA's Moments: with U'

Demonstrating her growing solo popularity, Seola embarked on her first fan meeting tour, "Seola's Moments: With U," spanning multiple Asian cities. Beginning in Seoul on June 6, 2025, at YES24 Wonder Rock Hall, the tour continued to Shanghai on July 5 before reaching Tokyo on August 9 at Tsutsujihall in Hokutopia. Each event featured a carefully conceived program personally designed by Seola, creating unique memories for attendees.

The Tokyo fan meeting opened with a VCR of Seola's daily life followed by a performance of "Without U" from her solo album. Throughout the event, she participated in interactive segments including an "OX game" revealing her personal preferences, answered pre-submitted fan questions in a dedicated Q&A section, and tackled fan-requested dance challenges like "Shake It to the Max" and "Iraira". As a special surprise, she performed a cover of Japanese musician Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love", demonstrating her versatility across languages.

Radio DJ role on KBS Station Z

Expanding her media presence, Seola was appointed as a DJ for KBS Cool FM's radio show "Station Z" in April 2023. She hosts the program every Tuesday at midnight, with the show officially named "A Night Deep with Friendship/UJUNG", directly acknowledging her fan community. Listeners can tune in not only through traditional radio but also watch live broadcasts via the Station Z YouTube channel, making the content accessible to international fans.

King of Mask Singer appearance

In 2018, Seola challenged herself on MBC's popular singing competition "King of Mask Singer," appearing in episodes 173-174 under the concealed identity "Observatory". This program uniquely removes factors like popularity and career from the equation, as contestants perform wearing elaborate masks. The format features one-on-one singing battles through three elimination rounds, allowing Seola to showcase her vocal abilities without the audience knowing her identity until elimination.