Jo Ga Bin: The Untold Story of 9MUSES' Rising Star

Jo Ga Bin stands as a testament to the evolving nature of K-pop careers, transforming from a dynamic performer in one of South Korea's notable girl groups to an established actress. Formerly known as Jo So Jin (or simply Sojin), she gained recognition as a member of the popular group 9MUSES and its sub-unit 9MUSES A, as well as the trio NASTY NASTY.

After nearly nine years of activities, 9MUSES officially disbanded on February 24, 2019, following a fan meeting and the release of their final digital single "Remember". Subsequently, Jo Ga Bin began pursuing a new path in the entertainment industry. In 2020, she made her first appearance as an actress in the drama "My Boss Is a Million YouTuber" after 9MUSES' breakup. Furthermore, she legally changed her name from Jo So Jin to Jo Ga Bin in March 2021, signaling her commitment to her acting career.

Early Life and Debut as Sojin

Born in Gwangju, South Korea, Jo Ga Bin (then known as Jo Sojin) began her journey in the entertainment industry long before becoming a recognized K-pop idol. Her educational background includes attendance at Jeongeup Nam Elementary School, Jeongeup Girls' Middle School, and Jeongeup Girls' High School, providing her with a solid foundation before pursuing her dreams in Seoul.

Birthplace and education

While growing up in Gwangju, Sojin developed her passion for performing arts. After completing her education at Jeongeup Girls' High School, she made the life-changing decision to move to Seoul to pursue her dreams in the entertainment industry. This bold step would eventually lead her toward a path of becoming a multifaceted performer in South Korea's competitive entertainment landscape.

Training under Big Hit and Star Empire

Sojin's pre-debut journey was remarkably extensive. Initially, she trained under Big Hit Entertainment (now known as HYBE), where she crossed paths with future BTS members Namjoon and Hoseok. During this period, she also met SinB, who would later debut with GFriend. After her time at Big Hit, she briefly trained at IMAX Entertainment before finally finding her home at Star Empire Entertainment.

Her total training period spanned an impressive five years, although interestingly, she reportedly trained at Star Empire for only half a year before her actual debut. Throughout this time, she maintained a close friendship with Hyemi, whom she had known for seven years (from 2007 until her debut in 2014).

Debut with Nine Muses and Nasty Nasty

Unexpectedly, Sojin's first official debut wasn't with Nine Muses but with a co-ed project group called Nasty Nasty on August 22, 2014. This trio included fellow Nine Muses member Kyungri and ZE:A's Kevin. As part of Nasty Nasty, she served as a supporting vocalist and dancer, contributing to the group's edgy performances and their debut track "Knock".

Several months later, on January 12, 2015, Sojin was officially introduced as a new member of Nine Muses alongside Keumjo. Within Nine Muses, she showcased her versatility by taking on the positions of Main Dancer, Lead Rapper, and Vocalist, quickly establishing herself as a valuable addition to the group.

Between her debut with Nasty Nasty and joining Nine Muses, Sojin demonstrated remarkable adaptability and talent, setting the stage for her future endeavors in the entertainment industry. Her extensive training period ultimately prepared her for the challenges and opportunities that would define her career.

Jo Ga Bin’s Role in Nine Muses

After joining Nine Muses, Jo Ga Bin (then known as Sojin) quickly established herself as a versatile performer within the group. Her addition brought fresh energy to the already popular girl group, allowing them to explore new dynamics in their performances and musical direction.

Main dancer and lead rapper

Upon her official introduction to Nine Muses, Sojin took on multiple roles that showcased her diverse talents. As the Main Dancer, she brought powerful performance skills that enhanced the group's choreography, often taking center position during dance breaks. Moreover, her abilities as Lead Rapper added a distinctive vocal color to Nine Muses' tracks, complementing the group's existing vocal lineup.

Throughout her time with the group, she participated in several comebacks, including "Drama" (2015), "Hurt Locker" (2015), and "Sleepless Night" (2015). Her dance background proved invaluable during these promotions, particularly in the intricate choreography that became a signature element of Nine Muses' performances.

Sub-unit 9MUSES A

In 2016, Star Empire Entertainment launched a sub-unit called 9MUSES A (Nine Muses Amuse), which included Sojin alongside Kyungri, Hyemi, and Keumjo. This smaller configuration allowed Sojin to display more of her individual talents and personality. The sub-unit debuted with "Lip 2 Lip," a track that showcased a slightly different musical direction from the main group.

The formation of 9MUSES A represented a strategic move by the company to maintain the group's presence in the competitive K-pop landscape. For Sojin specifically, this sub-unit provided additional opportunities to refine her skills and build her fanbase.

Military performances and fanbase

One notable aspect of Sojin's time with Nine Muses was the group's regular performances at military bases across South Korea. These shows were particularly significant as they helped the group connect with a different audience segment and contributed to their growing popularity.

Despite being one of the newer members, Sojin quickly developed a dedicated fanbase. Her dancing prowess, combined with her approachable personality, resonated with many Nine Muses fans. Additionally, her background as one of the longest-training idols (having spent five years as a trainee) earned her respect within the industry and among K-pop enthusiasts who valued dedication and perseverance.

By the time Nine Muses announced their disbandment in 2019, Sojin had firmly established herself as an integral part of the group's identity and legacy.

Transition to Acting and Name Change

Following the disbandment of 9MUSES in February 2019, Sojin wasted no time in pursuing her passion for acting, marking a significant shift in her entertainment career. Throughout this transition period, she would undergo notable changes, including a new agency and ultimately, a new identity.

Signing with SE M&M

On March 13, 2019, shortly after 9MUSES' final curtain call, SE M&M officially announced signing an exclusive contract with Sojin. This strategic move signaled her determination to establish herself in a new realm of entertainment. In response to this career development, she shared her thoughts on Instagram, stating, "After thinking and considering the quickest way to meet with fans, I have decided to join my new family, SE M&M. I will remember the support and love you have sent me until now, and I will continue to work hard to impress you".

The agency made their intentions clear from the beginning: "Until now, she received lots of love as singer Sojin, but she now plans to start the second chapter of her life as actress Jo Sojin". This announcement effectively communicated her transition from idol to actress.

First drama appearance

Interestingly, Sojin had begun dabbling in acting even before 9MUSES' disbandment. She took on her first acting role as the female lead in the web drama "Will-o'-the-Wisp" in 2017. Prior to this, she had made a cameo appearance as early as 2011 in the MBC series "I Trusted Him".

Her acting portfolio steadily expanded with supporting roles in TV Chosun's "Greatest Marriage" in 2014 and SBS's "The Family Is Coming" in 2015. Nevertheless, her post-9MUSES acting career gained momentum in 2020 when she appeared in SBS's "The King: Eternal Monarch" and MBC's "The Spies Who Loved Me". Her performance in the latter proved impressive enough to earn her a Best New Actress nomination at the MBC Drama Awards.

Changing her name to Jo Ga Bin

In a bold move that symbolized her complete transformation, she announced via Instagram on March 8, 2021 that she had legally changed her name from Jo Sojin to Jo Ga Bin. This decision came "after a long consultation with her parents" and reflected her commitment to establishing a distinct identity as an actress.

Since her name change, she has continued building her acting resume, notably joining the main cast of tvN's romantic comedy "Shooting Stars" in 2022. Through these strategic career moves, Jo Ga Bin has effectively reinvented herself, transitioning from K-pop idol to a respected figure in Korean television.

Life Beyond the Stage

Beyond her performing career, Jo Ga Bin has ventured into content creation and entrepreneurship, expanding her presence in the digital and fashion worlds.

YouTube channel and content style

With her official YouTube channel reaching 10.4K subscribers and hosting 115 videos, Jo Ga Bin consistently engages with fans through diverse content. Her channel features makeup tutorials like "Winter Daily Makeup Look" and "Summer Daily Makeup," alongside vlogs documenting her experiences with former group members. Interestingly, she celebrated reaching the 10,000 subscriber milestone by crafting handmade beaded rings and bracelets for her fans.

Her content is meticulously organized into specialized playlists including beauty, travel, song, and dance categories, reflecting her multifaceted interests. In addition to her personal channel, she made regular appearances as a "Steel Defense" team member on the sports YouTube channel "Nada and XX," launched by her friend and Wa$$up rapper Nada in May 2020.

Launching the Trius clothing brand

In September 2020, Jo Ga Bin took a significant entrepreneurial step by establishing her own clothing brand called Trius. This venture positions her among other K-pop idols who have successfully expanded into business ownership, such as BTS member Jin with his Japanese restaurant and G-Dragon with his fashion brand.

Jo Ga Bin maintains a family connection in her business operations, working alongside her cousin as part of the brand development team. This collaborative approach allows her to blend her fashion sensibilities with sound business practices.

Challenges of running a business

The transition from performer to entrepreneur came with unexpected difficulties. Jo Ga Bin candidly admitted, "I never knew that selling clothes can be this difficult before starting my own brand". Throughout the early stages of launching Trius, her health suffered noticeably—her sleep schedule became severely disrupted, she experienced hair loss, and her skin condition deteriorated.

Nevertheless, Jo Ga Bin has persevered through these initial struggles, gradually adapting to the demands of business ownership. Her experience mirrors the challenges faced by many idols-turned-entrepreneurs who navigate the learning curve between entertainment and commerce.

Fun Facts and Personal Insights

Beyond her professional achievements, Jo Ga Bin possesses a fascinating personality with unique traits and relationships that have shaped her journey both on and off stage.

MBTI and personality traits

Jo Ga Bin identifies as an ESFJ personality type, commonly known as "The Consul" or "The Caregiver." This personality type typically reflects individuals who are warm-hearted, conscientious, and cooperative—qualities that have undoubtedly contributed to her successful collaborations throughout her career. ESFJs generally thrive in social environments and demonstrate strong organizational skills, which aligns with Jo Ga Bin's multifaceted career path across entertainment and business.

Friendships with idols like Hyemi and SinB

Her friendship with former 9MUSES member Hyemi stands as one of her longest personal connections, dating back seven years before they both traveled to Seoul to become trainees. Remarkably, when her name was Sojin, Hyemi nicknamed her "Sot" due to her habit of shortening friends' names to one syllable. Upon Jo Ga Bin's name change, however, Hyemi decided against calling her "Gap" and simply uses her full name instead.

Additionally, Jo Ga Bin maintains friendships with prominent idols including BTS members Namjoon and Hoseok, whom she knew from her training days at Big Hit Entertainment. Similarly, she shares a connection with GFriend's SinB from their time as Big Hit trainees.

Unique habits and preferences

Jo Ga Bin's personal habits reveal interesting facets of her character. Naturally, she eats quickly and typically orders a very specific combination at Subway: "roasted chicken + flatbread + avocados + American cheese without pickles", as she dislikes their sour flavor. For beverages, she favors iced americano. Furthermore, she sports a cross tattoo positioned behind her ear, adding to her distinctive style.

FAQS

Fans of Jo Ga Bin frequently seek answers to questions about this multifaceted entertainer. The K-pop community's collaborative nature means information about idols often comes directly from dedicated followers who closely track their careers.

Throughout her journey from 9MUSES member to actress and entrepreneur, Jo Ga Bin has maintained a connection with supporters who continually expand the collective knowledge about her life and career. Online profiles and fan communities remain valuable resources for those wanting to learn more about her evolution from Sojin to Jo Ga Bin.

Curiously, many fans wonder about the meaning behind her name change and the pronunciation of "Ga Bin." Others inquire about her current relationship with former 9MUSES members or whether she plans to release solo music in the future. Of course, questions about upcoming acting projects consistently appear in online discussions.

As with many K-pop personalities who transition between entertainment fields, certain aspects of Jo Ga Bin's career developments remain subject to speculation among fans. Fortunately, as her career continues to evolve, the answers to many questions gradually emerge through her social media updates, interviews, and public appearances.

For those seeking even more information, fan communities often welcome new contributors: "Do you like Jo Gabin? Do you know more facts about her? Feel free to comment below".