Park Ji-won: The Untold Story Behind fromis_9's Main Vocalist

Park Ji-won stands as one of K-pop's resilient success stories, transforming from a JYP trainee to becoming the main vocalist of fromis_9 after 4 years and 9 months of training. Her journey wasn't straightforward — after placing 13th in the survival show Sixteen (which created TWICE), she found her path to stardom through Idol School, where she secured 6th place with 63,816 votes.

Before joining fromis_9, Park Ji-won's determination was evident throughout her lengthy training period. Originally from Busan, South Korea, she eventually debuted as a fromis_9 member on January 24, 2018, with the mini album "To. Heart". Despite her modest height, Park Ji-won commands attention on stage, particularly through her distinctively loud voice, which fans often cite as her charming point.

Additionally, Park Ji-won possesses unique qualities that set her apart from her peers. She is the only left-handed member in fromis_9, and follows the inspiring motto: "Have courage and be kind". Furthermore, she continues to develop her career under ASND, where she works as a singer-songwriter, dancer, and composer, showcasing her multifaceted talents beyond her vocal abilities.

Early Life and Training Years

Born on March 20, 1998, Park Ji-won began her journey in U-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea. Her roots in this coastal city would later influence her distinct personality and drive that fans recognize today.

Growing up in Busan

As a young girl in Busan, Ji-won grew up with her parents and an older brother born in 1996. Her early life in the second-largest city in South Korea provided her with a foundation that would later support her ambitious career path. Unlike many K-pop idols who grew up in Seoul, her Busan background gave her a unique perspective and regional flavor that would later distinguish her in the industry.

Park Ji-won age and education background

Currently 27 years old (as of 2025), Park Ji-won's educational journey reflects the challenging balance many K-pop trainees face between pursuing academic studies and training. She attended Haerim Elementary School and Haeundae Girls' Middle School. Subsequently, she transferred from Haegang High School to Cheongdam High School, which she ultimately dropped out of. Nevertheless, Ji-won completed her secondary education by passing the High School Graduation Academic Qualification Examination, demonstrating her determination to achieve both educational and career goals.

Training at JYP Entertainment

Ji-won's path to stardom began when she joined JYP Entertainment as a trainee in 2012. During her three-year training period at the prestigious agency, she honed her vocal abilities alongside fellow future fromis_9 member Lee Chae-young. This period was crucial in developing her skills, especially her powerful vocal abilities that would later become her signature strength.

Participation in SIXTEEN

In 2015, a significant opportunity arose when Park Ji-won was selected to participate in JYP Entertainment's survival show SIXTEEN. On the program, she was notably described as a "power vocal", highlighting her strongest attribute as a performer. However, Ji-won's journey on SIXTEEN ended with her placing 13th in the final rankings, missing the cut for what would become the globally successful girl group TWICE.

Following this disappointment, Ji-won made the difficult decision to leave JYP Entertainment. In a candid moment during her later appearance on "Idol School," she revealed the emotional impact of this period: "I was very frustrated after 'Sixteen'. The friends I was with on the program have debuted. I felt empty. I wanted to make my debut faster so I left JYP".

This setback initially created significant challenges for her. "Making my debut got even harder after I left JYP. I developed a trauma and became afraid to audition for other agencies". Yet rather than abandoning her dreams, these obstacles ultimately prepared her for the resilience she would need in her future career.

The Turning Point: Idol School Journey

After the disappointment of SIXTEEN, a new opportunity emerged for Park Ji-won in 2017 that would forever change her career trajectory.

Why she joined Idol School

Following her departure from JYP Entertainment, Park Ji-won found herself at a crossroads. In a candid moment during Idol School, she revealed the emotional aftermath of her SIXTEEN experience: "After the program was over, I felt frustrated trying to train when my friends had debuted". This sense of being left behind while former co-trainees found success created significant internal conflict.

Her decision to join Idol School came after struggling to find her place in the industry. "I tried to debut under a different entertainment agency, but it was difficult," she confessed. The fear of facing another rejection haunted her, as she admitted to the production crew: "I was afraid of auditioning again afterwards, because I feared I would get hurt again".

Ranking 6th and debuting in fromis_9

Throughout the competition, Park Ji-won showcased her vocal prowess. As part of the "Yukhoe Rice" team, she performed Blackpink's "Whistle" as the main vocalist. Her team earned first place in that evaluation, further solidifying her position as a strong contender.

The survival show premiered on July 13, 2017, and concluded on September 29, 2017. The final rankings were determined solely through live and online votes from viewers. In a decisive moment, Park Ji-won secured her future by ranking 6th with 63,816 votes, earning her spot in the nine-member girl group initially named "Fromis".

The group's name was subsequently changed to fromis_9, with the "9" representing the nine students who graduated from Idol School. On November 29, 2017, the newly-formed group performed their pre-debut single "Glass Shoes" at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Japan.

Park Ji-won officially debuted with fromis_9 on January 24, 2018, with their first extended play titled "To. Heart". The EP made a strong initial impact, debuting at number 4 on the Gaon Album Chart.

Park Ji-won height and stage presence

Standing at 5'2" (157 cm), Park Ji-won is conscious about her stature. According to her profile information, "she says that she wants to develop her lacking height". Nevertheless, what she lacks in physical stature, she compensates with commanding stage presence.

Throughout Idol School, she consistently impressed with her performances. In addition to the "Whistle" stage, she also served as Main Vocal A in the "Pinocchio" performance directed by Choi Young-jun. Her motto during the show—"Have courage and be kind"—reflected her approach to both the competition and her artistic identity.

Interestingly, Park Ji-won is the only left-handed member among all the fromis_9 members, adding another distinctive quality to her presence in the group.

Debut and Rise with fromis_9

The year 2018 marked a defining chapter for Park Ji-won as she embarked on her official idol career with her newfound group.

Debut with 'To. Heart'

On January 24, 2018, fromis_9 made their highly anticipated debut with their first extended play, "To. Heart". The mini-album was released under Stone Music Entertainment with creative direction and music production handled by Pledis Entertainment. This debut came after the group had already introduced themselves to the public through their pre-debut single "Glass Shoes," released on November 30, 2017.

Prior to their official debut, fromis_9 had premiered their own reality program titled "Fromis' Room" on October 19, 2017, which documented their journey toward debut. The name "fromis_9" was officially established following the final episode of this show on November 23, with the '9' signifying the nine students who graduated from Idol School. Their debut EP made an immediate impact, debuting at number 4 on the Gaon Album Chart issued on January 27.

Evolution of her role in the group

Although Park Ji-won initially had limited parts in the group's title track "To. Heart," her vocal prowess was showcased in the B-side track "Pinocchio," where listeners could hear her impressive high notes in the second half of the song. This foundation set the stage for her expanding role in subsequent releases.

By the time fromis_9 released their second album with the title track "DKDK," Ji-won's importance was increasingly recognized as she was assigned chorus parts alongside Song Ha-young, and her overall line distribution significantly increased. In "LOVE BOMB," she secured even more prominence, being assigned the most parts along with Ha-young and handling high-pitched ad-libs in the final chorus.

Notable performances and fan reception

Park Ji-won's defining moment came with the track "FUN," where she ranked first in part distribution and firmly established her main vocal position. Her exceptional range was demonstrated through her mastery of three-octave high notes, including an impressive three-octave solo.

Certainly, one of the most significant milestones in fromis_9's journey occurred on September 7, 2021, when the group achieved their first-ever music show win on SBS MTV's "The Show" with "Talk & Talk". This achievement was profoundly emotional for the members, as Ji-won later revealed: "We couldn't sleep that night. We got first place, something we had hoped for so long. And we were talking all together about this and that until morning".

The triumph strengthened their bond as a group, with Ji-won noting, "It's also true that we've grown closer and our bond has grown stronger since that day". This experience reinforced her commitment to the group, as she expressed, "I want to keep going further with the other members and flover [fan name]".

Vocal Powerhouse: Skills and Style

Among K-pop's fourth-generation idols, Park Ji-won has established herself as a vocal force with distinctive technical abilities and emotional delivery.

Main vocalist position explained

Park Ji-won holds the official position of Main Vocalist in fromis_9. This designation reflects her central role in handling the most technically challenging vocal parts and providing the group's core sound foundation. Interestingly, she is considered the "neck" of the group, a clever reference to the anatomical location of vocal cords. This metaphor perfectly captures her essential function—while not always in the spotlight, she provides the fundamental support that allows the group's overall sound to turn and function properly.

Unique vocal tone and range

What truly sets Park Ji-won apart is her distinctive vocal quality. Unlike many idol vocalists who rely on light, high-pitched delivery, she produces a unique heavy treble when singing in lower tones. Her voice is characterized as robust and powerful, yet simultaneously clear and satisfying. This combination creates a rich vocal texture that adds depth to fromis_9's songs.

Moreover, Park Ji-won possesses impressive range, capable of reaching the third octave (A5) in her true voice, as demonstrated in her Santa Tell Me cover. Her technical proficiency allows her to put "300 million spaves (F5) as a live", showcasing her comfort with challenging high notes without resorting to falsetto.

Comparison with other vocalists in the group

Within fromis_9's vocal lineup, Park Ji-won shares main vocalist duties with Song Ha-young. The two complement each other perfectly—while Ji-won delivers a balanced, rich tone across various vocal ranges, Ha-young specializes in refreshing high notes that balance between true voice and falsetto. Consequently, Ha-young often takes more high-pitched parts in their songs, creating a dynamic vocal interplay.

Park Ji-won is additionally known for having the loudest voice in fromis_9, which helps her stand out despite her modest height of 157 cm (5'1"). This vocal projection gives her natural presence in group performances.

Live performances and ad-libs

Ji-won's live performance abilities truly showcase her vocal prowess. Her English pronunciation receives particular praise, enhancing her versatility for covering international songs. Throughout fromis_9's discography, her ad-lib contributions have become signature moments—in "LOVE BOMB," she handled high-pitched ad-libs in the final chorus, while in "WE GO," fans noted how her ad-libs significantly improved the song's overall quality.

Her vocal style typically involves using a "wide and loud voice rather than a very high high note in a specific section", creating consistency throughout performances. This approach allows her to maintain vocal stability while dancing, an essential skill for idol performances.

2025 and Beyond: New Agency and Future Plans

The beginning of 2025 marked a pivotal shift in Park Ji-won's career path as fromis_9's contract with PLEDIS Entertainment came to an end in December 2024.

Signing with ASND

In January 2025, Park Ji-won, alongside four other members—Song Hayoung, Lee Nagyung, Lee Chaeyoung, and Baek Jiheon—signed exclusive contracts with newly established agency ASND. The transition came after all eight members of fromis_9 opted not to renew their contracts with PLEDIS Entertainment. In contrast, the remaining three members—Lee Saerom, Lee Seoyeon, and Noh Jisun—chose different paths. ASND acknowledged the courage it took for the five artists to continue as a group, stating: "It must have taken a lot of thought and courage for the artists to decide to continue their team activities". Initially, there was uncertainty regarding the use of the fromis_9 name, as ASND entered negotiations with PLEDIS for trademark rights. Fortunately, by March 2025, ASND successfully secured permission to use the original group name.

Recent releases and features

Park Ji-won's 2025 began with her contribution to "Pokémon | We Are The One" OST. On June 9, ASND announced fromis_9's comeback with their sixth EP, "From Our 20's," released on June 25. For this album, Park Ji-won showcased her growing compositional skills by writing and composing "Strawberry Mimosa". The May announcement from ASND promised "new music with summer vibes that captures fromis_9's unique charms", marking their first comeback after six months since the release of their special single "from" in December 2024.

What fans can expect next

Looking forward, ASND revealed exciting plans for the five-member fromis_9. On June 11, 2025, the agency announced the group's first world tour titled "Now Tomorrow," beginning with concerts in Seoul on August 9 and 10. As stated in ASND's official announcement, "In addition to showcasing the artists' musical passion and growth through album promotions, we are also planning the group's concert to connect with fans". The agency emphasized its commitment to supporting "more diverse and meaningful activities" throughout 2025. For Park Ji-won specifically, these developments represent an opportunity to further establish herself not only as fromis_9's vocal powerhouse at 27 years old, yet additionally as a maturing songwriter and performer in this new chapter of her career.