Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM): From Trainee to K-Pop Icon

Yunjin from LE SSERAFIM stands apart from other K-pop idols with her classical opera background. Her remarkable trip from performing arias in New York to becoming a key member of a rising K-pop girl group shows an extraordinary career path.

Huh Yunjin, who was born and raised in Albany, New York, now holds a significant role in LE SSERAFIM. Her current success stems from years of training across multiple programs and countries.

The Journey from Albany to Seoul

Yunjin's love for music started in Albany, New York, thanks to her grandmother. Her grandmother, a vocalist, took young Yunjin to choir practices. These early experiences naturally sparked Yunjin's interest in musical performance.

Yunjin's talent flourished at Niskayuna High School where she excelled as a mezzo-soprano and became a standout in musical theater. She scored a major win by landing the role of Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera, which led her school to victory in a regional competition. Her natural talent for performance shone through, even without formal operatic training.

Yunjin's path to K-pop emerged from her struggles as an Asian artist in America. She felt the weight of limited Asian representation in American media and often questioned her future in entertainment. BTS's success at the American Music Awards became her inspiration to think over a career in Korean music.

At just 16 years old, Yunjin took a bold step and moved to South Korea. Her new life came with several challenges:

Yunjin stayed steadfast despite her early difficulties. Music became her outlet for self-expression and healing as she poured her experiences into songwriting. This creative expression would become a vital part of her growth as a K-pop artist.

Evolution Through Multiple Training Programs

Yunjin spent one of the longest training periods in LE SSERAFIM. Her trip through multiple entertainment companies lasted 4 years and 5 months. She worked hard through different training programs that shaped her development.

Pledis Entertainment experience

Yunjin started her career at Pledis Entertainment with big dreams. She got her first big break on Produce 48 after six months of training. She showed great talent but didn't make the cut in Episode 11 and ranked 26th. She trained with future NewJeans members after the show, though her debut plans stayed unclear.

SM Entertainment training period

Not many people know about Yunjin's time at SM Entertainment. She lived with Winter and Ningning, who later became aespa members. This time gave her exposure to new training methods and helped her build lasting friendships in the industry.

Lessons learned from Produce 48

Yunjin learned a lot from her Produce 48 experience. The show taught her to:

Life changed after her elimination. "After the show ended, and I went back to the tranquil trainee life, I felt sort of lonely," she shared. This setback ended up leading to her success with LE SSERAFIM. Her story shows that timing and determination are vital parts of making it in K-pop.

Her time across different training programs came to an end in 2021. Source Music, under HYBE Labels, gave her the chance that led to her debut.

Breakthrough with LE SSERAFIM

A life-changing call from Source Music transformed Yunjin's future in 2021. The HYBE subsidiary saw beyond her idol potential and recognized her songwriting talents, which made her stand out from other recruits. She became the last member to join LE SSERAFIM and quickly became essential to the group's energy.

Source Music recruitment story

Yunjin's career took a new direction with Source Music. She discovered a creative environment after moving from Pledis Entertainment. This creative freedom showed in her work with the group's songs. She earned writing credits for several tracks including "Blue Flame," "Impurities," and "No Celestial".

Group dynamics and role

Yunjin helped create two basic rules that strengthened LE SSERAFIM's bond:

Her opera background and versatile skills make her shine as the group's main vocalist. She adds spark to the group's chemistry with her clever personality and sarcastic humor.

Rise to prominence

LE SSERAFIM started an amazing trip with their debut in May 2022. The group achieved a soaring win as their debut album broke records for first-week sales. Yunjin grew as an artist and released three solo songs after debut: "Raise y_our glass" (2022), "I ≠ DOLL" (2023), and "love you twice" (2023). Her creative work reached new heights when their English single "Perfect Night" topped South Korean streaming charts.

Emerging as a Creative Force

At the time of her LE SSERAFIM debut, Yunjin became a prolific songwriter who starts her creative process with a clear message or emotion. "When I make songs, I think about how honesty is the most important thing for getting across a certain emotion or message," she explains. She begins by recording iPhone voice memos and then works with HYBE's production team to develop them.

Songwriting process and inspiration

Yunjin's American upbringing and her trip through K-pop shape her approach to songwriting, which she treats like journaling. She writes each song as if it were a diary entry. The sort of thing she loves is studying different artists' styles, particularly SZA's cadence and wordplay, to boost her rap writing abilities.

Notable compositions and collaborations

Her expanding portfolio has several most important works:

Solo releases: "Raise Y_our Glass", "I ≠ DOLL", "Love You Twice", and "Blessing in Disguise"

Musical style development

Yunjin's musical style has grown from bedroom compositions to professional productions. She experiments with genres ranging from rock-influenced tracks to indie pop. Her latest work "Blessing in Disguise" shows her venture into disco-funk territory, as she continues to expand beyond her comfort zone. This development concluded with high-profile collaborations, including a feature on J-hope's "Hope on the Street Vol.1" album.