The Real Jung Hae Rim: Untold Facts About Elly Weki Meki

Known for her exceptional Taekwondo skills, Elly Weki Meki holds a 3 Dan black belt despite her soft appearance that earned her the nickname "Marshmallow" due to her white skin. Born Jung Hae Rim on July 20, 1998, in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, she trained for 4 years and 8 months before finally making her debut.

Before joining Weki Meki, Elly participated in the survival show Produce 101 in 2016, where she ranked 47th and was eliminated in episode 8. However, her journey in K-pop continued when she officially debuted as a Weki Meki member with their first mini album 'WEME' on August 8, 2017. The group, unfortunately, disbanded exactly seven years later on August 8, 2024. Throughout her career, Elly showcased various talents including her linguistic abilities in both Korean and Japanese.

Early Life and Background

Jung Hae-rim began her journey in the quiet neighborhood of Sanbon-Dong, located in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Her family structure remains relatively simple yet supportive, consisting of her parents and an older sister born in 1996. Although not much information is publicly available about her parents' professions, their support has been evident throughout her career path from acting aspirations to eventually becoming Elly of Weki Meki.

Birthplace and family

The future K-pop star grew up in a typical South Korean household in Gunpo, a city south of Seoul. While maintaining privacy regarding her family life, it's known that her sister is two years her senior. This close-knit family environment provided the foundation for Jung Hae-rim's development during her formative years, ultimately supporting her transition into the entertainment industry.

Education and early interests

Jung Hae-rim's educational journey followed a traditional path through the South Korean school system. She attended:

Sanbon Elementary School for her primary education
Gokran Middle School during her adolescent years
Sanbon High School, from which she eventually graduated

Throughout her school years, she developed an interest in martial arts, specifically Taekwondo. This disciplined training would become a significant part of her identity as an idol, distinguishing her from other weki meki members who often showcased different talents.

Joining Fantagio as an actress trainee

Interestingly, Jung Hae-rim's initial career aspirations differed significantly from her eventual path. She originally joined Fantagio Entertainment with dreams of becoming an actress. This decision aligned with the company's reputation for producing notable actors and actresses in the Korean entertainment industry.

Nevertheless, somewhere along her training journey, she experienced a significant shift in her career trajectory. As she explored different aspects of performing arts, Jung Hae-rim discovered that singing aligned better with her natural aptitude and passion. Subsequently, she transitioned from Fantagio's acting division to Fantagio i-Teen, a rookie talent development program specifically designed to nurture future idols.

This career pivot proved fortuitous, as she would eventually find her place in the K-pop industry rather than in dramas or films. Her decision to pursue singing over acting represented a crucial turning point that would ultimately lead to her identity as Elly within the weki meki profile that fans came to know and love.

The Elly Kpop Journey: From Trainee to Weki Meki

After joining Fantagio's talent development program, Elly's path to stardom began taking shape through several pivotal moments that would define her career trajectory.

Produce 101 and early exposure

Prior to her official debut, Elly (then known as Jung Hae-rim) trained for 3 years before participating in Mnet's survival show Produce 101 in 2016. She competed alongside her labelmates Choi Yoo-jung and Kim Do-yeon, as well as Sei (who was then under LOUDers Entertainment as Lee Seo-jeong). Throughout the competition, Elly showcased her vocal abilities but ultimately was eliminated in episode 8 after ranking 47th place.

In addition to her Produce 101 appearance, Elly gained early exposure through several entertainment ventures. In 2015, she made cameo appearances in label mates Astro's predebut online web drama "To Be Continued" alongside other i-Teen Girls members. This initial screen time, albeit brief, introduced her to viewers even before her formal debut.

Debut with Weki Meki

Following her Produce 101 journey, Elly continued training with Fantagio Entertainment. On July 6, 2017, Fantagio revealed that their new girl group would be called Weki Meki. Elly was officially introduced as the fourth member of the group on June 3, 2017.

The group's official debut came on August 8, 2017, with their first mini-album "WEME" featuring the quirky title track "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend". The debut was notable for its impressive choreography and trendy sports-themed styling. According to Gaon Music Chart, the EP sold over 47,000 physical copies since its release, marking the highest-selling album by a girl group that debuted in 2017.

Initially, Elly's line distribution in the debut song was limited to approximately 7 seconds, second only to Lucy in brevity. Nevertheless, she gradually gained more prominent parts in subsequent releases, particularly in songs like "Crush" and "DAZZLE DAZZLE".

Notable performances and survival shows

Throughout her career, Elly participated in several significant performances and survival shows that showcased her talents beyond Weki Meki:

On December 27, 2020, she appeared on the King of the Masked Singer
In January 2023, she became a contestant on KakaoTV's virtual survival show GIRL'S RE:VERSE, where her character was named Watchiswatch
On May 25, 2023, she was announced as a contestant on Mnet's reality show Queendom Puzzle

Notably, in Queendom Puzzle, Elly advanced to the final episode but narrowly missed joining the winning group, placing 11th with 292,486 votes. This competitive experience, though not resulting in victory, further demonstrated her perseverance and talents.

After seven years of activities, Weki Meki concluded their journey with the digital single "CoinciDestiny" released in June 2024, officially disbanding on August 8, 2024 – exactly seven years after their debut.

Weki Meki Profile: Elly’s Role and Growth in the Group

Throughout her time with Weki Meki, Elly transformed from a background member to a vital component of the group's success, showcasing remarkable growth in multiple areas.

Vocal evolution and line distribution

Initially positioned as a sub-vocalist in Weki Meki, Elly faced limited exposure in the group's early releases. Her line distribution in their debut track "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend" amounted to merely 7.2 seconds, placing her second-to-last among members. Nevertheless, as the group progressed, so did her vocal opportunities. By the time "Picky Picky" was released, she secured more substantial parts, demonstrating her improving vocal capabilities.

Elly's singing style evolved from soft, supportive vocals to more confident performances with distinctive tone color. Her breakthrough moment came with "DAZZLE DAZZLE," where she handled significant verses that showcased her increased vocal range. Furthermore, her unique vocal timbre became recognizable to fans, creating a signature sound within the group's harmonies.

Leadership and group dynamics

Within Weki Meki's internal structure, Elly occupied a middle position that balanced the group's dynamics. Neither the oldest nor youngest, she functioned as a bridge between different age groups, often mediating discussions among members. Her martial arts background seemingly influenced her approach to group activities—disciplined yet supportive.

Essentially, Elly maintained strong bonds with all members, especially with Yoojung, with whom she shared considerable trainee experience. Together with her calm personality, she provided stability during promotional periods and helped maintain group harmony.

Sub-units and collaborations

Beyond standard group activities, Elly participated in special projects that highlighted different aspects of her artistry. She appeared alongside fellow member Sei in several variety content pieces, where their contrasting personalities created engaging chemistry.

Most importantly, her appearance on "King of Masked Singer" on December 27, 2020, marked a turning point for her recognition as a vocalist. Additionally, her participation in "GIRL'S RE:VERSE" as the character Watchiswatch allowed her to experiment with different vocal styles without the constraints of her established image.

After Weki Meki's disbandment on August 8, 2024, Elly's collaborative history and vocal growth positioned her favorably for whatever next steps her career might take in the Korean entertainment industry.

Beyond the Stage: Personality, Hobbies, and Style

Behind the glossy idol image, Elly of Weki Meki possesses a multifaceted personality that fans have come to appreciate throughout her career journey.

MBTI and personality traits

Elly's MBTI personality type has evolved over time, reflecting her personal growth. Initially reported as an ESFP, then shifting to ESTP, with some sources citing ISFP. This fluidity in personality assessment suggests a complex character who adapts to different situations. Her personality is best described as lively and strong, with a disciplined nature likely influenced by her martial arts background.

Unlike her energetic stage presence, Elly actually dislikes skinship (physical touching), creating an interesting contrast between her professional and personal boundaries. She also possesses a fox-like quality, which became her representative emoji within the group.

Hobbies and favorite things

Beyond performing, Elly embraces several personal interests that showcase her diverse tastes:

Listening to music ranks among her favorite pastimes
She particularly enjoys Richard Parkers' music
Her favorite movie is "Aladdin"
She has expressed a desire to learn guitar
She dreams of visiting France

Regarding preferences, Elly has a fondness for green tea ice cream and enjoys SISTAR's "Touch My Body" as her go-to summer song. These small details reveal the personal side of the idol that fans rarely glimpse on stage.

Fashion, hair colors, and visual appeal

In terms of style, Elly prefers being dressy over casual, demonstrating her fashion-forward mindset. Physically, she has distinctive features including a mole in the back of her right eye and a tattoo on her arm.

Her most iconic look came in 2018 when she sported orange hair, which gained significant attention among fans. Indeed, this hairstyle was considered "legendary" within the K-pop community, with many hoping she would return to this striking color. Throughout her career, she has expressed interest in dyeing her hair red, showing her willingness to experiment with bold visual choices.

As a performer, Elly's appearance complemented her role in Weki Meki, with her fashion choices and visual evolution becoming integral parts of her idol identity until the group's disbandment in August 2024.

Fun Facts and Lesser-Known Trivia

Beyond her official Weki Meki profile, Elly possesses quirky characteristics that endear her to fans and showcase her authentic self. These lesser-known details reveal the multifaceted personality behind the idol image.

Nicknames and quirks

Throughout her career, Elly collected several distinctive nicknames including "Haedong," "Taekwon girl," and "Ookhaedoong". Each name reflects different aspects of her identity within the group. Surprisingly, Lua once gave her the nickname "Baby cutie," which Elly strongly disliked.

She has distinctive physical features that fans adore—a mole behind her right eye and a tattoo on her arm. Moreover, Elly tends to hold grudges longer than other members, as revealed by her groupmates in a 2020 TMI interview. Her speech pattern stands out too, saying "Jisonghaeyu" instead of the standard "I'm sorry" in Korean.

Friendships with other idols

Outside Weki Meki, Elly maintains meaningful friendships across the K-pop industry. She is notably close with Yves from LOONA and Jiwon from fromis_9. Within her group, she shares a special bond with Choi Yoo-jung, likely stemming from their extended trainee period together.

Interestingly, after developing an interest in volleyball during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Elly formed friendships with professional volleyball players, including Hyejin Ahn of the Korean women's national team and Minkyung Hwang from Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate.

Unique talents and dislikes

Elly's martial arts background extends beyond basic Taekwondo into various other disciplines. Aside from combat skills, she possesses uncanny vocal imitation abilities—she can convincingly mimic a crow, a horse, a desert fox, and even a lady's vocal cords.

Her dislikes are equally specific: she avoids skinship, wearing shorts, pickled radish in kimbap, and particularly detests cooked carrots. Regarding food preferences, Elly favors flour-based foods like bread and considers eating among her happiest moments.

An unexpected fan connection: Elly admires the YouTube influencer Pengsoo and has a special affection for donkeys—particularly Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. Her fans often gift her Eeyore dolls at fan signs, embracing this charming aspect of her personality.