Who is Ji Suyeon? The Untold Story of Weki Meki's Leader

Ji Suyeon stands at a pivotal moment in her career, transitioning from being the respected leader of K-pop girl group Weki Meki to establishing herself as a solo artist. Initially debuting with Weki Meki on August 8, 2017, she guided the group for seven years before their official disbandment on August 8, 2024.

Formerly known primarily as Weki Meki's leader and main vocalist, Suyeon has expanded her professional identity significantly. After the group effectively disbanded when five members left Fantagio, she signed with Bomnal Entertainment and made her solo debut on May 29, 2025, with the digital single "A Fish Gone to the Forest". Beyond her singing career, Ji Suyeon has also developed as a producer, musical actress, TV personality, and radio host, showcasing her versatility in the entertainment industry. Before joining Weki Meki, she trained extensively for 6-7 years across multiple agencies including WM, CJ E&M, and Fantagio, building the foundation for her multifaceted career.

Early Life and Musical Foundations

Born and raised in Goyang, Gyeonggi province, South Korea, Ji Suyeon's journey in music began long before her K-pop career took shape. Her formative years laid the groundwork for the multifaceted artist she would eventually become.

Family background and childhood in Goyang

Originally from Goyang, Ji Suyeon grew up in a supportive family environment with her parents and a younger brother born in 1999. While details about her parents remain private, their support clearly played a crucial role in nurturing her early interest in the arts. During her childhood, she developed various creative pursuits that would later serve as the foundation for her professional career.

Education at Hanlim and Baekseok Arts University

Suyeon's educational journey reflects her dedication to music from an early age. She first attended Goyang Shinil Elementary School but later transferred to Hwaseong Banseok Elementary School. After graduating from Bansong Middle School, she took a significant step toward her artistic goals by enrolling at Hanlim Entertainment Arts High School, specializing in Applied Music.

Furthermore, Ji Suyeon continued her musical education at Baekseok Arts University, where she pursued a professional bachelor's degree in Practical Musicology. This comprehensive educational background provided her with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills that would prove valuable throughout her career.

Early interest in piano and music

Ji Suyeon's musical journey began remarkably early, as she started learning piano at just six years old. This early foundation in classical music training gave her a solid understanding of music theory and performance. Throughout her youth, she expanded her musical abilities to include guitar as well.

Her passion for music manifested in various hobbies that would later become professional pursuits. Beyond playing piano, she enjoyed dancing, singing, and the contemplative activity of sky-watching. These diverse interests hint at both the technical and artistic sensibilities that would later define her approach to music and performance.

The Rise of Weki Meki's Ji Suyeon

After years of training across multiple agencies, Ji Suyeon finally found her path to stardom through Weki Meki. Her professional journey showcases determination and versatility that would ultimately establish her as a respected figure in K-pop.

Joining Fantagio and trainee years

Ji Suyeon's road to debut was notably lengthy, spanning approximately 6-7 years across three different entertainment companies. Prior to joining Fantagio, she trained under both CJ E&M and WM Entertainment, developing her skills across multiple training systems. Throughout this extensive preparation period, she honed her vocal abilities that would later become her signature strength. In 2016, she participated in the Chinese survival show "Lady Bees," gaining valuable performance experience before her official debut.

Debut as leader and main vocalist in 2017

Despite her extensive training period, Ji Suyeon was actually the last member to be officially introduced to the public. On June 4, 2017, Fantagio revealed her as Weki Meki's final member during a VLIVE broadcast, simultaneously announcing her positions as the group's leader and lead vocalist. Subsequently, Weki Meki (formerly known as i-Teen Girls) made their official debut on August 8, 2017, with their first mini-album "WEME" featuring the lead single "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend." By November 2017, their debut EP had sold over 47,000 physical copies, marking it as the highest-selling album by any girl group that debuted that year.

Notable group activities and performances

Following their successful debut, Ji Suyeon participated in numerous activities with Weki Meki. In February 2019, she appeared on the "King of Masked Singer" as "Bell" during the Seollal Idol Special episode. Her vocal abilities were further showcased through OST work, including "Love Diamond" for the drama "My ID is Gangnam Beauty" in 2018, recorded alongside groupmate Elly. Additionally, she collaborated with ASTRO's Moonbin for the song "Language" that same year.

Participation in V-1 and other survival shows

In September 2019, Ji Suyeon competed in the vocal competition show V-1 (Vocal #1) alongside fellow Weki Meki member Choi Yoojung. During the competition, she performed Kim Gun Mo's "First Impression" and advanced to the second round with 53 votes from the VIP panel. However, her journey ended when she was eliminated in the second round after losing to Dreamcatcher's Siyeon. In 2022, she participated in another survival program called Artistock Game but was eliminated after ranking 24th place.

From Group Leader to Solo Artist

The summer of 2024 marked a significant turning point for Ji Suyeon's career path as she transitioned from group leader to independent artist.

Weki Meki's disbandment in 2024

On August 16, 2024, Fantagio officially announced that Weki Meki had disbanded as of August 8, 2024, exactly seven years after their debut. This announcement came shortly after the release of their final single "CoinciDestiny" in June, which served as their farewell to fans. The disbandment occurred after five members—Elly, Sei, Lua, Rina, and Lucy—decided not to renew their contracts with Fantagio. At the time of the announcement, Ji Suyeon, along with Choi Yoojung and Kim Doyeon, were still in discussions regarding their contracts.

Departure from Fantagio and signing with Bomnal

After careful deliberation, Ji Suyeon ultimately chose not to renew her contract with Fantagio. On November 18, 2024, the agency officially announced her departure. In their statement, Fantagio expressed gratitude for Ji Suyeon's dedication throughout her seven years as a member of Weki Meki and pledged support for her future endeavors.

Subsequently, on February 25, 2025, Ji Suyeon signed an exclusive contract with Bomnal Entertainment. Under this new partnership, Bomnal announced plans to support her career development as both a singer and musical actress. Upon joining the agency, Ji Suyeon shared her excitement about meeting fans through various activities planned for the year.

Solo debut with 'A Fish Gone to the Forest'

As a result of her new contract, Ji Suyeon made her solo debut on May 29, 2025, with the digital single "A Fish Gone to the Forest" (숲으로 떠난 물고기). Bomnal Entertainment released a music video teaser for the single on May 28, generating anticipation for her first solo release. The official announcement of her debut single came on May 24, just days before the release.

New direction as a musical actress

In fact, Ji Suyeon's transition to musical theater began even before Weki Meki's disbandment. She made her musical debut in "Bungee Jumping of Their Own" in 2022, though the production was briefly delayed due to COVID-19. Since then, she has continued to develop her career as a stage actress, appearing in productions like "Harlan County" from May to July 2023 and "The Three Musketeers" from September to November 2023, where she portrayed the character "Constance". This theatrical experience provided Ji Suyeon with a solid foundation for her post-group career path.

Creative Works and Musical Contributions

Beyond her performing career, Ji Suyeon has established herself as a multifaceted creative talent with significant contributions to music composition, soundtrack work, and theatre.

Songwriting and composing for Weki Meki

Throughout her time with Weki Meki, Ji Suyeon demonstrated her songwriting abilities across multiple albums. Her first credited contribution appeared in the group's 2020 EP "HIDE and SEEK," where she both wrote and composed the track "The Paradise". In 2021, she continued her creative development with the album "NEW RULES," composing the song "Just Us". The same year, for Weki Meki's "I AM ME." album, she penned the lyrics for "Sweet Winter".

Ji Suyeon also worked on an unreleased demo track called "One Day," for which she handled writing, composition, and arrangement. Her final songwriting contribution to Weki Meki came with their farewell single "CoinciDestiny" in 2024, where she was credited for both writing and composing. Moreover, her compositional talents extended beyond her own group when she composed "Heartris" for Japanese girl group NiziU's "Press Play" album in 2023.

OSTs and collaborations

Ji Suyeon's vocal talents have been showcased through various soundtrack projects. In 2018, alongside groupmates Doyeon and Elly, she contributed to "Love Diamond" for the drama "My ID is Gangnam Beauty". She also collaborated with ASTRO's Moon Bin on the track "FM201.8-04Hz: Language" that same year.

More recently, she expanded her OST portfolio with "Even Better" for "Trapped in a Carton" in 2023, followed by "I'll Let You Go" for the drama "Dare to Love Me" in 2024. Additionally, in 2021, she participated in a collaborative project titled "2021 Now N New" alongside various artists as part of Hope TV SBS.

Musical theatre roles from 2022 to 2024

Ji Suyeon's artistic evolution took a significant turn when she made her musical theatre debut in 2022 with "Bungee Jumping of Their Own," based on the 2001 film. Despite a brief delay after testing positive for COVID-19, she successfully portrayed the character Hye Ju.

Her theatre career gained momentum in 2023 with two productions: "Harlan County," where she played Elena from May to July, and "The Three Musketeers," taking on the role of Constance Bonacieux from September to November. In 2024, she expanded her theatrical resume further with appearances in "Crash Landing on You" and "Buchihanan", cementing her status as a versatile musical actress.