BIBI (Kim Hyung Seo)

Who is BIBI (Kim Hyung Seo)?

Kim Hyeong-seo, known professionally as BIBI (비비), is a South Korean singer, rapper, songwriter, and actress under Feel Ghood Music and 88rising. Born on September 27, 1998, she debuted on May 15, 2019 with the digital single "BINU".

BIBI first gained public attention in 2018 when she appeared as a contestant on the SBS program "The Fan," where she finished as the runner-up. Her participation in the show came after Tiger JK and Yoon Mirae recommended her following their discovery of her self-produced songs on SoundCloud. The debut single "BINU" featured quirky R&B elements centered around unconventional subject matter, establishing her approach to songwriting from the outset.

Musically, BIBI moves across R&B, hip-hop, pop, and alternative ballads, characterized by minimalist atmospheric beats and melodies that emphasize vocal intensity. Her work incorporates dark humor and candid lyricism, often exploring themes that occupy uncomfortable spaces between contrasting emotions. Tracks range from playful compositions like "Kazino" to confessional anthems and political allegories such as "Animal Farm". In 2022, she released her first studio album "Lowlife Princess: Noir".

Beyond music, BIBI has established herself as an actress with notable lead roles in both film and television. Her filmography includes the 2023 film "Hopeless," for which she received a nomination for Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Television credits include "The Worst of Evil" (2023), "The Fiery Priest" (2024), and "Gangnam B-Side" (2024). She made her acting debut in the 2021 film "Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming".

BIBI's younger sister is Kim Na-kyoung, a member of the group tripleS. She is recognized for her offbeat humor, raw performances, and cinematic visual presentations.

BIBI's Early Life and Background

Birth and family

Kim Hyeong-seo was born in Yaksa-dong, Jung-gu, Ulsan, South Korea. She relocated to Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, at a young age and spent much of her childhood and teenage years in Seongsan-gu, Changwon. Her family maintained strong artistic foundations, with her father, Kim Jeong-eon, working as a lyricist, songwriter, and singer who collaborated on projects in the trot genre. Her grandmother, Park Young-ja, was a poet. This creative household exposed her to diverse music genres from an early age, particularly through her father's work, which influenced her appreciation for songwriting and performance. She found particular inspiration in hip-hop and pop music. BIBI speaks Korean and English, having learned English in school.

Education and upbringing

BIBI attended Anmin Middle School during her formative years. Following this, she enrolled at Changwon Sapa High School in Changwon, where she spent her teenage years developing her artistic interests before graduating. Subsequently, she attended Busan University of Foreign Studies, majoring in Spanish, and graduated as of 2024. At age 15, during her high school period, she developed a hobby of songwriting as a means to articulate emotions she found difficult to express verbally due to her introverted nature. Her initial lyrics focused on personal frustrations and unspoken thoughts. As a child, she felt like an outsider and loner, finding it difficult to initiate conversations with strangers and make friends, but music, especially hip-hop, provided a safe space for her to express herself freely.

Sister Kim Nakyoung

BIBI's younger sister, Kim Na-kyoung, debuted with the girl group tripleS through one of its sub-units, Acid Angel from Asia, on October 28, 2022. BIBI initially opposed her sister's pursuit of an idol career, advising her to study instead because she believed it would be easier. This resistance occurred when Na-kyoung expressed her dream during BIBI's own rookie period as an unknown singer. Na-kyoung later revealed that BIBI's discouragement actually strengthened her determination to become an idol. After Na-kyoung became a trainee, BIBI shifted to providing advice and support.

How BIBI Started Her Music Career

Discovery by Yoon Mirae and Tiger JK

At age 18, BIBI began sharing self-produced songs on SoundCloud under the moniker Nakedbibi. Her work caught the attention of Tiger JK and Yoon Mi-rae, who discovered her music on the platform and subsequently contacted her about signing with their label. BIBI recounted the unexpected nature of the discovery, noting that the artists reached out without having met her in person. In 2017, she signed with Feel Ghood Music following this discovery.

The Fan competition

BIBI became a contestant on the SBS survival reality show "The Fan" after being nominated and sponsored by Yoonmirae and Tiger JK. She advanced to the finale but ultimately lost in the final episode to Car, the Garden. The experience proved stressful and filled with pressure, though she later acknowledged the competition as valuable for her development. Her participation on the program occurred in 2018.

Debut with Feel Ghood Music

Several months following the conclusion of "The Fan," BIBI made her official solo debut on May 15, 2019 with the digital single "Binu". Feel Ghood Music, founded by Yoonmirae and Tiger JK, provided a nurturing environment for emerging artists in Korea's hip-hop and R&B scenes.

BIBI's Major Achievements and Discography

Breakthrough with 'Bam Yang Gang'

BIBI released "Bam Yang Gang" on February 13, 2024, produced by Chang Ki-ha. The song achieved a perfect all-kill and peaked at number 1 on the Circle Digital Chart. Following the release, a viral singing challenge emerged where users sang while eating chestnut jelly, boosted by popular singers such as Lee Hyori. As a result, sales of bamyanggaeng increased by 40% in South Korea. The track secured first place wins on Show! Music Core on March 16, 2024, and Inkigayo on March 17, 2024, marking her first music show victories. In addition, "Bam Yang Gang" won Best Pop Song at the 2025 Korean Music Awards and ranked 10th on Billboard's 20 Best K-Pop Songs of 2024.

Studio albums and EPs

Her first studio album, Lowlife Princess: Noir, was released on November 18, 2022, peaking at number 7 on the Korean charts with sales of 18,914 copies. The second studio album, Eve: Romance, followed on May 14, 2025, reaching number 16 with 15,486 copies sold. Her discography includes 19 albums, encompassing numerous OST contributions for dramas including Twenty-Five Twenty-One, Our Beloved Summer, and Beyond Evil.

Acting career and filmography

BIBI made her acting debut in the 2021 film Whispering Corridors 6: The Humming. Her role in the 2023 film Hopeless earned her a Best New Actress nomination at the Blue Dragon Film Awards. Television credits include The Worst of Evil, The Fiery Priest, and Gangnam B-Side.

Awards and recognition

In 2024, she won Best New Actress – Film at the Baeksang Arts Awards for Hopeless. She also received the Excellence Award for her role in The Fiery Priest 2 at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards.

BIBI Singer Age and Personal Facts

How old is BIBI

Born on September 27, 1998, she is 27 years old as of 2026. Her zodiac sign is Libra, and her Chinese zodiac sign is Tiger. She stands 168 cm tall and weighs 48 kg.

Stage name meaning

Her stage name represents a shortened version of her full stage name "nakedbibi," later stylized as "Naked BIBI," which refers to the innocence and pureness of a naked baby. She later associated the hanja 飛 with bi (비) to give her stage name deeper meaning, as the hanja means "to fly," creating 飛飛 in full. In Chinese, she is occasionally referred to as Fēifēi (飛飛).

Style and signature look

Her fashion style is characterized by casual hoodies and sneakers. She draws two trademark moles under her right eye to remind herself to remain calm, as she can become excessively hyped and upbeat on stage, which can lead to mistakes. She describes herself as free-spirited regarding dating and relationships.

MBTI and personality

Her MBTI type is INFP. She maintains songwriting as a hobby and draws inspiration for her music from personal experience.