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Choi Yu-na (Korean: 최유나; born October 4, 1997), better known by her stage name Yuju (Korean: 유주), is a South Korean singer-songwriter. She is a former member of the South Korean girl group GFriend and is currently active as a soloist.
Yuju | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Yuju in September 2024 | |
| Born | Choi Yu-na October 4, 1997 Goyang, South Korea |
| Alma mater | Sungshin Women's University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | K-pop |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | GFriend |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 최유나 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Choi Yu-na |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe Yuna |
| Stage name | |
| Hangul | 유주 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Yuju |
| McCune–Reischauer | Yuchu |
| Signature | |
 | |
Yuju was born Choi Yu-na on October 4, 1997 in Goyang, South Korea,[1][2] as the youngest of two daughters in her family. From an early age, Yuju enjoyed sports, dancing and singing. In her first year of middle school, Yuju won a singing contest encouragement award without formal training. Afterwards, Yuju attended a vocal academy to pursue singing[3] and learned to play guitar due to her interest in composing.[4] Yuju gained more performance experience in city and provincial competitions since her second year of middle school.[5]
After graduating from the School of Performing Arts Seoul,[6] Yuju enrolled at Sungshin Women's University to study Contemporary Practical Music.[7]
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2011–2014: Pre-debut
In 2011, Yuju competed in the first season of K-pop Star, where she was eliminated in the first round.[8] That same year, Yuju became a trainee at Cube Entertainment, but she left after four months when her vocal project team was cut.[9][10] Yuju then trained for around a year and a half at LOEN Entertainment. During a period of uncertainty after leaving LOEN, Yuju won gold in the solo category of the 2013 Dong-A Student Song Festival, a nationwide[11] competition.[12][13][14] She eventually auditioned for and signed with Source Music in 2014, totaling around three years of training at agencies.[15]
2015–2021: GFriend
In January 2015, Yuju made her debut as a member of GFriend with the lead single "Glass Bead" from their extended play (EP) Season of Glass.[16] Her stage name, given by the CEO, signifies the owner of powerful singing ability.[5]
In April 2015, Yuju and Loco released "Spring Is Gone by Chance" for the soundtrack of South Korean television drama A Girl Who Sees Smells.[17] The song placed first on the Music Bank OST chart for ten consecutive weeks,[citation needed] won Best OST at the 2015 Melon Music Awards,[18] and was the fourteenth best-performing single in South Korea that year.[19] An acoustic version of the song was also released.[20] Moreover, "Spring Is Gone by Chance" regularly re-enters domestic music charts in spring, establishing itself as a seasonal song.[21] The soundtrack later achieved 100 million streams and 2.5 million downloads on Gaon.[22]
In July 2015, Yuju drew interest on MBC's King of Mask Singer for her singing prowess as the youngest contestant at the time. Soon after, GFriend released their second single "Me Gustas Tu".[23][24] During the promotions of the song, a fan-taken video of members falling eight times while performing on a slippery stage went viral, gaining international attention. The group was praised for their professionalism, especially Yuju, who suffered a twisted finger during the performance.[25][26][27][28] The event boosted the group's popularity, and Gfriend continued to see commercial success as their next song "Rough" won 15 times on music show programs.[29]
Yuju recorded "Billy & The Brave Guys" for the soundtrack of the animated movie Chicken Hero, which was released on February 18, 2016.[30] In March 2016, she collaborated with Sunyoul of Up10tion for a song called "Cherish".[31]
In October 2017, Yuju and Wheesung were declared as the final winners of SBS' Fantastic Duo 2 stars special, performing their winning piece "Even Thought of Marriage".[32][33] She was the first and only K-pop female idol to win on the said television show's special.[34] Following that, Yuju's collaboration song with Jihoo of IZ titled "Heart Signal" was released.[35]
In June 2018, Yuju released her first solo digital single "Love Rain" featuring Suran.[36]
In May 2021, Yuju became the host and protagonist of web show Yuju is Halli Queen, as the defending champion in Halli Galli.[37] On May 5, Yuju served as MC for the KBS Korean Children's Song Contest.[38] On May 22, Yuju left Source Music upon the end of GFriend's exclusive contract.[39]
2021–present: New agency, solo debut with Rec., and O
On September 1, 2021, Yuju signed an exclusive contract with Konnect Entertainment, following GFriend's disbandment and departure from Source Music.[40] On November 24, Yuju released a remake of Jo Sung-mo's "By Your Side", a Lovers in Paris soundtrack hit, as part of the "Cyworld BGM 2021" project.[41]
Yuju debuted as a soloist on January 18, 2022, with the extended play Rec. and its lead single "Play" (놀이).[42] She co-wrote all songs in her first solo EP.[10] In July 2022, music production and publishing company MZMC Inc. Korea shared that Yuju joined the team, having written Yurina Kawaguchi's "Look at Me" Korean version lyrics.[43] On July 28, 2022, she released her second digital single "Evening" featuring rapper Big Naughty.[44] From August to December 2022, Yuju was a fixed radio DJ at KBS Cool FM's Station Z.[45] In December 2022, it was revealed Yuju sang the main theme song for Lotte World's The Magic Match & A Night Full of Dreams, a stage adaptation of "The Little Match Girl".[46]
On February 13, 2023, it was announced Yuju would be releasing her second extended play titled O,[47] alongside the lead single "Without U" on March 7.[48] On August 16, 2023, Yuju released the single "Rewind" as part of the +memory project.[49] On September 8, 2023, it was announced that Yuju would be releasing her new single "Dalala" on September 20.[50] Yuju decided not to renew her contract with Konnect after it expired mid-April 2024.[51] In late 2024, Yuju became a mentor for the Korean-Taiwanese boy group survival program Scool.[52]
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Extended plays
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [53] | |||
| Rec. |
|
15 |
|
| O |
|
15 |
|
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| "Love Rain" (feat. Suran) |
2018 | —[A] | Non-album single |
| "Play" (놀이) | 2022 | —[B] | Rec. |
| "Evening" (이브닝) (feat. Big Naughty) |
—[C] | Non-album single | |
| "Without U" | 2023 | —[D] | O |
| "Dalala" (따라랏) | —[E] | Non-album single | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Collaborations
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [61] | ||||
| "Cherish" (보일 듯 말 듯) (with Sunyoul) |
2016 | 31 |
|
Non-album single |
| "Heart Signal" (하트시그널) (with Jihoo) |
2017 | —[F] | N/A | |
| "The Last Exam" (벼락치기) (with Yoon Jong-shin) |
2018 | — | Monthly Project 2018 Yoon Jong-Shin | |
| "Happiness Index" (행복지수) (with Lee Woo) |
2023 | —[G] | Non-album single | |
| "No Way" (with Pateko feat. I'MIN) |
—[H] | |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [66] | ||||
| "First Love" (첫사랑) (Jung Key featuring Yuju) |
2017 | 38 |
|
Cherish |
| "So Silly" (눈치 없긴) (San E featuring Yuju) |
2021 | 180 | N/A | Non-album single |
| "Destiny" (Babylon featuring Yuju) |
2023 | — | Colors | |
| "It's Not That I Don't Love You" (너를 사랑하지 않는 맘이 아냐) (Kid Wine featuring Yuju) |
2024 | — | Sommelier | |
| "Sweaty" (kaogali, Geegooin, and Kohway featuring Yuju) |
— | RAP:PUBLIC Episode.2 | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||
Promotional singles
Soundtrack appearances
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales (DL) |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR [70] | ||||
| "Spring Is Gone by Chance" (우연히 봄) (with Loco) |
2015 | 5 |
|
A Girl Who Sees Smells OST Part 2 |
| "Spring Is Gone by Chance" (우연히 봄) (Acoustic Ver.) (with Loco) |
— |
| ||
| "Just This Song" (이 노래만) | 2018 | — | N/A | Let's Eat 3 OST Part 3 |
| "Snowflake Love" (눈꽃사랑) | —[K] | My Strange Hero OST Part 5 | ||
| "This Way That Way" (이랬다 저랬다) | 2020 | —[L] | Yoobyeolna! Chef Moon OST Part 1 | |
| "First Day" | —[M] | Was It Love? OST Part 3 | ||
| "Secret" (feat. ISHXRK) |
—[N] | Alice OST Part 1 | ||
| "I'm in the Mood for Dancing" | —[O] | True Beauty OST Part 2 | ||
| "Falling" | 2021 | —[P] | Run On OST Part 10 | |
| "Comfort" (위로) | — | Bossam: Steal the Fate OST Part 11 | ||
| "Comfort" (위로) (String Ver.) | —[Q] | |||
| "Stay (Prod. by Jinyoung)" (남아있어 (Prod. by 진영))[80] | —[R] | Police University OST Part 5 | ||
| "My Americano" (아메리카노 같아 넌) | 2022 | —[S] | Kiss Sixth Sense OST Part 1 | |
| "Tell Me This Is Real" | —[T] | My Chilling Roommate OST Part 1 | ||
| "Paradise" | — | Closers OST: Paradise | ||
| "Real Love" | —[U] | Love in Contract OST Part 1 | ||
| "My Whole World Is You" (온 세상이 나에게)) | 2023 | —[V] | The Story of Park's Marriage Contract OST Part 3 | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | ||||
Compilation appearances
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| "I Love You" (난 널 사랑해) | 2015 | — | King of Mask Singer Vol. 16 |
| "Without a Heart" (심장이 없어) (with The Name) |
— | King of Mask Singer Vol. 17 | |
| "Play" (놀이) | 2023 | — | Begin Again Open Mic Episode 39 |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Composition credits
All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[86]
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Composer | Lyricist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Hope" (기대) | 2019 | GFriend | Fever Season |  |
 |
N/A |
| "Apple" | 2020 | 回:Song of the Sirens | |
| ||
| "Eye of the Storm" | |
| ||||
| "Tarot Cards" | |
| ||||
| "Mago" | 回:Walpurgis Night | |
| |||
| "Night Drive" | |
| ||||
| "Bad Blood" (Intro) | 2022 | Yuju | Rec. | |
| |
| "Play" (놀이) | |
| ||||
| "Cold Winter" (겨우, 겨울) | Yuju (feat. Mad Clown) |
|
| |||
| "The Killa" (데킬라) | Yuju | |
| |||
| "Blue Nostalgia" | |
| ||||
| "Look at Me" (Korean Ver.) | Yurina Kawaguchi | Cherish | |
|
[87] | |
| "Evening" (이브닝) | Yuju (feat. Big Naughty) |
Non-album single | |
|
N/A | |
| "9 Years" | 2023 | Yuju | O | |
| |
| "Without U" | |
| ||||
| "Dreaming" (꿈) | |
| ||||
| "Peach Blossom" (복숭아꽃) | Yuju (feat. Sokodomo) |
|
| |||
| "Full Circle" | Yuju | |
| |||
| "Destiny" | Babylon (feat. Yuju) |
Colors | |
|
[88] | |
| "Dalala" (따라랏) | Yuju | Non-album single | |
|
[89] | |
| "No Way" | Yuju (with Pateko feat. I'MIN) |
|
|
N/A | ||
| "It's Not That I Don't Love You" (너를 사랑하지 않는 맘이 아냐) | 2024 | Kid Wine (feat. Yuju) |
Sommelier | |
|
[90] |
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Music videos
| Title | Year | Other performer(s) credited | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Cherish" (보일 듯 말 듯) | 2016 | Sunyeol | TOP Media | [91] |
| "Heart Signal" (하트시그널) | 2017 | Jihoo | Sunny Visual | [92][93] |
| "First Love" (첫사랑) | Jung Key | Lee Young-cheon (BBang Film) | [94][95] | |
| "The Last Exam" (벼락치기) | 2018 | Yoon Jong-shin | Kim Jin-joo | [96] |
| "Play" (놀이) | 2022 | None | Yua Suh (FLIPEVIL) | [97][98] |
| "Evening" (이브닝) | Big Naughty | Jan' Qui (KEEPUSWEIRD) | [99][100] | |
| "Without U" | 2023 | None | Kang Su-jeong (546Focus) | [101][102] |
| "Happiness Index" (행복지수) | Lee Woo | Chun Hee-seung Park Joo-hee |
[103][104] | |
| "Dalala" (따라랏) | None | NOVV KIM (NOVV) | [105][106] |
Other videos
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Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ma'am Chief: Shakedown in Seoul | Herself | Philippine film cameo | [110] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Scool | Mentor | [52] |
Web shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Yuju is Halli Queen | Herself | 5 episodes | [111][unreliable source?] |
Radio shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Yuju's Night View | DJ | August 9 – December 27 | [45] |
Hosting
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | KBS Korean Children's Song Contest | MC | with Na Tae-ju & Nam Hyun-jong | [38] |
| 2024 | Youth Generation Harmony Festival | with Yoo Hwe-seung | [112] |
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| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanteo Music Awards | 2023 | Top Trending Artist Award | Yuju | Won | [113] |
| K Global Heart Dream Awards | 2022 | K Global Vocal Award | Won | [114] | |
| Melon Music Awards | 2015 | Best OST Award | "Spring Is Gone by Chance" (with Loco) | Won | [115] |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2024 | New Wave Star | Yuju | Won | [116] |
- "Love Rain" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 55 on component Download Chart.[56]
- "Play" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 19 on component Download Chart.[57]
- "Evening" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 72 on component Download Chart.[58]
- "Without U" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 37 and 123 on component Download and BGM Chart, respectively.[59]
- "Dalala" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 50 on component Download Chart.[60]
- "Heart Signal" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 63 on component BGM Chart.[63]
- "Happiness Index" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 74 and 20 on component Download and BGM Chart, respectively.[64]
- "No Way" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 101 on component Download Chart.[65]
- "By Your Side" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 68 on component Download Chart.[68]
- "Rewind" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 95 on component Download Chart.[69]
- "Snowflake Love" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 58 on component BGM Chart.[73]
- "This Way That Way" did not enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 124 on component BGM Chart.[74]
- "First Day" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 42 on component BGM Chart.[75]
- "Secret" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 81 on component BGM Chart.[76]
- "I'm In the Mood for Dancing" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 39 on component BGM Chart.[77]
- "Falling" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 43 on component Download Chart.[78]
- "Comfort" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 90 on component BGM Chart.[79]
- "Stay" didn't enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 56 on component Download Chart.[81]
- "My Americano" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 146 on component Download Chart.[82]
- "Tell Me This Is Real" didn't enter Gaon Digital Chart, but peaked at position 64 on component Download Chart.[83]
- "Real Love" didn't enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 96 on component Download Chart.[84]
- "My Whole World Is You" didn't enter Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at position 122 on component Download Chart.[85]
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