Umji

Kim Ye-won (Korean: 김예원; born August 19, 1998) better known by her stage name Umji (Korean: 엄지), is a South Korean singer and rapper. She is a vocalist in the girl group GFriend.

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.
Umji
김예원
Umji in October 2019
Born
Kim Ye-won

(1998-08-19) August 19, 1998
Incheon, South Korea
Occupation
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • rapper
Musical career
GenresK-pop
InstrumentsVocals, Piano, Guitar
Years active2015–present
LabelsSource
Associated actsGFriend
Korean name
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Ye-won
McCune–ReischauerKim Ye-wǒn
Stage name
Hangul
Revised RomanizationEom-ji
McCune–ReischauerǑm-chi

Early life

Umji was born on August 19, 1998 in Incheon, South Korea and is the youngest daughter of her family (one older brother and one older sister). Her father is dentist and chairman of a famous dental corporation in South Korea.[1]

Umji went to English preschool and graduated from Shinsong Middle School, Incheon. She graduated from the School of Performing Arts Seoul (SOPA - Theater Department) in February 2017, along with her groupmate, SinB.[2][3]

Career

Umji was scouted on the street by Source Music's CEO while she was hanging out with classmate, then she was invited to Source Music audition.

Umji made her official debut as a member of the group GFriend on January 15, 2015 with the release of the extended play Season of Glass, along with the single "Glass Bead".[4] Her first live performance took place on the show Music Bank, shown by KBS on January 16.[5]

In February 2016, she appeared in KBS2 TV's Idol and Family National Singing Contest's Lunar New Year Special and sang a duet with her brother.[6] In April 2016, Umji appeared as special guest in Hong Jin-young's “Thumb Up” (엄지 척) performance at Music Bank.[7] In September 2016, she released her first solo soundtrack for the South Korean drama Shopping King Louie, entitled "The Way".[8][9] In October 2016, the singer stopped activities with the group after being diagnosed with a twist in the sarus muscle. She returned a month after recovering for the Melon Music Awards.[10][11]

In March 2017, Umji was the second member of GFriend who got solo appearance in SBS's Running Man (episode 343, after Yerin's appearance in 2015) as guest (team Yoo Jae-suk), along with Choi Tae-joon, Jeon So-min, Kang Han-na, Lee Se-young and Park Jin-joo.[12] In April 2017, she appeared in Entertainment Weekly as guest investigator (Saengmin's Veteran, along with Kim Dong-joon of ZE:A).[13] In November 2017, she took part in King of Mask Singer, participating in two rounds until she was eliminated by Sunwoo Jung-a.[14]

In 2018, along with member Sanha from the boys band Astro, the singer was chosen to host a talk show for the youth audience entitled Yogobara.[15][16]

In October 2019, Umji appeared as guest of web debate show Brain-fficial with her teammate SinB.[17]

In March 2020, the singer released her second soundtrack for the South Korean drama Welcome called "Welcome".[18][19] In April 2020, she replaced her fellow group member Eunha as a new DJ for Naver Now "Avenger Girls".[20]

In October 2020, Umji appeared with Eunha on the show Knowing Bros and showcased a tip of the single "Mago" from GFriend's studio album 回:Walpurgis Night released two weeks later on November 9.[21]

Discography
See also: GFriend discography

Songwriting credits
Year Song Album Artist Notes Ref.
2019 "Hope" Fever Season GFriend Co-written with all GFriend members (as Lyricist). [22]
2020 "Eye of the Storm" 回:Song of the Sirens Co-written with Yuju (as Composer, Lyricist and Arranger) [23]
"Tarot Cards" Co-written with Yuju and Eunha (as Composer, Lyricist and Arranger) [24]
"Mago" 回:Walpurgis Night Co-written with Yuju and Eunha (as Composer, Lyricist and Arranger) [25]
"Better Me" Co-written with Sowon (as Composer, Lyricist and Arranger) [26]

Soundtrack appearances
Year Títle Drama Notes Ref.
2016 "The Way" Shopping King Louie Released with a special music video [27]
2020 "Welcome" Welcome [28]

References
  1. "[ENG sub] Mnet TMI NEWS [14회] '여자친구 엄지'의 빛나는 미소 뒤, 숨겨진 금빛 비밀 190918 EP.14 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  2. "[TD영상] 방탄소년단 정국-여자친구 신비&엄지-우주소녀 은서, "오늘 졸업합니다!"". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  3. "신비·엄지 "여자친구 전원 성인 됐다..감회 새롭다"(인터뷰)". 스타뉴스 (in Korean). 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  4. "KPOP NEWS - New Rookie Group GFriend Makes Debut with ′Glass Bead′ MV…". archive.vn. 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  5. 헤럴드경제 (2015-01-16). "여자친구, 데뷔곡 '유리구슬' 티저+뮤비 유튜브 조회수 20만 돌파 '대박'". biz.heraldcorp.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  6. "전국아이돌사돈의팔촌노래자랑 - 여자친구 엄지&오빠 김보근 - 여우야.20160208 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  7. "뮤직뱅크 - 홍진영 X 여자친구 엄지, 역대급 콜라보 무대! '엄지척'.20160422 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  8. "여자친구 엄지, MBC 드라마 '쇼핑왕 루이' OST 참여". 뉴스1 (in Korean). 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  9. 헤럴드경제 (2016-10-06). "주니엘, 김소희·여자친구 엄지 이어 '쇼핑왕 루이' OST 참여 - 헤럴드경제". biz.heraldcorp.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  10. "여자친구 엄지, 대퇴부 염좌로 활동 일시중단 "치료 전념할 것"(공식입장)". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  11. "여자친구 엄지 건강문제로 활동 중단…"대퇴부 봉공근 염좌 치료 집중, 당분간 5인 체제" [공식입장 전문]". 뉴스핌 (in Korean). 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  12. "List of Running Man episodes (2017)", Wikipedia, 2020-06-26, retrieved 2020-07-30
  13. "Saengmin's Veteran : Kim Dongjoon (with GFRIEND Umji) [Entertainment Weekly / 2017.04.10] - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  14. "'복면가왕', 꿩은 여자친구 엄지…노래도 '엄지척'". inews24 (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  15. "요고바라 - 요즘 고딩들의 바깥 라이프!". m.programs.sbs.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  16. "요고바라 - 요즘 고딩들의 바깥 라이프!". m.programs.sbs.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  17. "봄vs가을 토론에서 김종민 멘탈 탈수기 돌려버린 여자친구 신비,엄지 [뇌피셜] - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  18. tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (2020-03-25). "여자친구 엄지, '어서와' OST 참여…김명수♥신예은 로멘스 귀여움 더한다 | 텐아시아". 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  19. "여자친구 엄지 '어서와' OST 참여…김명수X신예은 설렘 담은 목소리". hankyung.com (in Korean). 2020-03-25. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  20. "NAVER NOW". now.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  21. Ahn, Byung-gil (November 1, 2020). ‘아는 형님’ 여자친구, 베일 속 ‘MAGO’ 노출 ['Knowing Brother' GFriend exposes 'MAGO' in veil]. Sports trend (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 – via Naver.
  22. "기대 (Hope)". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  23. "눈의 시간". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  24. "Tarot Cards". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  25. "MAGO". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  26. "Better Me". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  27. "The Way". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  28. "어서와". www.melon.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
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