Kim Yu-bin (Korean: 김유빈; born October 4, 1988), referred to as Yubin, is a South Korean singer-songwriter, rapper and actress. Kim is a founder and CEO of the entertainment agency RRR Entertainment. She initially rose to fame as a member of South Korean girl group Wonder Girls, formed in 2007 by JYP and active with the group until disbanded in 2017. She made her solo debut in 2018 with the single "Lady", and has continued to release music ever since.
Life and career
1988–2007: Early life, education and struggles
Kim Yu-bin was born in Gwangju, on October 4, 1988.[1] She lived in Korea until high school, attending Anyang High School for a while before moving to San Jose, California, where she studied at and graduated from Leland High School. Yubin graduated from Myongji University with a degree in Film and Music.
She was originally set to debut as a member of Five Girls under Good Entertainment, along with G.NA, After School's Uee, Secret's Jun Hyo-seong, and Spica's Yang Ji-won. However, the group disbanded shortly before their scheduled debut in 2007 due to Good Entertainment's financial troubles and the members all left for separate South Korean entertainment companies.[2]
Yubin made her debut as a new member of the Wonder Girls on September 7, 2007. She was introduced as the main rapper of the group, replacing Hyuna.[3] Although she is known mostly as the rapper of the Wonder Girls, Yubin occasionally acts as an additional vocalist to the group. Examples of which include, "This Time" and "Wishing on a Star". Aside from performing with the group, she has appeared in several music videos including labelmate 2PM's "10 Out of 10" and Shinhwa's "Once in a Life Time". Yubin has also featured in several different artists' singles, i.e. Shinhwa's Andy Lee, Lee Min-woo, Kim Bum-soo, and Chun G. In 2008, she made a short cameo in MBC's popular sitcom, Here He Comes.
Yubin showcased her written lyrics for the first time in Kim Bum-soo's song "Do You Know That?". Since then, Yubin has written her own raps for several other songs. In 2011, she wrote the lyrics for "Girls Girls", "Me, In", and "Sweet Dreams" from the Wonder Girls' second studio album Wonder World. Yubin also wrote the song "Hey Boy" for the group's mini album Wonder Party released on June 3, 2012. In 2013, she made her official acting debut in OCN's drama, The Virus, where she played the role of Lee Joo-yeong, a genius hacker and an IT specialist.[4]
On June 24, 2015, it was announced that the Wonder Girls will be making comeback after two-year hiatus as a band.[5] On August 17, 2015, Yubin was confirmed to join Unpretty Rapstar's second season. Her popularity exploded and as a consequence, her makeup and hairstyle became popular in South Korea.[6] On January 26, 2017, it was announced that the Wonder Girls were to disband after their contracts had expired. Yubin was one of two members who chose to remain with JYP Entertainment as solo artists and renewed her contract.[7]
The group released their final single, "Draw Me", on February 10.[8]
2018–present: Solo work and RRR Entertainment
In April 2018, Yubin announced that she is preparing her solo debut through a Cosmopolitan magazine interview.[9] On May 15, JYP Entertainment announced that she has finished filming the music video for the lead single, which is planned to be released alongside her album in early June.[10][11] Yubin's first single album City Woman was released digitally on June 5, 2018, with the retro lead single "Lady".[12] The B-side track, "City Lover", was not released due to copyrights after previously announcing the track would be delayed,[13] due to similarities with Mariya Takeuchi's 1984 Japanese city pop song "Plastic Love".[14]
On November 27, 2018, Yubin's first EP #TUSM was released digitally alongside the title track "Thank U Soooo Much".[15] The song's lyrics tell off a former partner for providing “too much information” during a breakup, sarcastically thanking them for their unnecessary revelations. Yubin co-wrote all three tracks on the EP and also co-composed the third track "Game Over". "Thank U Sooo Much" charted at number 21 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart, marking her first appearance on the chart.
In April 2019, Yubin served as a judge for the JTBC dance competition television show Stage K.[16] On October 30, Yubin released her third single album, Start of the End, alongside lead single "Silent Movie" featuring Yoon Mi-rae.[17] She co-wrote "Silent Movie" and wrote the B-side track "Not Yours". Yubin left JYP Entertainment on January 25, 2020, with her departure announced three days later.[18]
In February 2020, Yubin founded her own music label, RRR Entertainment.[19] Former bandmate Woo Hye-rim is also signed to the label.
In May 2020, Yubin released her single "Yaya (Me Time)", her first released under her own music label named RRR Entertainment (usually stylized in all lowercase).[20] Since, she has also released the special single "Wave", in partnership with CLEF Entertainment on their project "Traveller", in December 2020.[21][22]
Her follow-up lead single "Perfume" was released in January 2021, with an accompanying single album.[23] The same year, she competed on MBC's King of Mask Singer as "Snow Flower". She also was a cast member of Goal Girls and We're Family.
In 2022, Yubin participated in the television shows The Last Survivor, Dating is Straight, and Queen of Ssireum.
Personal life
On May 22, 2023, RRR Entertainment confirmed that Yubin is dating tennis player Kwon Soon-woo, who is 9 years her junior.[24] On October 5, 2023, the agency confirmed their break-up.[25]
^Kim, Won-gyum (September 5, 2007). 원더걸스, 새멤버 공개..19세 김유빈 (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
^"산다라박 "'스테이지K' 통해 2NE1 오랜만에 뭉치고파"" ['We want to get 2NE1 back together for Stage K,' says Sandara Park]. Naver (in Korean). April 2, 2019. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
^"JYP 측 "유빈·혜림 전속계약 종료..함께해 영광이었다"[전문]" [JYP announces, "Yubin and Hyerim's contract ended, it's been an honor"]. Daum (in Korean). January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on January 28, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
^Park Yoon-jin (May 22, 2023). "원더걸스 유빈, 9살 연하 韓 테니스 간판 권순우와 열애 인정…"좋은 감정으로 만남 중" [공식]" [Wonder Girls' Yubin admits to dating Kwon Soon-woo, a Korean tennis player who is 9 years younger... "Meeting with good feelings" [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jung, Hee-yeon (October 5, 2023). "유빈-권순우 결별 "응원하는 친구로 남기로" [공식입장]" [Yubin and Kwon Soonwoo break up, “We will remain as supportive friends” [Official statement]] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Jae-hoon (February 18, 2022). "2AM 진운·AOA 혜정·원걸 유빈·2NE1 공민지, 뮤지컬영화 캐스팅" [2AM Jinwoon, AOA Hyejeong, Wongirl Yubin, 2NE1 Gong Minji, cast for musical movie] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Seon-ae (November 1, 2019). "원더걸스 유빈, 'VIP' 특별출연…6년만에 선보이는 연기" [Wonder Girls Yubin to make a special appearance on 'VIP'... Acting after 6 years] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Soo-in (January 2, 2020). "유빈 전석호 '초콜릿' 특별출연, 윤계상 염혜란과 호흡(공식)" [Yubin Jeon Seok-ho makes a special appearance in ‘Chocolate’ and works with Yoon Kye-sang and Yeom Hye-ran (official)] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Won Se-na (October 21, 2021). "유빈, '골때녀' 합류… 'FC 탑걸' 멤버 "배워보고 싶었다" [Yubin joins 'Goal Girl'... 'FC Top Girl' member "I wanted to learn] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021 – via Naver.
^Jang Ah-reum (August 20, 2021). "가족된 K팝 스타들…MBC·디스커버리 채널 '우리 식구됐어요' 공동제작" [Families of K-pop stars... Co-production of MBC and Discovery Channel's 'We're Family']. News1 (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
^Kim Ye-na (January 14, 2022). "원더걸스 유빈, 어쩌다 거지꼴 포착 '도대체 무슨 일" [Wonder Girls' Yubin, accidentally caught a beggar, 'What the hell is going on] (in Korean). AtStyle. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kang Seon-ae (July 6, 2022). "싱글 남녀 소울메이트 찾는 '연애는 직진' 런칭…최여진·송해나·최윤영·유빈 출연" [Launch of 'Dating is straight forward' looking for single male and female soulmates... Starring Choi Yeo-jin, Song Hae-na, Choi Yun-young, and Yu-bin] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Retrieved July 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn Eun-jae (July 13, 2022). "씨름의 여왕' 고은아·김보름·설하윤 모래판 위 포스터 공개" [Queen of Ssireum' Go Eun-ah, Kim Bo-reum, Seol Ha-yun Released Posters on the Sandboard] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim Ye-eun (August 8, 2022). "유빈·신지민·미미·문수아…'두 번째 세계' 래퍼 8人 공개" [Yubin, Shin Ji-min, Mimi, Moon Soo-ah... 8 rappers from 'Second World' revealed] (in Korean). X-ports News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022 – via Naver.
^Choi Ji-yoon (April 18, 2022). "헬스장에서 24시간 내 사랑 찾기…유빈, 'H클럽' MC" [Finding love within 24 hours at the gym... Yubin, 'H Club' MC] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Yoon Sang-geun (July 6, 2021). "유빈·원호, 코로나19 동선 겹치지 않았다 "'스핀오프' 취소"[공식]" [Yubin and Wonho, Corona 19 movement did not overlap "'Spinoff' canceled" [Official]]. StarNews (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
^Yoon Sang-geun (April 22, 2022). "유빈, 예술문화인대상 뷰티아이콘상 "행복하게 살고 싶어요" [Yubin wins the Beauty Icon Award at the Arts and Culture Awards "I want to live happily] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022 – via Naver.