Umji

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Umji
Umji in August 2024
Born
Kim Ye-won

(1998-08-19) August 19, 1998 (age 26)
Yeonsu-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea[1]
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
Musical career
GenresK-pop
InstrumentVocals
Years active2015–present
Labels
Member ofViviz
Formerly ofGFriend
Korean name
Hangul
김예원
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Ye-won
McCune–ReischauerKim Yewŏn
Stage name
Hangul
엄지
Hanja
Revised RomanizationEom-ji
McCune–ReischauerŎmji
Signature
Signature of Umji

Kim Ye-won (Korean: 김예원; born August 19, 1998), better known by her stage name Umji (Korean: 엄지), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and dancer. She is a former member of the girl group GFriend, and a current member of the trio Viviz.

Early life

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Umji was born on August 19, 1998, in Yeonsu-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, South Korea[1] 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.[2]

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.[3][4]

Career

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Umji made her 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".[5] The group first live performance took place on the KBS2's Music Bank on January 16.[6]

In September 2016, she released her first solo soundtrack for the South Korean drama Shopping King Louie, entitled "The Way".[7][8] In October 2016, the singer stopped activities with the group after being diagnosed with a twist in the sarus muscle.[9][10] She returned a month after recovering for the Melon Music Awards.[citation needed]

In November 2017, she took part in King of Mask Singer, participating in two rounds until she was eliminated by Sunwoo Jung-a.[11]

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.[12][13]

In March 2020, the singer released her second soundtrack for the South Korean drama Welcome called "Welcome".[14][15] In April 2020, she replaced her fellow group member Eunha as a new DJ for Naver Now "Avenger Girls".[16]

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.[17]

On October 6, 2021, it was announced that Umji, along with former GFriend members, Eunha and SinB, have signed a contract with BPM Entertainment to debut as a trio.[18] On October 8, 2021, it was announced their new group name would be Viviz.[19] Viviz debuted on February 9, 2022, with the extended play Beam of Prism.[20]

Discography

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For Umji's discography with GFriend and Viviz, see GFriend discography and Viviz discography.

Soundtrack appearances

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Title Year Peak chart position Album
KOR
Gaon
"The Way" 2016 — Shopping King Louie OST
"Meow the Secret boy" (어서와) 2020 — Welcome OST
"May I Love You?" (이 마음을 전해도 될까) 2024 —[A] Lovely Runner OST
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Composition credits

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All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[22]

Title Year Album Artist Composer Lyricist Arranger
"Hope" 2019 Fever Season GFriend No Yes No
"Eye of the Storm" 2020 回:Song of the Sirens Yes Yes No
"Tarot Cards" Yes Yes No
"Mago" 回:Walpurgis Night Yes Yes No
"Better Me" Yes Yes No
"Eve Love" Non-album single Umji Yes Yes Yes
"Love You Like" 2022 Beam of Prism Viviz No Yes No
"Hypnotize" 2024 Voyage No Yes No
"Love & Tears" Yes Yes No

Filmography

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For Umji's filmography with GFriend and Viviz, see GFriend filmography and Viviz § Filmography.

Radio show

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Year Title Network Role Notes Ref.
2021–2022 Umji Cells Spoon Radio Studio DJ November 16, 2021 – January 4, 2022 [23]

Notes

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  1. ^ ”May I Love You? (이 마음을 전해도 될까)” did not enter the Circle Digital Chart, but peaked at number 80 on the component Circle Download Chart.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "엄지". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "[ENG sub] Mnet TMI NEWS [14회] '여자친구 엄지'의 빛나는 미소 뒤, 숨겨진 금빛 비밀 190918 EP.14 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "[TD영상] 방탄소년단 정국-여자친구 신비&엄지-우주소녀 은서, "오늘 졸업합니다!"". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "신비·엄지 "여자친구 전원 성인 됐다..감회 새롭다"(인터뷰)". 스타뉴스 (in Korean). February 7, 2017. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. ^ "KPOP NEWS - New Rookie Group GFriend Makes Debut with ′Glass Bead′ MV…". archive.vn. January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  6. ^ 헤럴드경제 (January 16, 2015). "여자친구, 데뷔곡 '유리구슬' 티저+뮤비 유튜브 조회수 20만 돌파 '대박'". biz.heraldcorp.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "여자친구 엄지, MBC 드라마 '쇼핑왕 루이' OST 참여". 뉴스1 (in Korean). September 28, 2016. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  8. ^ 헤럴드경제 (October 6, 2016). "주니엘, 김소희·여자친구 엄지 이어 '쇼핑왕 루이' OST 참여 - 헤럴드경제". biz.heraldcorp.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "여자친구 엄지, 대퇴부 염좌로 활동 일시중단 "치료 전념할 것"(공식입장)". entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "여자친구 엄지 건강문제로 활동 중단…"대퇴부 봉공근 염좌 치료 집중, 당분간 5인 체제" [공식입장 전문]". 뉴스핌 (in Korean). October 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "'복면가왕', 꿩은 여자친구 엄지…노래도 '엄지척'". inews24 (in Korean). December 3, 2017. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "요고바라 - 요즘 고딩들의 바깥 라이프!". m.programs.sbs.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "요고바라 - 요즘 고딩들의 바깥 라이프!". m.programs.sbs.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  14. ^ tenasia.hankyung.com, Digital (March 25, 2020). "여자친구 엄지, '어서와' OST 참여…김명수♥신예은 로멘스 귀여움 더한다 | 텐아시아". 텐아시아 연예뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "여자친구 엄지 '어서와' OST 참여…김명수X신예은 설렘 담은 목소리". hankyung.com (in Korean). March 25, 2020. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  16. ^ "NAVER NOW". now.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  17. ^ 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 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 – via Naver.
  18. ^ Jang, Woo-young (October 6, 2021). 여자친구 은하x신비x엄지, BPM엔터 전속계약..3인조 그룹 예고 [전문] [GFriend Eunha x Sinbi x Umji, BPM Entertainment exclusive contract..3 member group notice]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021 – via Naver.
  19. ^ Oh, Yoon-joo (October 8, 2021). "은하X신비X엄지, 새 그룹 비비지 적응 완료 "VIVIZ♥"". My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  20. ^ Ahn, Jin-yong (January 24, 2022). "VIVIZ 은하·신비·엄지, 2월 9일 정식 데뷔…앨범명 'Beam Of Prism'". Munhwa (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "Download Chart - Week 17 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). April 21–27, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  22. ^ "Songs Registered Under UMJI (10022154)". Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA). Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Hwang Chae-hyun (November 16, 2021). "엄지, 라디오 DJ 데뷔" [Umji debuts as a radio DJ] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021 – via Naver.
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