Kang Jiyoung

Kang Ji-young (; born January 18, 1994), also known mononymously as Jiyoung or under the stage name JY in Japan, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. At age 14, she rose to fame as a member of the South Korean girl group Kara, joining the group in 2008. Dubbed as "Hallyu Queens", Kara achieved mainstream success across Asia, particularly in Japan where they earned ten top-five singles on the ''Oricon'' Singles Chart, and became the first female South Korean act to perform at the Tokyo Dome. Kang left Kara in April 2014, but rejoined for the group's 15th anniversary commemorative album ''Move Again'' (2022), and subsequent concert tour (2024).

After leaving Kara, Kang moved to Japan and shifted focus onto her acting career. She achieved recognition for her portrayal of characters in many live-action adaptations of popular manga series, including Yukime in the Nippon TV series ''Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube'' (2014), Irina Jelavić in the ''Assassination Classroom'' films (2015–2016), and Itori in the film ''Tokyo Ghoul S'' (2019). She is also known for her lead role in the science-fiction thriller series ''Orphan Black – 7 Genes'' (2017–2018). Aside from her Japanese-speaking roles, Kang has appeared in Korean dramas with a lead role in the JTBC series ''Sweet Munchies'' (2020), and special appearances in '' Let Me Be Your Knight'' (2022) and ''Doctor Cha'' (2023).

Kang signed with Sony Music Japan as a solo artist in 2015. She released her debut studio album, ''Many Faces'' (2017), which spawned two top-ten singles in Japan, "Saigo no Sayonara" and "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto". The latter was double certified by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Aside from music and acting, Kang's modeling work has included being an exclusive model for the women's fashion magazine ''Non-no'' between 2014 and 2016, and being a global brand ambassador for the confectionery brand Kit Kat.

Early life and education

Kang Ji-young was born on January 18, 1994, in Paju, South Korea. She grew up in a Buddhist household, with two older sisters. At the age of 14, Kang auditioned for DSP Media and was accepted as a trainee in June 2008. She was encouraged to audition by her cousin, actress Kim Yoon-ji, who was also a trainee at the same company at the time. In addition to her native Korean, Kang speaks fluent Japanese, and she has some knowledge of English and Mandarin Chinese.

Kang attended Bongilcheon Middle School in Paju. After moving into a dormitory in Seoul with her fellow Kara members, she transferred to Kwanghee Middle School, and then attended Muhak Girls' High School, graduating in 2012. Following high school, in February 2013 she enrolled at Sungkyunkwan University.

Career

2008–2014: Kara

After a month of training, Kang joined the girl group Kara in 2008, following the departure of former member Kim Sung-hee. She made her broadcast debut alongside fellow newcomer to the group Goo Hara on July 24, 2008, performing on the music program ''M Countdown'' on Mnet. Their mini-album ''Rock U'' was released the next day, marking the group's first release as a quintet. Kara gained significant popularity following the release of their hit single "Mister" in 2009. The song was a critical and commercial success domestically, and successfully launched the group's career in Japan. Earning the moniker "Hallyu Queens", the group was included in the ''Forbes'' Korea Power Celebrity 40 list as one of the most influential celebrities in South Korea, ranking 4th in 2012, and 13th in 2013. The group became the first female South Korean act to perform at the Tokyo Dome.

In April 2009, Kang was featured on the hip-hop duo Jumper's single "Dazzling" (). In September, she became a fixed guest DJ on the KBS Cool FM radio show ''Kiss the Radio'' alongside member Park Gyu-ri. She also joined the MBC Standard FM radio show ''Stop the Boring Time'' that same year, hosting the "Tasting Corner" segment. In July 2010, Kang began presenting the MBC Every1 variety show ''I Love Pets'' alongside member Han Seung-yeon. That same month, Kang made a guest appearance on the SBS variety program ''Haha-Mong Show'', and was later promoted to a series regular in September. However, following allegations that fellow host MC Mong had attempted to evade his mandatory military service, the show was canceled after episode 11, with the rest of the recorded episodes remaining unaired.

In December 2010, Kang was featured on the soundtrack for the drama '' Big Thing'' alongside Park Gyu-ri, with the track "My Love". That same month, she released a digital single titled "Merry Love", in collaboration with Supernova's Kim Sung-je. The song was later re-recorded in Japanese and released in Japan on March 23, 2011. In January 2011, Kang announced that she would be terminating her contract with DSP Media alongside members Han Seung-yeon and Nicole Jung, citing that the company forced them to perform against their will, insulted their character and signed various contracts on their behalf without explaining the details; a lawsuit was filed on their behalf. The dispute was amicably resolved between the two parties on April 28, 2011, with the members returning to DSP Media.

Kang joined the cast of the second season of the KBS reality show ''Invincible Youth'' in October 2011. The series premiered on November 11, 2011, and the last episode aired on November 17, 2012. Also in October 2011, Kang was cast as the lead role in the romantic drama series ''Rainbow Rose''. The show was developed as a South Korean and Japanese co-production, and was partially funded by the Korean Film Council. Consisting of 12 episodes, the series premiered in Japan on TV Tokyo from September 7, 2012. Kang recorded the track "Rainbow Rose", which was used as the show's main theme. The song was later released digitally in South Korea on October 11 of that year.

In September 2012, Kang was cast in the espionage thriller series '' Iris II: New Generation'', but dropped out in January 2013 due to creative differences between the network and Kang's agency. Kang released her solo single "Wanna Do" on November 30, 2012, in support of the compilation album '' Kara Solo Collection''. The music video, co-starring Park Geon-il, was released on the same day. She performed the song on the SBS music program ''Inkigayo'' on December 16. As part of the 2012 SBS Gayo Daejeon, an end-of-year music festival, Kang joined fellow idols Sistar's Yoon Bo-ra, 4Minute's Heo Ga-yoon, Secret's Han Sun-hwa and After School's Lizzy, to form the supergroup Mystic White. They performed the charity single "Mermaid Princess" () at the festival, and it peaked at number 10 on the Gaon Digital Chart.

On January 15, 2014, Kang announced her departure from Kara, citing a desire to study abroad and focus on her acting career. Following the end of her contract with DSP Media in April 2014, she moved to London to study English. Kang starred opposite Bae Soo-bin in the anthology series ''Secret Love'', which began airing on the cable channel Dramacube on June 13, 2014. The series was directed by Kim Kyu-tae and filmed in May 2013, prior to Kang's departure from the group.

2014–2016: Film breakthrough in Japan, and ''Radio''

While living in London, Kang was approached by the president of the Japanese talent agency, Sweet Power. She signed with the agency as an actress in August 2014, and subsequently moved to Japan. In September, Kang was cast in her first Japanese-language role as Yukime, a yuki-onna who has fallen in love with the main protagonist, in the live-action television adaptation of ''Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube''. The show consisted of ten episodes, and premiered on Nippon TV on October 11. For her role as Yukime, Kang was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Television Drama Academy Awards, hosted by Kadokawa. That same month, Kang starred in the police procedural television movie ''Higanbana: Women's Crime File'', portraying Kaoruko Nagami, a researcher at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. The movie aired on Nippon TV on October 24.

In 2015, Kang took a supporting role in the science-fiction comedy film ''Assassination Classroom'' as Irina Jelavić, a professional hitwoman working undercover as an English teacher. Directed by Eiichirō Hasumi, the film is an adaptation of Yusei Matsui's manga of the same name. Kang was chosen for the role for her ability to speak multiple languages. The film was released on March 21 in Japan, topping the domestic box office in its first weekend, and ultimately grossing a worldwide total of $25 million. The following month, Kang made a cameo appearance in the anime film '' Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno'', voicing the role of a museum guide. In May, Kang was cast in the political comedy drama series ''Tamiou'', based on the novel of the same name by Jun Ikeido. She portrayed college student Erika Murano, the classmate of the prime minister's son Shō Mutō (played by Masaki Suda), and daughter of the leader of the opposition party (played by Masao Kusakari). The series premiered on TV Asahi on July 17, 2015. Kang earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Television Drama Academy Awards for the role. Kang's final role of the year was in the short film ''How Is the Sky Over There?'', a promotional film for Kit Kats in Japan that premiered on Nestlé Theater's YouTube channel on December 3, 2015. The film was shot between Hong Kong and Japan, and Kang took classes for Mandarin and Cantonese for the role.

Kang signed to Sony Music Japan in December 2015, and announced that she would be resuming her music career under the alias JY. In January 2016, Kang reprised the role of Nagami in ''Whispers from a Crime Scene'', a sequel series to ''Higanbana: Women's Crime File''. She provided the theme song for the series, titled "Saigo no Sayonara" ("The Last Farewell"), which also served as her debut Japanese single. The single was released digitally on February 3 and physically the following month, and peaked at number seven on the ''Oricon'' Singles Chart. Her follow-up single "Radio" was also featured in ''Whispers from a Crime Scene'', and marked her first English-language song. Released on March 16, the song was supported by a three-track extended play of the same name, with two of the tracks featuring production and songwriting from British singer MNEK. A music video for "Radio" was released, alongside a video for the B-side track "I'm Just Not Into You". Upon release, "Radio" reached number one on the iTunes Top Pop Songs chart in Japan.

In March 2016, Kang reprised the role of Irina Jelavić in '' Assassination Classroom: Graduation'', the sequel to ''Assassination Classroom'' (2015), with Hasumi returning as director. The film received positive reviews and grossed $31.3 million worldwide, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing Japanese film of 2016. Her next role was in the short film ''Life Is...'', portraying Yuna, a photography student living in Kyoto who is tasked with taking a photograph that captures the concept of "umami". The short was directed by Leslie Kee, and premiered on YouTube in June 2016 via Nestlé Theater. The following month, she acted in the anthology film ''Unrequited Love'', playing So-yeon, a South Korean exchange student struggling with their gender identity who falls in love with their roommate.

2016–2018: ''Many Faces'', and continued acting success

Kang released her second Japanese single, and third overall, titled "Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto" ("There's Someone I Like") in August 2016. The music video was filmed in Guam and directed by Mika Ninagawa. The song was used as the main theme for the Fuji TV drama series '' A Girl & Three Sweethearts'', with Kang making a cameo appearance in the final episode. Upon its release, the single reached number one on all 12 major domestic distributors, including iTunes and Recochoku. It went on to peak at number three on the ''Billboard Japan'' Hot 100 and number six on the ''Oricon'' Singles Chart, becoming her highest-charting single on both charts. The single was certified twice by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), achieving a platinum certification for digital sales, and a gold certification for streaming.

That same year, Kang played the lead role of Charity Hope Valentine in the Tokyo Galaxy Theater production of ''Sweet Charity'', with the musical being directed and translated from English to Japanese by Yukio Ueshima. The production had a limited run from September 23 to October 2, 2016. Kang later starred in the made-for-television detective film ''Mission Commander Ayaka Goma'', which premiered on Fuji TV on October 22, 2016. In November, she made a guest appearance in the TV Asahi medical drama '' Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon'', portraying Yuka Nanase, a deaf woman who assists a pianist who is losing his hearing. She studied Japanese Sign Language for the role. Kang released her third and fourth Japanese singles, "Fake" and "Koiwo Shiteitakoto" ("I Was in Love") simultaneously on December 7, 2016. Both singles peaked in the top 25 on the ''Oricon'' Singles Chart.

In January 2017, Kang starred in an episode of the Kansai TV anthology series ''Osaka Loop Line: Part 2''.

2020–present: Return to South Korea, and Kara reunion

In February 2022, it is reported that Kang has decided not to renew her contract with KeyEast.

On April 6, 2022, it was announced that Kang signed with ELRIS Entertainment.

In July 2022 Kang released Project solo ''Lucid Dream''

In 2025, Kang served as one of the judges on the reality singing competition program ''Korea–Japan King of Singers: Japan Round'', a Japanese spin-off of the South Korean MBN series ''Korea–Japan King of Singers''. It premiered on Fuji TV on January 16.

Impact

Early in her career, Kang received media attention for her tall height relative to her bandmates and despite her young age, and was affectionately nicknamed "Giant Baby" by the press. In August 2011, Kang was the only Korean artist to be featured on the ''Count Down TV'' Top 30 Annual Favourite Female Artist Ranking, placing at number 21. Kang was the third most-tweeted about female celebrity in Japan in 2016. In November 2016, Kang was listed as seventh in a list of the biggest female breakout artists of that year in Japan, compiled by ''Oricon'' News.

Philanthropy

In November 2024, Kang was appointed as the film industry ambassador for the 2025 Seoul Barrier-Free Film Festival, a non-profit organization which produces, screens and distributes films for blind and deaf audiences.

Modeling and endorsements

In October 2011, Kang made her runway debut walking for Lie Sang Bong's S/S 2012 collection at Seoul Fashion Week. She attended Seoul Fashion Week the following year, as a guest for Steve J and Yoni Pare's S/S 2013 collection. In September 2014, Kang was chosen to walk the Reebok runway at the Tokyo Girls Collection F/W 2014 show. That same year, Kang became an exclusive model for women's fashion magazine ''Non-no'', making her first solo cover appearance for its December issue. In March 2016, Kang was appointed as an official ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo. Kang modeled at the Kansai Collection S/S 2017 fashion show. In May 2017, she made an appearance at the GirlsAward S/S fashion show, both as a runway model for the ''Non-no'' collection, and as a musical guest.

Kang was previously the face of brands Union Bay, Nature Republic, and Karaya. In 2015, she was selected as a global brand ambassador for the confectionery brand Kit Kat. Kang appeared in several Japanese commercials to promote the expansion of the number of Kit Kat Chocolatory stores in the country. She also appeared in tie-in promotional material for the Hong Kong, South Korean and Taiwanese markets, including numerous short films. Since 2022, Kang has been a spokesmodel for the hair care brand Unda Hair.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Other appearances

Video albums

Songwriting credits

Filmography

Film

Television

Radio

Stage credits

Concert tours

Headlining

Featured act
* LuckyFes (2024)

Bibliography

Photobooks
* ''Reborn Me: Jiyoung Story'' (Kodansha, November 2014)
* ''Grow Up!'' (Magazine House, August 2015)
* ''Gentle Beauty'' (Shogakukan, June 2016)
* ''The First Stage'' (Tokyo News Service, September 2016)

Awards and nominations

Listicles

Notes

References

External links

JY official website

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kang, Ji-young
1994 births
Kara (South Korean group) members
DSP Media artists
Living people
Actors from Paju
Actresses from Gyeonggi Province
Singers from Gyeonggi Province
Japanese-language singers of South Korea
South Korean child singers
South Korean female idols
South Korean dance musicians
South Korean rhythm and blues singers
South Korean women pop singers
South Korean J-pop singers
South Korean expatriates in Japan
South Korean television actresses
South Korean television presenters
South Korean web series actresses
South Korean women television presenters
South Korean radio presenters
Sungkyunkwan University alumni
Kang Ji-young (JY)
21st-century South Korean actresses
21st-century South Korean singers
21st-century South Korean women singers
South Korean women radio presenters