Kang Ji-young

Kang Ji-young, born on January 18, 1994, is a multifaceted South Korean artist known for her talents as a singer, songwriter, and actress. She first gained prominence at the young age of fourteen as a member of the iconic girl group Kara, which she joined in 2008. Under her stage name JY, Kang and her group, often referred to as the 'Hallyu Queens', achieved remarkable success across Asia, particularly in Japan, where they secured ten top-five singles on the Oricon Singles Chart and made history as the first female South Korean act to perform at the prestigious Tokyo Dome.

After departing from Kara in April 2014, Kang Ji-young transitioned to Japan, where she focused on her acting career. She garnered acclaim for her roles in various live-action adaptations of popular manga, including her portrayal of Yukime in the Nippon TV series 'Hell Teacher: Jigoku Sensei Nube' in 2014, Irina Jelavić in the 'Assassination Classroom' films from 2015 to 2016, and Itori in the film 'Tokyo Ghoul S' in 2019. Additionally, she starred in the science-fiction thriller series 'Orphan Black – 7 Genes' from 2017 to 2018, showcasing her versatility as an actress.

In the realm of music, Kang signed with Sony Music Japan in 2015 and released her debut studio album, 'Many Faces', in 2017. The album featured two top-ten singles in Japan, 'Saigo no Sayonara' and 'Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto', the latter of which received double certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Her contributions to the music industry have solidified her status as a recording artist and singer-songwriter.

Beyond her musical and acting endeavors, Kang has made a mark in the fashion world, serving as an exclusive model for the women's fashion magazine Non-no from 2014 to 2016 and acting as a global brand ambassador for the confectionery brand Kit Kat. In 2022, she rejoined Kara for their fifteenth anniversary commemorative album 'Move Again' and participated in subsequent concert tours in 2024 and 2025, reaffirming her enduring connection to the group.