HeeJin (Hangul: 희진)[2] is a South Korean singer. She is the first revealed member of LOONA and a member of its first sub-unit, LOONA 1/3. She is also a member of ARTMS and the virtual girl group Feverse as the character Rien (리엔).
She was born as Jeon Hee-jin (Hangul: 전희진) on October 19, 2000, in Daejeon, South Korea.[3]
She debuted on September 26, 2016 as a member and subsequently released her solo single album HeeJin on October 5, 2016. HeeJin released her first solo mini album <K>, alongside the title track “Algorithm” on October 31, 2023.
History
Early life (2000–2016)
HeeJin was born as Jeon Hee-jin on October 19, 2000, in Daejeon, South Korea. She is the youngest of three daughters in her family. She attended Incheon Hambak Elementary School and Saint Paul Girls’ Middle School in Chungnam, South Korea. At some point during her childhood, she lived for one month in Brazil.[4]
HeeJin first wanted to become a singer when she was in middle school. At one time, both her sisters had similar dreams, but those dreams were ultimately unrealized. HeeJin has stated that one of the reasons she became a singer was to make her sisters’ unfulfilled dreams come true, and has cited her sisters as being her biggest supporters.[5]
In pursuit of her goals, HeeJin traveled long distances in order to attend a dance academy. Her father began discouraging her dreams of becoming a singer after she was rejected at 20 different auditions. However, in 2015 she was cast through social media by BlockBerryCreative and became a trainee. HeeJin trained for one year before she was selected to be the first member of the agency’s upcoming girl group.[5]
2016: Reveal, solo debut, “I’ll Be There”, “The Carol”
On September 25, 2016, a video teaser titled “LOONA’s 1st Member ‘HeeJin’ SeoulTeaser” was released on YouTube featuring promotional posters of HeeJin on the streets of Seoul.
She released her solo single album HeeJin on October 5, 2016 and subsequently debuted as a member of the girl group LOONA.
On October 2, a video teaser titled “Paris” was released on YouTube to tease the acoustic mix of “ViViD”, featuring HeeJin while filming in Paris.
On November 10, HeeJin had a cameo in the alternate version of the music video for HyunJin’s “Around You”. She additionally released a song with HyunJin titled “I'll Be There,” which was included on HyunJin’s debut single.
On December 15, HeeJin released “The Carol” alongside HyunJin and HaSeul as a track on HaSeul’s debut single.
HeeJin is the only member to not have a “Who’s Next Girl?” teaser image; as she was the first member, such a teaser was unnecessary.
2017: “My Sunday”, commercial films, LOONA 1/3, “Singing in the Rain”, Woomanna, MIXNINE
On January 16, HeeJin and HyunJin released their second duet, “My Sunday”, as a part of member YeoJin’s debut single.
On February 14, HeeJin was revealed as a member of the sub-unit LOONA 1/3, and debuted with “Love & Live” on March 13.
HeeJin has had cameos and supporting roles in the highest number of solo music videos out of all members of LOONA. On April 17, HeeJin was included in member ViVi’s music video “Everyday I Love You”, alongside HyunJin, HaSeul, and YeoJin. On June 23, she was featured on a special version of JinSoul’s “Singing in the Rain” where she covered the rap portion of the song. On December 9, she appeared in HyunJin’s special music video “Around You - Woomanna Special Ver.” which featured scenes from the web drama Woomanna; HeeJin starred in first season and second seasons of Woomanna in main role.
In October, HeeJin, along with fellow LOONA members HyunJin and HaSeul, auditioned for the survival reality show MIXNINE. After passing the audition, she became a contestant as a representative of her agency and idol group.[6] HeeJin made it until the final episode, but was eliminated when the boys’ team won against the girls’.[7]
HeeJin starred in a number of commercial films in 2017, including for Innisfree on January 18, Law of Creation on May 16 (with LOONA 1/3), HANYUL on May 21, and HIGH CUT on September 4.
2018: AVAJAR, “Rosy”, LG QT/QT/ + TV, debut in LOONA
In March 2018, BlockBerry Creative announced HeeJin had signed an advertising model contract with Korean cosmetics brand AVAJAR. She advertised the company’s products along with Kyulkyung (formerly of PRISTIN) and Cheng Xiao of WJSN (Cosmic Girls). Shortly afterward, a commercial film featuring HeeJin along with HyunJin, Cheng Xiao, Kyulkyung, and members of Super Junior was released for the brand.[8]
On March 7, HeeJin appeared on one episode of Woomanna’s third season, reprising her role from seasons 1 and 2.
On March 30 she was featured on Olivia Hye and Go Won’s duet “Rosy”, where she covered the rap part of the song. She also was featured in the music video for Olivia Hye’s “Egoist”.
On July 13, HeeJin starred in a commercial film for LG’s LG Q7/Q7 + TV. This commercial became an inside joke between the LOONA members, making an appearance in LOONA Kick #89.
On August 18, HeeJin officially debuted as a member of the completed group LOONA as their unofficial center. She and her members released the mini-album [+ +], featuring the title track “Hi High”.
2019: High school graduation, HI MART
On January 1, 2019, HeeJin starred in a commercial film for HI MART.
On January 7, HeeJin graduated from Hansung Girls’ High School alongside HyunJin.
On February 24, HeeJin appeared as a contestant on King of Masked Singer as "Enter Lady" against contestant "Play Guy". While singing Sunmi's "Full Moon (보름달)" she revealed herself, and later expressed her emotions through LOONA's instagram.[9][10]
On September 4, HeeJin appeared in a clip for MBC's "2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships – Chuseok Special" as a pitcher along many other idols.[11][12]
2020: “Bad”
On April 18, HeeJin alongside Yves and Chuu appeared on JBTC's "Ask Us Anything".[13][14] A clip of them dancing to their title track “So What” also on YouTube. Later on April 26, HeeJin starred as the main role in BEN's music video “Bad”.
2022: Legal disputes
On November 28, all members of LOONA, except for HyunJin and ViVi, filed injunctions to suspend their exclusive contracts with BlockBerryCreative.[15]
2023: Departure from BlockBerryCreative, signing with MODHAUS, ARTMS, “Air Force One”, solo comeback
On January 13, 2023, HeeJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry won their lawsuits to terminate their exclusive contracts with BlockBerryCreative.[16] On February 1, a source from BlockBerryCreative confirmed they will submit a petition asking to suspend their entertainment activities.[17]
On March 3, the eleven remaining members of LOONA performed their first, and likely last, concert in Japan: LOONA 1st Live: LOONA THE WORLD IN TOKYO. Despite winning her injunction against BlockBerryCreative to suspend her contract, HeeJin participated in this concert.
On March 17, 2023, HeeJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry were announced to have signed an exclusive contract with MODHAUS.[18] On April 1, they were revealed as a part of a re-debut project called the “ARTMS Strategy”.[19]
On July 12, HeeJin made a brief appearance in ODD EYE CIRCLE's “Air Force One” music video.
On August 3, it was reported HeeJin is preparing to release new music in October of 2023. Later that day, MODHAUS confirmed the reports and added that she will be releasing a solo album.[20]
On October 31, HeeJin released her first mini album titled <K>, alongside the music video for the title song, “Algorithm”.[21]
On December 1, HeeJin, alongside other ARTMS members released their first pre–debut single “The Carol 3.0”.
Discography
Mini albums
- <K> (2023)
Single albums
- HeeJin (2016)
Collaborations
- “I'll Be There” (with HyunJin) (2016)
- “The Carol” (with HyunJin and HaSeul) (2016)
- “My Sunday” (with HyunJin) (2017)
- “Not Friends” (with Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Yves) (2021)
Features
- “Rosy” (with Go Won and Olivia Hye) (2018)
OSTs
- “Masquerade” (with JinSoul) (2022)
Other
- “Like A Star (이 밤이 지나면)” (as Excellent Vibe) (2018)
- “Come to Play (놀러와)” (as Our Home) (2018)
Filmography
Television
Year | Name | Channel | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2017–2018 | MIXNINE | jTBC | Herself (as contestant) |
2022 | GIRL'S RE:VERSE | KakaoTV | Rien (as contestant) |
Web Drama
Year | Name | Channel/Platform | Role |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Do You Remember the First Time We Met? Season 1 | YouTube | Jeon HeeJin (main) |
Do You Remember the First Time We Met? Season 2 | |||
2018 | Do You Remember the First Time We Met? Season 3 | Jeon HeeJin (minor) | |
2023 | Convenience Store Grasshopper |
Music Video Appearances
As Main
Year | Name | Artist |
---|---|---|
2020 | “Bad" | BEN |
2021 | "I should not have loved you" | DINDIN, Min Kyung Hoon |
As Cameo
Year | Name | Artist |
---|---|---|
2016 | “Around You (Original Film Ver.)” | HyunJin |
2018 | “Egoist (feat. JinSoul)” | Olivia Hye |
2023 | “Air Force One” | ODD EYE CIRCLE |
As Minor
Year | Name | Artist |
---|---|---|
2017 | “Everyday I Love You (feat. HaSeul)” | ViVi |
“Around You (Woomanna Special Ver.)” | HyunJin |
As Rapper
Year | Name | Artist |
---|---|---|
2017 | “Singing in the Rain (feat. HeeJin)” | JinSoul |
Commercial Films
Year | Brand | Type |
---|---|---|
2017 | Innisfree (#1 (loonatheworld) (HIGH CUT) / #2 (HIGH CUT) / #3 / #4 (HIGH CUT)) | Cosmetic |
The Law of Creation (#1 / #2) | Mobile Game | |
HANYUL | Cosmetic | |
2018 | AVAJAR | Cosmetic |
LG Q7/Q7+ TV (Playlist) | Appliance/Mobile Phone | |
Snack World (#1 / #2) | Mobile Game | |
2019 | Hi-Mart | Appliance |
2020 | NIVEA (#1 / #2 / #3) | Cosmetic |
Credits
Year | Song | Album | Lyrics | Composition | Arranging | Other |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | “Algorithm” | <K> | ◯ | ✖ | ✖ | ◯ |
“Video Game” | ◯ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ||
“Nokia” | ◯ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ||
“Addiction” | ◯ | ✖ | ✖ | ◯ |
References
- ↑ Go WonTV EP.05 “161.2!” @12:40. YouTube. 2021.07.27
- ↑ /çiˈ.t͡ɕin/, HEE-jeen
- ↑ MARKET NEWS. "[KR] [PICK포토] 내 ★의 고향은 어디? (대전 편)" 2020.05.01
- ↑ hello82. “Who’s the Portuguese Legend in LOONA?” YouTube. 2019.10.04
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 loona-trans. “I want to make my sisters’ unfulfilled dreams come true.” (Orig) Tumblr. 2017.03.12.
- ↑ MIXNINE Episode #1. 2017.10.29
- ↑ MIXNINE Episode #14. 2018.01.26
- ↑ NAVER. “이달의 소녀 희진, 코스메틱 브랜드 광고 모델 발탁” (“LOONA HeeJin selected as cosmetic brand advertising model”) NAVER. 2018.03.29
- ↑ Soompi:Girl Group Member Captivates With Both Her Singing And Rapping On “The King Of Mask Singer”
- ↑ NAVER TV:'복면가왕' 엔터레이디는 이달의 소녀 희진…플레이가이 2R 진출
- ↑ IMBC:걸그룹 대표 주자들의 투구 연습 현장! 金메달의 주인공은?
- ↑ Soompi:Seulgi, Kim Doyeon, Yeji, And More Practice Pitching For “2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships”
- ↑ Soompi:LOONA’s HeeJin, Chuu, And Yves Show Off Their Dance Moves On “Ask Us Anything”
- ↑ Top Star News:'아는형님' 이달의소녀X송은이X요요미 '퀴즈 대결' 승리 "한돈 세트 겟"
- ↑ Team Subbits. “9 Members of LOONA Excluding Vivi and Hyunjin in Lawsuit to Terminate Contract”. Twitter. 2022.11.28
- ↑ Team Subbits. “HeeJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry win their lawsuits to terminate exclusive contracts”. Twitter. 2023.01.13
- ↑ “BlockBerryCreative Confirmed To Have Submitted Petition To Suspend Chuu’s Activities”. Soompi. 2023.02.01
- ↑ Kim Na-yul. “‘Former LOONA’ members Choerry, JinSoul, HeeJin, and Kim Lip exclusive contract with MODHAUS”. HeraldPOP. 2023.03.17
- ↑ “LOONA’s HeeJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, And Choerry Signal New Start As ARTMS With 1st Teaser And Social Media Accounts”. Soompi. 2023.04.01
- ↑ Kim Hyun-sik. “[KOR] '前 이달소' 희진, 10월 솔로 출격…'화려한 새 출발'”. E-Daily. 2023.08.03
- ↑ Puah Ziwei. “ARTMS’ HeeJin pays tribute to Korean culture in ‘Algorithm’ music video”. NME. 2023.10.31
LOONA • LOONA 1/3 • ARTMS • Feverse | |
LOONA | |
Feverse | |
Mini albums | |
OSTs | “Masquerade” |
Reality | MIXNINE • GIRL'S RE:VERSE |
Drama | Woomanna |
HeeJin • HaSeul • Kim Lip • JinSoul • Choerry | |
Sub-units | |
Albums | |
Digital singles | |
Reality | Explore Log • ARTMS BEHIND • ARTMS shortcut |
Cosmo App | Cosmo • Gravity • Objekt |
HeeJin • HyunJin • HaSeul • ViVi | ||
Mini albums | ||
Repackage albums | ||
Exclusive releases | “I Like You More Now” | |
Characters | LOONA 1/3 : HeeJin • HyunJin • HaSeul • ViVi | |
Locations | Earth | |
Analysis | Love & Live • Sonatine • I Like You More Now |