Umji

Umji
Umji giving the V sign
Umji in August 2024
Born
Kim Ye-won

(1998-08-19) August 19, 1998 (age 28)
Incheon, South Korea
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
Musical career
GenreK-pop
InstrumentVocals
Years active2015–present
Labels
Member of
Korean name
Hangul
김예원
RRGim Yewon
MRKim Yewŏn
Stage name
Hangul
엄지
RREomji
MRŎmji
Signature
Signature of Umji

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

Early life

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

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.

Career

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". The group first live performance took place on the KBS2's Music Bank on January 16.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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. On October 8, 2021, it was announced their new group name would be Viviz. Viviz debuted on February 9, 2022, with the extended play Beam of Prism.

Discography

Soundtrack appearances

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 — Lovely Runner OST
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Composition credits

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

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 NoYesNo
"Love & Tears" YesYesNo
"Always" 2025 Season of Memories Gfriend YesYesNo
"Love Language" A Montage of ( ) Viviz NoYesNo

Filmography

Radio show

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

Notes

  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.

References

  1. 1 2 "엄지". Marie Claire Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ↑ Lee, Soo-jung (October 5, 2026). "Viviz trio signs with Uncore, weighs name change". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  3. ↑ "[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.
  4. ↑ "[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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "KPOP NEWS - New Rookie Group GFriend Makes Debut with ′Glass Bead′ MV…". archive.vn. January 5, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ↑ 김하진 (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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "여자친구 엄지 건강문제로 활동 중단…"대퇴부 봉공근 염좌 치료 집중, 당분간 5인 체제" [공식입장 전문]". 뉴스핌 (in Korean). October 6, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ Lee, Ho-yeon (November 20, 2016). '엄지 합류' 여자친구, 말이 필요없는 레전드 갓자친구. Herald Muse (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
  13. ↑ "'복면가왕', 꿩은 여자친구 엄지…노래도 '엄지척'". inews24 (in Korean). December 3, 2017. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  14. ↑ "요고바라 - 요즘 고딩들의 바깥 라이프!". m.programs.sbs.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ "요고바라 - 요즘 고딩들의 바깥 라이프!". m.programs.sbs.co.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ "NAVER NOW". now.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ 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.
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ 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.
  23. ↑ "Download Chart - Week 17 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). April 21–27, 2024. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Songs Registered Under UMJI (10022154)". Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA). Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  25. ↑ 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.