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Heo Young-ji
허영지
YOUNGJI KARA 2022.jpg
Heo in 2022
Born (1994-08-30) August 30, 1994 (age 30)
Goyang, South Korea
Other names Hur Young-ji
Youngji
Occupation
  • Singer
  • actress
  • entertainer
  • television personality
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres K-pop
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2014–present
Labels SM C&C
Korean name
Hangul
허영지
Hanja
Revised Romanization Heo Yeong-ji
McCune–Reischauer Hŏ Yŏngchi

Heo Young-ji (Hangul: 허영지; born August 30, 1994), better known mononymously as Youngji, is a South Korean singer, dancer, entertainer and television personality. She is best known as a member of girl group Kara. In 2023, Heo Young-ji made her official solo debut with the release of the single "L.O.V.E."

Career

Pre-debut

Heo attended School of Performing Arts Seoul. She was a former trainee at Core Contents Media alongside T-ara's ex-member Areum. She was about to debut in a new girl group but left before the girl group debuted. Later, she became a trainee at KeyEast before becoming a trainee at DSP Media.

2014–2015: Debut with Kara and solo activities

In May 2014, after former Kara members Nicole Jung and Kang Ji-young left the group, DSP Media launched a reality TV show called Kara Project which revolved around seven trainees competing to become the new member of the group. Even though she missed 2 live performances due to a leg injury from practice, she grabbed attention from viewers and topped the voting charts.

On July 1, the live voting results commenced on 6:45 pm (KST). Heo Young-ji was proclaimed the winner with a total score of 49,591. After winning the show, she gave a winning speech saying she'll work even harder as a new member of Kara.

In September 2014, Heo was one of the new participants for the second season of the show, Roommate. She was known for her muted laughter, and on the Christmas special of Roommate, it was shown that Heo's family members have similar laughing styles as well. In the interview as a preview for being one of the new cast members for Roommate, she said that many people told her to cover her mouth while laughing, but it was very problematic and now she is more comfortable to laugh without covering her mouth.

When fellow member Goo Hara guested on Episode 9 of Roommate, she shared that she wanted Heo to be chosen as a member of Kara as she has charms that the existing members does not have and Kara feel more youthful with her.

An MBC EVERY1 representative told MBN Star on December 18, 2014, that Heo would join Hitmaker season 2 as a part of a girl group, along with Orange Caramel's Lizzy, G.NA, 4minute's So-hyun. The group was later named Cham So Nyeo. The group first released their debut song teaser "올해의 주문 (Magic Words)" on February 17, followed by the full song and music video 3 days later, on February 20.

2016–present: Acting career and solo work

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Heo at the 2016 Seoul Fashion Week

On January 15, 2016, DSP Media announced Gyuri, Seungyeon and Hara's departure from the group due to contracts expiring. The company also noted that Heo would continue her music career as a solo artist.

On April 13, Park Gyu-ri stated that the group did not disband and that the members hoped to release new albums in the future.

In May 2016, she was cast in a supporting role in the tvN drama, Another Miss Oh. She was also cast in several television programs, such as MBC's Very Private TV as a cast member, m SBS' War of Vocals - God's Voice as a panelist and EBS' Humanity Busking as a host.

On December 8, 2016, DSP Media revealed Heo as the first hidden member of their new co-ed group K.A.R.D. She promoted with the group for their first project single "OH NA NA", which was released on December 13.

On August 2, 2017, DSP Media confirmed that Heo was preparing for her solo debut in August. Her first single titled Memory Clock was released on August 25.

On December 15, 2017, MCC Entertainment released news article that revealed she will participate on 2nd song of project 'with dog'. The song titled Longing was released on the same day.

In August 2021, Heo renewed her contract with DSP Media.

In September 2023, Heo made her solo debut with first single album Toi Toi Toi, with its title track "L.O.V.E."

On September 5, 2024, Heo parted ways with DSP Media after 10 years.

On September 9, 2024, Heo signed an exclusive contract with SM C&C.

Discography

Single albums

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and sales
Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
Toi Toi Toi
  • Released: September 12, 2023 (KOR)
  • Released: December 28, 2023 (JPN)
  • Label: DSP
  • Formats: CD, digital download
36
  • KOR: 5,679
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
"Memory Clock" (추억시계) 2017 N/A Non-album single
"Longing" (그리움) Together Puppy
"L.O.V.E." 2023 Toi Toi Toi
"—" denotes songs that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Collaborations

Song Year Album Other artist(s)
"Magic Words" 2015 Non-album single With Lizzy, G.NA and So-hyun as Chamsonyeo
"Peek-A-Boo" In Love Duet with Park Gyu-ri
"You're So Yummy" Tasty 2: Happy Together OST N/A
"How About Me?" Alohara (Can You Feel It?) Goo Hara feat Young-ji
"Fingertips Love" 2016 "Creating a Healthy Cyber World" Campaign song With B1A4, BTOB, A-JAX, Oh My Girl, Kassy and April
"Oh NaNa" "K.A.R.D Project Vol.1" As K.A.R.D's first hidden member

Production credits

Year Artist Song Role Album
2016 AISLE Happy Magic Candy Co-Lyricist Happy Magic Candy
2017 SAY YES Lyricist Say Yes
2017 Hur Young-ji Memory Clock Composer, Lyricist, Arranger Memory Clock
2022 KARA Happy Hour Co-lyricist MOVE AGAIN

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Tasty 2: Happy Together Korean and Japanese dubbed version

Television series

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 The Alchemist Oh Young-ji
2016 Another Miss Oh Yoon An-na
2017 Introverted Boss Actor Hwang Young-kyu's transgender daughter Cameo (Episode 3)
Han Yeoreum's Memory Jung Da-jung
2018 Are You Human? entertainer Cameo (Episode 1)
The Beauty Inside Han Se-gye's fan Cameo (Episode 13)
2019 At Eighteen Kim Ji-min
2021 Park Sungshil's Death Industrial Revolution Choi Mi-yeon drama stage
I Want to Live Roughly Sonia Sitcom

Television shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2014 Kara Project Contestant Won the show and became a new member of Kara
The Lord Of The Ratings MC
2014–2015 Roommate: Season 2 Fixed cast
Hitmaker Season 2 As a member of Chamsonyeo with G.NA, Lizzy, and Sohyun
2015 A Hard Day Contestant
Game of Thrones
Founding Star Fixed cast Episode 1–6
2016 Next Door CEO Episode 1–12
Very Private TV
Vocal War: God's Voice Fixed panelist
Super Idols Panelist Mafia Team
Hitmaker Cast Season 2
Idol Intern King Fixed cast With Qri, Kwon So-hyun, Park Narae, Hyojung, and Han Hyeri
Humanity Busking Host
2017 Strong Girls Regular cast With Cao Lu, Luna, Park Bo-ram, and Giant Pink
Beauty Academy Fixed MC
Beauty Summit
Time Space Operation F.B.I With Lee Soo-kyung, DinDin and Heo Kyung-hwan
Shadow Singer Fixed panelist With Kang Hodong, JR, and others
2018 I am CEO Season 2 Fixed panelist With Kim Sook and Boom
2019–2023 Comedy Big League Host with Shin Young-il
2021 Change Days Host with Jang Do-yeon and Yang Se-chan
Adola School Teacher with Son Dong-pyo
2022 One Tree Table Cast Member
Pet Me Pick Me Host

Web shows

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019–2020 Review Host 2019– April 8, 2020
2020–present Latte World
2021–present 6 Sinug's hometown
Vivalog
2022 Change Days Season 2

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Ref.
Blue Dragon Series Awards 2023 Best New Female Entertainer Change Days Nominated
SBS Entertainment Awards 2014 Show Variety Female Newcomer Roommate Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Heo Young-ji para niños

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