Uee | |
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Uee in 2013
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Born |
Kim Yu-jin April 9, 1988 Daegu, South Korea |
Other names |
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Occupation |
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Years active | 2007–present |
Agent | Pledis Entertainment (2009–present) |
Musical career | |
Genres | K-pop |
Instruments | Vocals |
Labels | |
Associated acts |
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Korean name | |
Hangul | 김유진 |
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Revised Romanization | Gim Yu-jin |
McCune–Reischauer | Kim Yuchin |
Stage name | |
Hangul | 유이 |
Revised Romanization | Yui |
McCune–Reischauer | Yui |
Kim Yu-jin (born April 9, 1988), better known by her stage name Uee (sometimes romanized as U-ie), is a South Korean singer and actress. She has been a member of girl group After School since 2009, and has acted in various television dramas including Queen Seondeok (2009), Ojakgyo Family (2011), Jeon Woo-chi (2012), Golden Rainbow (2013), High Society (2015) and Marriage Contract (2016).
Kim Yu-jin was born April 9, 1988 in Daegu, South Korea. Her father, Kim Sung-kap, is a professional baseball coach for the South Korean team, Nexen Heroes. She has an older sister, Kim Yu-na. Uee attended Incheon Physical Education High School. While in high school, she was a swimmer and competed in the Korean National Sports Festival.
Uee originally desired to be an actress and went to many auditions, but she debuted as a singer first. In 2007, Uee was a member of the girl group Five Girls (Hangul: 오소녀; RR: O Sonyeo) under Good Entertainment, which also included Yubin, Jun Hyoseong, Yang Jiwon, and G.NA. The group starred in a reality show on MTV called Diary of Five Girls, but disbanded before their scheduled debut due to Good Entertainment's financial troubles.
In April 2009, Uee joined the girl group After School with their single "Diva". In July, she made her acting debut in MBC's historical drama, Queen Seondeok, which was well received and won various awards. In August, Uee appeared in Mighty Mouth's music video for "Love Class" (연애특강) with Hyuna from 4Minute, after which she was cast for SBS's You're Beautiful playing Yoo He-yi. Later that month, she joined the project group, 4Tomorrow, releasing the song, "Dugeundugeun Tomorrow" (Hangul: 두근두근 Tomorrow) on October 6, 2009. The group was composed of Uee, Han Seung-yeon, Hyuna, and Gain. That same year, she joined the reality show, We Got Married and was paired with Park Jae-jung. Uee ranked eighth on Forbes Korea's list of most hardworking idols in 2009–2010.