Karina (Yu Ji-min) Biography: Parents, Net Worth, Age, Albums, Songs, Boyfriend, Height, Wiki

Yu Ji-min, professionally known as Karina, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and dancer.

debuted in 2020 as the leader of the girl group Aespa under SM Entertainment and is also a member of the supergroup Got the Beat.

Renowned for her versatility, Karina excels as Aespa’s main dancer, rapper, vocalist, and visual. Before her debut, she gained recognition by appearing in Taemin’s “Want” music video and has trained with SM Entertainment since 2016.

Beyond her group activities, Karina has pursued solo projects, participated in various television programs, and secured high-profile endorsements, including serving as a brand ambassador for Prada.

Profile

• Full Name: Yu Ji-min
• Stage Name: Karina
• Born: 11 April 2000
• Age: 24 years old
• Birthplace: Ji-dong, Suwon-si, South Korea
• Nationality: South Korean
• Occupation: South Korean singer, rapper, and dancer.
• Height: 1.67m
• Parent: Yu Cheol
• Siblings: 1
• Boyfriends: Lee Jae-wook (separated)
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Not Married
• Net Worth: $2 million

Early Life And Education

Yu Ji-min was born on April 11, 2000, in Ji-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Her parents, including her father, Yu Cheol, raised her, while her mother’s name remains undisclosed. She also has an older sister whose name is not publicly known.

Karina attended Hansol High School in Bundang but later withdrew to focus on her training as an artist.

Subsequently, she earned a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, equivalent to a high school diploma. She is of Korean ethnicity and practices Catholicism.

Career

Karina is best recognized as the leader of the girl group Aespa, formed by SM Entertainment, and a supergroup Got the Beat member.

Before joining SM, she gained attention as an ulzzang, an individual admired for their beauty and fashion sense. An SM casting director discovered her through social media and began her formal training in 2016.

She showcased her dance skills during her trainee period by appearing in Taemin’s 2019 music video for “Want.”

On October 27, 2020, SM Entertainment introduced Karina as the second member of Aespa, and she officially debuted as the group’s leader on November 17, 2020, with the digital single Black Mamba, which broke records as the most-viewed K-pop debut music video within 24 hours.

Aespa quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of the leading groups of the 4th generation of K-pop.

Known for its innovative metaverse concept, the group has achieved significant success with hit songs like Next Level, which peaked at number two on the Circle Digital Chart and won Song of the Year at the 19th Korean Music Awards.

As a key member of Aespa, Karina plays multiple roles, serving as the principal dancer, lead rapper, sub-vocalist, visual, center, and face of the group.

In December 2021, she expanded her career by joining Got the Beat, an SM supergroup composed of powerhouse artists, including BoA and Red Velvet’s Seulgi.

Beyond group activities, Karina has pursued solo projects across various entertainment fields. In September 2023, she released the single Sad Waltz for the Netflix series Song of the Bandits.

She has been active as a television personality, co-hosting Travel Diary Soul: Seoul in 2021 and making guest appearances on Show! Music Core and other programs. Additionally, she has been a regular cast member on variety shows like SynchroU and Agents of Mystery.

Her work on SynchroU earned her the Rookie Award in the Show and Variety Category at the 2024 KBS Entertainment Awards, further cementing her status as a versatile and influential figure in the K-pop industry.

Karina continues to expand her career through music, television, and endorsements, solidifying her place as one of K-pop’s most dynamic artists.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @katarinabluu

Personal Life

Karina is currently single but was previously in a relationship with actor Lee Wook. Their relationship became public in February 2024; however, they reportedly parted ways shortly after the announcement.

According to Lee Jae-wook’s agency, the decision was made because he wished to focus on his filming projects.

Discography

• “Black Mamba” (2020)
• “Forever” (2021)
• “Savage” (2021)
• “Dreams Come True” (2022)
• “Life’s Too Short” (2022)
• “Girls” (2022)
• “Welcome to My World” (2023)
• “Spicy” (2023)
• “Drama” (2023)
• “Supernova” (2024)
• “Armageddon” (2024)
• “Whiplash” (2024)
• Savage (2021)
• Girls (2022)
• My World (2023)
• Drama (2023)
• Whiplash (2024)
• Armageddon (2024)
• “The Cure” (with Kangta, BoA, U-Know, Leeteuk, Taeyeon, Onew, Suho, Irene, Taeyong, Mark, and Kun) (2023)
• “Sad Waltz” (OST for Song of the Bandits) (2023)
• “Up” (2024)

Net Worth

Karina, the leader of Aespa, has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million, reflecting her success and influence in the K-pop industry.

Her earnings primarily stem from her activities with Aespa, including music sales, streaming revenue, concerts, and high-profile brand endorsements.