South Korea — With their new album, Eleven, the new K-pop girl group IVE debuted on Dec 1 and smashed records.
According to KpopStarz, the album sold more than 152,200 copies in the first week alone, breaking the record for highest first-week sales for debut albums by a female group.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, IVE (short for “I have”) is Starship Entertainment’s first girl band in years, following the launch of WJSN in 2016. Yujin, Wonyoung, Gaeul, Rei, Liz, and Leeseo make up IVE.
Starship Entertainment has brought into the limelight in the past a few stars like Sistar, Monsta X, and Cravity, to name a few. It has now introduced IVE, the new record breakers:
Yujin
IVE’s leader is already well known in the entertainment field. Yujin joined Starship Entertainment in 2017 and debuted in 2018 as a member of the girl group Iz*One. The Korean music website Kpop Hit reports that she finished fifth among 95 female trainees in 2018’s survival reality TV show Produce 48. Iz*One disbanded in April.
As an MC on the popular music show Inkigayo with NCT’s Sungchan and Treasure’s Jihoon, Yujin, 18, has appeared in numerous music videos, including Jeong Se-woon’s Just U, Ailee, and Mad Clown’s Thirst, Yoo Seung-woo, and Sandeul’s Oppa, according to Kpop Wiki. Pepsi, The Volon, Burberry Beauty, and Megapass are among the other companies she has partnered with.
Wonyoung
Jang Wonyoung, who was also a member of Iz*One, was scouted by Starship Entertainment after she attended her sister’s graduation ceremony, reports AllKpop. TC Candler’s “The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2018” list included the 17-year-old, who came in first place on Produce 48 last year. In addition to her profile on the official Produce 48 website, some fans believe that she is Taiwanese, Koreaboo reports.
The singer hosts Music Bank and is a brand ambassador for Miu Miu, Innisfree, and Chaumet, among others. AllKpop reports that she is the youngest model ever to grace the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Korea.
Gaeul
Gaeul is IVE’s rapper. Her real name is Kim Ga-eul. At the ripe old age of 19, she’s the group’s oldest member. K Profiles says she was a trainee at JYP Entertainment before joining Starship Entertainment. Hallyu Idol reports that the aspiring K-pop star loves the colour pink and enjoys reading mystery novels and watching horror films.
Rei, according to Hayllyu Idol, is a rapper and vocalist as well as the first Japanese idol to debut with Starship Entertainment. So she’s bilingual in Korean and Japanese. She studied at the School of Performing Arts, Seoul. She loves drawing and decorating her home with flowers and butterflies among her hobbies, according to K Profiles.
Liz
Liz is the band’s lead singer. She dropped out of high school and made her debut at 17. K Profiles says she plays the piano, was part of her high school’s dance club, and – get this – received a sports award for excellence.
Just 14, Leeseo is the youngest member of IVE. She had already made her mark in entertainment as a child. According to K Profiles, as a member of her high school choir, she looks up to Blackpink’s Jennie as a role model. According to Hallyu Idol, the young K-pop star also worked as a child model for SM Kids.
Singles: Take it!
IVE’s official introduction of members
/TISG