Kang Ji-young
Kang in 2018
Born (1994-01-18) January 18, 1994 (age 30)
Paju, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Other namesJY
EducationSungkyunkwan University
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Agent
  • ELRIS Entertainment
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2008–present
Labels
Member ofKara
Korean name
Hangul
강지영
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGang Ji-yeong
McCune–ReischauerKang Chiyŏng

Kang Ji-young (born January 18, 1994), also known as Jiyoung or JY, is a South Korean singer and actress based in Japan. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Kara.

Life and career

Kang Ji-young was born on January 18, 1994,[1] in Paju, South Korea. She is the cousin of the K-pop singer NS Yoon-G.

She attended Bongilcheon Middle School and Muhak Women's High School, graduating from the latter in February 2012.

2008–2014: Kara

Main article: Kara (South Korean band)

Jiyoung joined the girl group Kara in 2008 along with member Hara, following the departure of former member Kim Sung-hee. She was 14 years old at the time, making her the youngest member of the group.

Jiyoung was the only Korean female singer to be featured on CDTV Japan's Favorite Female Artist Ranking for 2011, where she was ranked at #21.

On January 15, 2014, it was announced that she would leave the group once her contract expired in April 2014 to focus on her studies with acting and language skills in London.[2][3][4] In 2022, she rejoined the group for their 15th anniversary promotions.

2014–present: Solo activities as actress and other works

After leaving Kara, Jiyoung signed with the agency Sweet Power to resume her activities in Japan as an actress, using her name in kanji, 知英. She made her first appearance in the 19th Tokyo Girls Collection fashion show in the Saitama Super Arena on September 6.[5]

Jiyoung's first work in Japan was the live-action of Hell Teacher Nube, where she played the heroine, Yukime.

In December 2015, Sony Music announced that Jiyoung would debut as a singer under the name of JY. Her first solo single was "The Last Farewell" (最後のサヨナラ, saigo no sayonara), for the OST for the Japan NTV drama Higanbana.[6]

On March 18, 2016, she released her debut solo EP as JY, Radio, consisting of three tracks. Two of the three tracks were released with music videos.[7][8] "Radio" was written by London-based songwriter and producer MNEK, while Darren Craig directed its music video. Radio peaked at #2 on the iTunes Pop Top Song Chart.[9] It was marketed in the US and other parts of Asia in addition to South Korea and Japan.[6]

In February 2022, it is reported that Kang has decided not to renew her contract with KeyEast.[10]

On April 6, 2022, it was announced that Kang signed with ELRIS Entertainment.[11]

In July 2022 Kang released Project solo Lucid Dream[12]

Discography

For Ji-young's works with Kara, see Kara discography.

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak positions Sales
JPN
[13]
Many Faces ~Tamensei~
(Many Faces～多面性～) 		12

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak positions Sales
JPN
[13]
Hoshi ga Furu Mae ni
(星が降る前に) 		114 —

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak positions Sales
[A] 		Album
KOR
[15] 		JPN
[13] 		JPN
Hot
[16]
"Merry Love" (with Kim Sung-je)[17] 2010 — — 16 — Non-album singles
"My Love" (with Park Gyu-ri)[18] — — — Daemul OST
"Rainbow Rose"[19] 2012 — — — Rainbow Rose OST
"Wanna Do" 100 — — Kara Solo Collection
"Radio"[B] 2016 — — 69
  • JPN: 8,850 (digital)
 Many Faces
"Saigo no Sayonara"[21]
(最後のサヨナラ) 		— 7 10
  • JPN: 17,104
"Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto"[22]
(好きな人がいること) 		— 6 3
  • JPN: 31,099
  • RIAJ: Platinum (digital)[23]
  • RIAJ: Gold (streaming)
"Fake" (フェイク) — 25 —
"Koiwo Shiteitakoto"
(恋をしていたこと) 		— 24 —
"Joshi Modoki"[25][26] (女子モドキ) 2017 — — 28 —
"Goldmine" — — — Non-album singles
"Secret Crush - Koi Yamerarenai / My ID"
(Secret Crush ～恋やめられない～) 		— 29 —
"Namida no Riyuu" (涙の理由) 2018 — — —
"Lucid Dream" 2022 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

As featured artist

Title Year Peak positions Sales
[A] 		Album
KOR
[15] 		KOR
Hot
[27]
"Nunibusyeo" (눈이부셔)[28]
(Jumper feat. Ji-young) 		2009 — — — Non-album singles
"Mermaid Princess" (인어공주)[29]
(with Yoon Bo-ra, Lizzy, Han Sun-hwa, Heo Ga-yoon) 		2012 10 12 Mystic White
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Other appearances

Song Year Other artists Album
"Hayangyeoul" (하얀겨울)
(Mr.2 cover) 		2011 Nicole Jung, Han Seung-yeon Immortal Song 2: Christmas Special

Video albums

Title Album details Peak positions Sales
JPN
[13]
JY 1st LIVE TOUR “Many Faces 2017” 35 —

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
2015 Assassination Classroom Irina Jelavić professional killer, also known as "Bitch-sensei"
Detective Conan: Sunflowers of Inferno Museum Guide (voice)
2016 Assassination Classroom: Graduation Irina Jelavić
Kataomoi Spiral SoYeon
2017 DC Super Heroes vs. Eagle Talon Harley Quinn (voice)[31]
2018 Reon Reon Takanashi
Watashino Jinsei Nanoni Mizuho Kaneshiro
Yaru Onna -She's a Killer- Aiko
2019 Tokyo Ghoul S Itori
And Life Goes On Han Yu-ri
Dosukoi! Sukehira Ayane Sukehira
2021 Love and the Grand Tug-of-war Yeo Ji-hyun[32]

Musical theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Sweet Charity Charity Hope Valentine Lead role

Television

Drama

Year Title Role
2008 The Person Is Coming Gang of school girls, along with Park Gyuri, Jung Nicole and Goo Ha-ra
2011 URAKARA Herself
2012 Koisuru maison ~Rainbow Rose~ Han Yu-ri
2013 KARA The Animation Herself (voice)
2014 Secret Love Park SoYeol
Jigoku Sensei Nube Yukime
Higanbana: Onnatachi no Hanzai File Kaoruko Nagami
2015 Tamiou Erika Murano
2016 Tamiou ~ Aratanaru Inbou
Higanbana: Keishichou Sousa Nanaka Kaoruko Nagami
A Girl & Three Sweethearts Jun Yoshioka
Doctor X 4 Yuka
Mission Commander Gouma Ayaka Sonia
2017 Osaka Kanjousen Part 2 Jihyun
Orphan Black – 7 Genes Sara Aoyama
2019 Ieuruonna No Gyakusyuu Nana Miyadera (cameo)
And Life Goes On Han Yu-ri
2020 Sweet Munchies Kim Ah-jin
2022 Let Me Be Your Knight Nina (Cameo)[33]
2023 Doctor Cha Yu Ji-seon (Cameo)[34][35]

Web series

Year Title Role
2015 How is the sky over there? Ena
2016 Life is... Yuna
2018 Unmeito deaumadeno issyukan Himeno

Radio shows

Date Name Note
September 23, 2009 – April 14, 2010 Super Junior's Kiss the Radio (Sukira) Fixed guest DJ with Gyuri
May 5, 2010 - October 3, 2011 MBC "Stop the Boring Time" (ShimShimTaPa (SSTP)) with Gyuri and Shindong

Bibliography

Endorsements

Year Commercial Notes
2010 Karaya with Goo Ha-ra and Park Gyu-ri
2011 Nature Republic with Goo Ha-ra and Park Gyu-ri
Union Bay Until 2013 with Han Seung-yeon and Lee Min-ki

Awards

Year Award Category Work Result
2012 Mnet 20's Choice Awards Upcoming 20's — Nominated
2015 87th Drama Academy Award Best Supporting Actress Tamiou Nominated
2016 88th Drama Academy Award Best OST Radio & Saigo No Sayonara Nominated
Supporting Actress Higanbana: Keishichou Sousa Nanaka Nominated
2018 10th Okinawa International Movie Festival Okina Audience Award Reon Won

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Korean single section is a digital sales only by Gaon Music Chart and Japanese single section is a CD single sales by Oricon
  2. ^ "Radio" was an English digital single with two B-side song. It was released by Sony Music Japan in Japan and international.[20]

References

  1. ^ Mark Russell (29 April 2014). K-Pop Now!: The Korean Music Revolution. Tuttle Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-4629-1411-1.
  2. ^ "[Breaking] DSP Media releases official statement to confirm Jiyoung's leave in April".
  3. ^ "DSP Confirms Kang Ji Young's Departure from KARA in Official Statement". Soompi. 15 January 2014.
  4. ^ "DSP 측 "강지영 오늘(5일) 런던유학, 전속계약 종료"(전문)". 5 April 2014. Nate. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  5. ^ "'Jiyoung signs with Japanese agency Sweet Power to start her acting career". Allkpop. August 20, 2014.
  6. ^ a b "FORMER MEMBER OF KARA KANG JI YOUNG DEBUTED AS A SOLO". KOREATIDE. March 16, 2016. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  7. ^ "JY-Radio". YouTube. March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  8. ^ "JY-I'm Just Not Into You". YouTube. March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  9. ^ "Former KARA Member Kang Jiyoung To Debut As JY". kpopstarz. March 16, 2016.
  10. ^ Hwang So-young (February 11, 2022). "[단독] 카라 출신 강지영, FA 됐다…키이스트와 아름다운 이별" [[Exclusive] Jiyoung Kang, a former member of KARA, became a free agent... A beautiful farewell to Keyeast] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved February 11, 2022 – via Naver.
  11. ^ Hwang So-young (April 6, 2022). "카라 강지영, 이엘라이즈와 전속 계약 [공식]" [KARA's Jiyoung Kang, exclusive contract with ELRIS [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Daum.
  12. ^ Kim Ye-eun (July 4, 2022). "강지영, 신곡 '루시드 드림' 티저 이미지…매혹적 아우라" [Jiyoung Kang, teaser image for new song 'Lucid Dream'... alluring aura] (in Korean). X-ports News. Retrieved July 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  13. ^ a b c d "JY Japanese Discography on ORICON STYLE". Oricon Chart (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  14. ^ "Weekly CD Album Ranking May 22, 2017 on ORICON STYLE". Oricon Chart (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). KMCIA. Archived from the original on February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  16. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Japan Hot 100. Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  17. ^ "Merry Love - Sungje & Jiyoung". iTunes (in Japanese). 23 February 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  18. ^ "· 대물(OST): SBS-TV 수목 드라마, Part 7". Hanteo (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  19. ^ "레인보우 로즈(OST), Pt.1". Hanteo (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  20. ^ "RADIO (Single) - JY". amazon.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  21. ^ "JY トップアルバム". iTunes (in Japanese). Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  22. ^ "JY - Sukina Hitoga Irukoto". iTunes. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  23. ^ レコード協会調べ 6月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: June Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  24. ^ a b Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  25. ^ "People look 100%" Theme Song "Girls Modoki" MUSIC VIDEO short version released!. jiyoung.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  26. ^ 女子モドキ - JY. Recochoku (in Japanese). Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  27. ^ "Korea K-Pop Hot 100 Music Chart". Billboard. 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  28. ^ 눈이부셔[디지털]. Hanteo (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  29. ^ "2012 SBS 가요대전 The Color Of K-Pop : Mystic White". Mnet (TV channel) (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  30. ^ "2013년 01주차 Download Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  31. ^ サイト名. dc-taka.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  32. ^ "大綱引の恋". eiga.com. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  33. ^ Woo Da-bin (December 6, 2021). "[단독] 카라 출신 강지영, 국내 활동 본격 시동…'너의 밤' 특별출연" [[Exclusive] Kang Ji-young, a former member of KARA, starts full-fledged domestic activities… Special appearance in 'Your Night'] (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved December 11, 2021 – via Naver.
  34. ^ Kang Nae-ri (April 14, 2023). "[단독] 카라 강지영, '닥터 차정숙' 특별출연…연기 활동 박차" [[Exclusive] KARA's Kang Ji-young makes a special appearance in 'Doctor Cha'... spur of acting] (in Korean). YTN. Retrieved April 14, 2023 – via Naver.
  35. ^ Lee Seung-gil (May 1, 2023). "카라 강지영이 미혼모 역할이라니…'닥터 차정숙' 깜짝등장" [Kara Kang Ji-young playing the role of a single mother... 'Doctor Cha Jeong-sook' makes a surprise appearance] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved May 1, 2023.

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