About the artist
KARINA, born Yu Ji Min on April 11, 2000, is a South Korean singer, rapper and dancer, and a member of the girl group aespa under SM Entertainment. Before her debut, she worked as a backup dancer, including for TAEMIN's performance of «WANT», and appeared in a dance collaboration with EXO's KAI for a Hyundai Motor Company virtual showcase. She debuted with aespa on November 17, 2020 with the single «Black Mamba».
As aespa's leader and one of its central visual and vocal presences, KARINA has helped define the group's futuristic concept blending K-pop with hyperreal, virtual-avatar storytelling. She is also a member of GOT the Beat, an SM Entertainment supergroup and the first sub-unit of the Girls On Top project, which debuted in January 2022 with «Step Back» and includes Red Velvet's Wendy and soloist BoA alongside her aespa groupmate Winter.
Beyond music, KARINA has built a public profile as a performer and host, including hosting the Mnet Asian Music Awards in 2021. Her solo work, referenced by songs like «UP» and «Menagerie», reflects her continued presence in the K-pop scene both within aespa and through individual projects.