Yuqi

Who Is Yuqi?

Yuqi, born Song Yuqi (송우기 / 宋雨琴) on September 23, 1999, in Beijing, China, is a Chinese singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer best known as the main dancer, sub-vocalist, and sub-rapper of the South Korean girl group I-DLE (formerly stylized (G)I-DLE) under Cube Entertainment. Fans and members alike call her the group’s “cutie,” and her husky, low-toned voice and dynamic stage presence have made her one of the most recognizable idols of her generation.

Early Life and Trainee Days

Yuqi grew up as an only child in Beijing and attended Beijing 101 High School before her life took a dramatic turn. In 2015, she auditioned for both SM Entertainment and Cube Entertainment around the same period; after receiving offers from both, she chose Cube because she felt her voice suited the company better and she was promised a faster path to debut. She moved to South Korea alone to train, a difficult transition she has spoken about candidly, admitting she struggled to make friends during her early days as a trainee.

Debut with I-DLE

Yuqi was revealed as the first confirmed member of (G)I-DLE on April 8, 2018, and officially debuted with the group on May 2, 2018, with the EP I Am and its lead single “Latata.” Since then, she has grown into one of I-DLE’s key performers, contributing not only her dancing and rapping but also her songwriting to hits like “I’m the Trend,” “Polaroid,” and “Liar.”

Solo Career and Variety Stardom

Beyond the group, Yuqi built an enormous solo profile, particularly in China, where she became a beloved cast member of the hit variety show Keep Running starting in 2019 and hosted her own KakaoTV series, Learn Way. She made her debut as a soloist with the single album A Page in May 2021, featuring “Giant” and “Bonnie & Clyde,” before officially debuting in the Korean market with her first EP, Yuq1, in April 2024 — an album that broke the record for the highest first-week sales by a K-pop female solo artist’s debut EP. She followed this with the single album Motivation in 2025.

Beyond Music

Yuqi is also an accomplished actress and brand ambassador, having made her acting debut in the Netflix series Celebrity and fronted campaigns for Fendi, Ray-Ban, and Anessa. Fluent in Chinese, Korean, and English, she continues to balance group promotions, solo releases, acting, and variety television across both South Korea and China.