Yuju

Who Is Yuju?

Yuju, born Choi Yu-na on October 4, 1997, in Ilsan, South Korea, is a singer-songwriter best known as the main vocalist of GFriend, one of the most beloved South Korean girl groups of the late 2010s. With her warm, powerful tone, Yuju became one of the defining voices of the “girl crush meets fairytale” sound that made GFriend a household name, and she has since built a respected solo career as a singer-songwriter.

Early Life and Trainee Days

Growing up in Ilsan, Yuju dreamed of becoming a singer from a young age and even wanted to be a figure skater before her family steered her toward music. She trained under LOEN Entertainment (now Kakao Entertainment) and attempted a JYP Entertainment audition before eventually joining Source Music, where her powerhouse vocals quickly stood out. She attended the Seoul School of Performing Arts, the same school that produced many of her fellow idols.

Debut with GFriend

Yuju debuted as GFriend’s main vocalist on January 15, 2015, with the mini album Season of Glass and its lead single “Glass Bead.” The group’s breakout single “Me Gustas Tu” went viral after a video of the members falling repeatedly on a slippery stage circulated online — Yuju herself performed through a twisted finger, and fans praised the group’s professionalism. GFriend went on to release hits like “Rough,” “Navillera,” “Love Whisper,” and “Fingertip,” cementing themselves as one of the era’s most consistent girl groups.

Solo Career and Songwriting

Even before GFriend disbanded, Yuju built a name for herself as an OST singer, most notably with “Spring Is Gone by Chance” for the drama The Girl Who Sees Smells, which topped the OST chart for ten consecutive weeks and won Best OST at the 2015 Melon Music Awards. After GFriend’s contract ended in May 2021, Yuju signed with Konnect Entertainment and made her official solo debut in January 2022 with the EP [REC.] and its title track “Play,” which she co-wrote herself. She followed up with the EP O in 2023, taking on an even larger role as a lyricist and composer, and released the widely praised digital single “Dalala.” In 2025, Yuju signed with AT AREA and released her third mini album, In Bloom.

Legacy

Known for her emotionally resonant voice and increasingly hands-on approach to songwriting, Yuju has carved out an identity distinct from her GFriend days, while still reuniting with her members for GFriend’s 10th-anniversary comeback in 2025. She remains one of the most respected vocalists of her generation.