Soyee
Gugudan

Soyee

소이 · 장소진 (Jang So-jin)
Jang So-jin — Lead Vocalist
Gugudan Lead Vocalist Main Vocalist
🎂 August 2, 2026 🌍 Korean 📏 172 cm ⚖️ 50 kg 🩸 Type AB 🧠 INTP Scorpio
Soyee, born Jang So-jin on November 21, 1996 in Gwangju, South Korea, is a South Korean singer best known as the lead vocalist of Jellyfish Entertainment's girl group Gugudan. After nearly five years training at Cube Entertainment and Plan A Entertainment, she finally debuted with Gugudan on June 28, 2016, bringing a smooth, jazz-influenced vocal tone to hits from their five Act era releases. Standing 172 cm tall with a warm AB blood type personality and an INTP mind, Soyee built a reputation as one of Gugudan's most dependable vocalists, even overcoming a pre-debut shoulder injury that briefly sidelined her in 2017. Fans nicknamed her the Princess of Gugudan for her elegant stage presence. Since Gugudan's 2020 disbandment, Soyee has stepped away from her stage name to pursue acting under her birth name with Noah Entertainment, a new agency she joined in 2022. Her story, defined by long trainee years, quiet resilience, and a genuine passion for jazz, remains a favorite reference point for K-pop fans who appreciate idols with staying power beyond a single group era. Explore her full profile, timeline, and discography below to see how one of Gugudan's steadiest voices carved her own lasting identity in the industry.
Story

Biography

Who Is Soyee? Meet Gugudan’s Velvet-Voiced Lead Vocalist

Soyee, born Jang So-jin on November 21, 1996, in Gwangju, South Korea, spent nearly five years training before she finally got her shot at debut. Long before she ever stood on stage with Gugudan, she had already logged time as a trainee at Cube Entertainment and Plan A Entertainment, where she was once in line to join a completely different girl group. When that plan quietly fell apart, fate redirected her toward Jellyfish Entertainment instead, and everything clicked into place from there.

From Trainee Setbacks to a Fresh Start with Gugudan

Soyee’s road to debut wasn’t a straight line, and that’s exactly what makes her story relatable. Before Gugudan even existed, she’d already brushed shoulders with the industry, appearing in music videos for artists like VIXX and the duo Leo & Lyn. Those small appearances gave fans an early glimpse of her calm, elegant presence on screen. When Jellyfish Entertainment officially unveiled her as a member of their first-ever girl group in June 2016, she stepped in as one of the group’s key vocalists, bringing a smooth, jazz-tinged tone that set her apart from her eight groupmates.

A Voice Built for Ballads, and a Body That Needed Rest

If you ask longtime Danjjak (Gugudan’s fandom) what made Soyee special, they’ll usually mention her voice first. She has a genuine love for jazz music, and that influence shows in the warmth and control she brings to slower, more emotional songs. Unfortunately, an old shoulder injury that had lingered since before her debut eventually caught up with her, forcing her onto a hiatus in October 2017 so she could fully recover. She returned in early 2018 to continue promoting with the group, proving that patience and recovery mattered more to her than rushing back onstage.

Life After Gugudan: A New Chapter as Jang So-jin

When Gugudan officially disbanded at the end of 2020, Soyee didn’t disappear from the spotlight. She left Jellyfish Entertainment in early 2021, and by April 2022 she’d signed with Noah Entertainment, this time stepping forward under her real name, Jang So-jin, to focus on acting and broadcast work. It’s a natural next step for someone who always seemed most comfortable expressing emotion through a quieter, more intimate kind of performance.

Why Fans Still Root for Soyee Today

Even years after Gugudan’s last comeback, Soyee’s steady, understated charm continues to resonate with fans who remember her as the member with the smoothest vocal runs and the calmest presence backstage. Whether she’s remembered as the “Princess of Gugudan” from a memorable Weekly Idol appearance or simply as the girl who once dreamed of performing all over the world, her journey from a five-year trainee to a working idol-turned-actress is a reminder that a career built on patience can still lead somewhere meaningful.

Profile

Basic Information

Stage NameSoyee
Full Birth NameJang So-jin (장소진)
Date of BirthNovember 21, 1996
BirthplaceGwangju, South Korea
HometownGwangju, South Korea
NationalityKorean
Height172 cm (5'8")
Weight50 kg (110 lbs)
Blood TypeAB
Zodiac SignScorpio
MBTIINTP
EducationYeongdong High School, Baekseok Arts University (Applied Music)
AgencyNoah Entertainment (formerly Jellyfish Entertainment)
DebutJune 28, 2016 (Gugudan, "Act.1 The Little Mermaid")
LanguagesKorean
NicknamesPrincess of Gugudan
HobbiesSinging jazz, whistling, watching musicals
Favorite ColorNot officially confirmed
Ideal TypeNot officially confirmed
Membership

Groups & Positions

Gugudan
Jellyfish Entertainment
Lead Vocalist Main Vocalist
June 2016 – December 2020 (Disbanded)
The Lineup

Group Members — Gugudan

Hana
Hana
Leader · Main Dancer · Vocalist · Rapper · Visual
Mimi
Mimi
Vocalist · Visual
Haebin
Haebin
Main Vocalist
Nayoung
Nayoung
Lead Vocalist
Sejeong
Sejeong
Main Vocalist · Center
Sally
Sally
Lead Rapper · Lead Dancer · Vocalist
Soyee
Soyee
Lead Vocalist
This Idol
Mina
Mina
Main Rapper · Main Dancer · Vocalist · Maknae
Hyeyeon
Hyeyeon
Lead Vocalist · Lead Dancer · Rapper · Maknae
Journey

Career Timeline

2011
Becomes a Cube Entertainment trainee
Began training as a singer under Cube Entertainment, starting a long road toward debut.
2013
Moves to Plan A Entertainment as a trainee
Switched agencies to Plan A Entertainment, where she was originally slated for a different girl group before those plans changed.
2015
Appears in VIXX's "Chained Up" and Leo & Lyn's "Blossom Tears" music videos
Built early industry visibility through guest appearances in other artists' music videos ahead of her own debut.
2016
Debuts with Gugudan
Officially debuted as Gugudan's lead vocalist with the mini album "Act.1 The Little Mermaid" on June 28.
2017
Releases duet "Spring Rain" with Youngjoon
Collaborated with Youngjoon of Brown Eyed Soul on a duet single, showcasing her vocal range outside the group.
2017
Goes on hiatus for shoulder recovery
Paused all group activities on October 19 to fully recover from a shoulder injury that predated her debut.
2018
Returns with "Act.4 Cait Sith"
Resumed promotions alongside her members for the single album "Act.4 Cait Sith."
2020
Gugudan officially disbands
Jellyfish Entertainment confirmed Gugudan's disbandment on December 31 after four years together.
2021
Departs Jellyfish Entertainment
Left Jellyfish Entertainment following the group's disbandment to explore new opportunities.
2022
Signs with Noah Entertainment as Jang So-jin
Began a new chapter as an actress under her birth name, Jang So-jin, with Noah Entertainment.
Music

Discography

💜
Act. 1 The Little Mermaid
EP
2016
💜
Act. 2 Narcissus
EP
2017
💜
Act. 3 Chococo Factory
Single Album
2017
💜
Act. 4 Cait Sith
Single Album
2018
💜
Stand By
Japanese EP
2018
💜
Act. 5 New Action
EP
2018
Recognition

Awards & Achievements

🏆
Awesome Style Award (Cultural Technology)
1st Rookie Asia M-Style Show
2016
🏆
K-POP Award (Female Group)
25th Korean Popular Culture & Arts Awards
2017
🏆
Rising Star Award
2nd Asia Artist Awards
2017
🏆
New Korean Wave Performance Award (Female Group)
1st Soribada Best K-Music Awards
2017
🏆
New Wave Award
3rd Asia Artist Awards
2018
Did You Know?

Trivia & Fun Facts ✨

She trained for over five years before finally debuting with Gugudan in 2016.
Before Jellyfish Entertainment, she was a trainee at both Cube Entertainment and Plan A Entertainment.
She was originally slated to debut in a different girl group under Plan A Entertainment, but the plan ultimately fell through.
She appeared in VIXX's "Chained Up" music video before her own debut.
She also appeared in Leo & Lyn's "Blossom Tears" music video.
Soyee has a deep love for jazz music, which shapes her smooth, warm vocal tone.
She can whistle, a small talent she has shown off during variety appearances.
She teamed up with Youngjoon of Brown Eyed Soul for the duet single "Spring Rain."
She provided the narration for Seo In-guk's "Bomtanaba" project.
On Weekly Idol, she was jokingly crowned the "Princess of Gugudan" by her members.
She went on hiatus in October 2017 to fully recover from a shoulder injury she had since before debut.
She returned to promotions with the release of "Act.4 Cait Sith" in 2018.
Her stage name, Soyee, comes from her Korean given name, So-jin.
In Gugudan, she was assigned time table number 2 and the symbol "sharp."
She studied in the Applied Music program at Baekseok Arts University.
She graduated from Yeongdong High School before pursuing music full-time.
She has said she dreams of performing on stages all around the world.
Her charming point, according to early profiles, is her close attention to small details.
She left Jellyfish Entertainment in March 2021 after Gugudan's disbandment.
In April 2022, she signed with Noah Entertainment to pursue an acting career.
She now promotes primarily under her real name, Jang So-jin, rather than her old stage name.
Fans often praise her calm, composed demeanor during both performances and interviews.
She is considered one of Gugudan's most technically consistent vocalists by longtime fans.
She has a quiet, understated sense of humor that surprises people who first meet her.
Soyee has said she values sincerity and hard work over flashy showmanship.
Her hometown of Gwangju is often mentioned by fans as part of her down-to-earth image.
She kept a relatively low public profile compared to some of her more media-heavy former members.
Even years after Gugudan ended, she remains a nostalgic favorite among Danjjak fans.
Her transition from idol to actress mirrors a path several of her former groupmates have also taken.
She is remembered by fans for bringing warmth and stability to Gugudan's vocal line.
The Fandom

Fan Club & Fan Name 💜

Official Fan Name
Dan-jjak
Gugudan's official fandom name, Dan-jjak (단짝), translates to "Best Friend" or "Dear Friend" in Korean, reflecting the close, warm bond the members hoped to build with their supporters from their June 2016 debut onward.
Official Fan Color
Not officially confirmed
Jellyfish Entertainment never publicized a single, fixed official fan color for Gugudan the way many larger agencies do. Fan-made guides commonly associate the group with a soft sky-blue and white palette, echoing the ocean and fairy-tale imagery used across their "Act" era concepts, but this pairing was never formally trademarked as the group's color.
Official Light Stick
Gugudan Official Light Stick (Guguli)
Released around the group's debut-era fan meetings, the official light stick is affectionately nicknamed "Guguli" by fans. It features a rounded, gem-like bulb on a pale stick, designed to be simple enough for fans of all ages to carry, and it lights up in a soft blue-white glow during fan chants and concerts.
Fan Community Platform
V LIVE & Fan Cafe
Before Weverse became the industry standard, Gugudan connected with Dan-jjak mainly through V LIVE broadcasts, their official Daum Fan Cafe, and active Twitter and Instagram accounts under the handle @gu9udan, sharing behind-the-scenes clips, live chats, and comeback updates.
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