Gaeul

Gaeul (IVE): The Steady Dancer-Rapper Behind Some of the Group’s Sharpest Lyrics

Gaeul, born Kim Ga-eul, is the main dancer, lead rapper, and sub-vocalist of IVE, the South Korean girl group under Starship Entertainment. As the oldest member of the group, Gaeul brings a grounded, big-sister energy to IVE, both on stage and behind the scenes as one of the members most actively involved in writing the group’s songs.

Born on September 24, 2002, in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea, Gaeul’s path to K-pop stardom started with a love of dance. She competed in local dance competitions from a young age, and after being scouted more than once, she officially joined Starship Entertainment as a trainee in 2017, training for roughly four years before her debut.

Gaeul was revealed as the second member of IVE on November 12, 2021, and debuted with the group on December 1, 2021, with the single album “Eleven.” Since then, she’s become known for her crisp, technical dancing and confident rap delivery, both of which anchor IVE’s title tracks. She’s also quietly become one of the group’s most consistent songwriters, contributing lyrics to tracks including “ROYAL,” “Kitsch,” “Hypnosis,” “Not Your Girl,” and “Next Page.”

Fans and members alike have nicknamed her “Grandma” for her calm, unbothered demeanor — a trait she credits as one of her biggest strengths. She’s also open about being one of the more fearless members of the group, sharing a love of horror movies and mystery novels with fellow member Rei, and the two are often paired together for the group’s spookier variety-show segments.

Beyond music, Gaeul has become a fixture in fashion and lifestyle media, appearing in magazines including ELLE, L’Officiel, and CHIC TEEN. She’s also spoken candidly in interviews about supporting her family with her earnings, including surprising her parents with a car after her first substantial paycheck as an idol.

Whether it’s her sharp rap verses, her reliable presence as the unofficial “big sister” of IVE, or her behind-the-scenes songwriting credits, Gaeul continues to prove she’s far more than just a supporting player in one of K-pop’s most successful fourth-generation girl groups.